'Nazis tried to teach dogs to talk and read – and claimed one could even discuss religion. Hitler, a well-known dog lover, hoped the animals would learn to communicate with their SS masters, and supported a special dog school set up to teach them to talk. Nazi officials recruited so-called educated dogs from all over Germany and trained them to tap out signals using their paws. The dog school was called the Tier-Sprechschule ASRA and was based near Hanover. Led by headmistress Margarethe Schmitt, it was set up in the 1930s and continued throughout the war years.
'Rolf, an Airedale terrier, reportedly ‘spoke’ by tapping his paw against a board, each letter of the alphabet being represented by a certain number of taps. He was said to have speculated about religion, learnt foreign languages, written poetry and asked a visiting noblewoman: ‘Could you wag your tail?’ The patriotic dog even expressed a wish to join the army – because he disliked the French. A Dachshund named Kurwenal was said to speak using a different number of barks for each letter, and told his biographer he would be voting for Hindenburg. And a German pointer named Don imitated a human voice to bark: ‘Hungry! Give me cakes.’
'But do dogs really talk? Back in 1912 Harry Miles Johnson of Johns Hopkins University said, emphatically, "no." In a paper in Science, he generally agreed with the findings of Oskar Pfungst of the Institute of Psychology at the University of Berlin who studied a dog famous for its large vocabulary. The dog's speech is "the production of vocal sounds which produce illusion in the hearer," Johnson wrote. Nothing in the last century has really changed that scientific opinion.
'It's more appropriate to call it imitating than talking, says Gary Lucas, a visiting scholar in psychology at Indiana University Bloomington. Dogs vocalize with each other to convey emotions—and they express their emotions by varying their tones, he says. So it pays for dogs to be sensitive to different tones. Dogs are able to imitate humans as well as they do because they pick up on the differences in our tonal patterns.
'Owner hears the dog making a sound that resembles a phrase, says the phrase back to the dog, who then repeats the sound and is rewarded with a treat. Eventually the dog learns a modified version of her original sound. As Lucas puts it, "dogs have limited vocal imitation skills, so these sounds usually need to be shaped by selective attention and social reward." Scientists have made some progress in their study of this important subject: They've learned why dogs, and other animals, have rather poor pronunciation and, for example, completely botch consonants.
'Dogs "don't use their tongues and lips very well, and that makes it difficult for them to match many of the sounds that their human partners make," Lucas says. "The canine alphabet differs significantly from ours, featuring a fraction of our consonants (b, f, h, p, r, w, and sometimes y) and the rounder vowel sounds, which are more “sung” than “spoken.” Words are therefore primarily distinguished by minor variations in pronunciation (dogs can differentiate twelve types of r sounds and five degrees of hardness in the letter b)."' -- collaged
Evidence
*
p.s. Hey. My advice to you on how to get the maximum impact out of the post today is to try to play all the videos at the same time, but playing them individually will provide you with a not uninteresting effect as well. God speed. Also, like I mentioned in the comments yesterday, you can hear Jax's aka Jack Dickson's radio play 'Rio' as broadcast by BBC Radio Scotland starting anytime after 11:30 am GMT today if you click this, choose 'today', and then choose 'Rio'. ** Postitbreakup, Thanks! And, big duh, a late but loud and theatrical happy birthday to you, my pal. Really glad you dug the Carlsen photos, man, and I know Carolyn is too. ** Jax, Hi. Yeah, sorry about the day/time mix-up. I'll finally get the pleasure today, can't wait, and very cool. Thanks about the Beachy, or the Beachie, I don't know which. I've never seen The Beachies written except in plural. Virtual ingestion of banana bread will do in a pinch, and this seems to be a pinch, so thank you. "Django' is just out. I'm going to catch it as soon as I can find someone here who'll catch it with me. Must be on in the theaters there too, I reckon. Enjoy your big radio day! ** Bill, I thought you might like it. Oh, I should say that Carolyn Fliest asked me to thank you and everyone else who enjoyed the Carlsen show. She said she tried to post a comment, but Blogger/Google foiled her. Borneo! Pray tell, man! ** Statictick, Glad you enjoyed, natch. A happy one back to you. Or happy many by this point, I mean. My health continues to improve, thank you, to the point where it's not even nagging me to mention that its problems exist anymore, knock on wood. ** David Ehrenstein, Carolyn (and I) thank you for digging the Carlsen. John Huston directed that film? I would've never guessed. Sad if that was Zsa Zsa's greatest role 'cos all she did was smile a lot and dance/sing in the mostly background. Poor her. I was always more of an Eva fan, due entirely to her part in the sublime 'Green Acres'. Thank you very much for the links to the fascinating looking Fournier piece -- he is quite terrific -- and the one on Bruno Latour? 'The new Hegel'? Hunh?! ** Dennis Cooper, You must have had a very high fever when you made the post today. ** xTx, Oh, gosh, thanks, pal. Did you watch that Spreecast thing live? I watched the whole thing, but not live, since it was 'live' at the wee hours here. I don't think I would have made it through that hour plus or whatever of 'everybody's up on the roof, uh, so, uh, I don't know what to do' stuff, if I'd watched it live. Anyway, yes to your resolution about our two novels. I am 10000000% in agreement with you. I'll even go so far as to resolve that both of our novels will not only be finished but have publishers signed on, blurbs lined up, and front cover art designed before we leave 2013. How about that? ** Steevee, Weird about that Owen Gleiberman thing. Weird or not weird, I guess, that in all the years I've read or skimmed his reviews, I never thought about his politics once. I just have no interest at all in seeing 'Les Miserables'. I does not speak to me theoretically for whatever reason. Definitely not for three hours. Interesting that it's good. People are saying so. Not hard to blow away 'Dancer in the Dark', if you ask me. Anyway, I probably still won't see it, but I'm happy to hear your thoughts. ** Allesfliesst, Thanks for congratulating me on my now official nice guy-ness. I hope it doesn't go to my head. Ha ha, yes, that's true, and I wonder how many writers could say they won France's most evil literary prize and America's most benevolent one? Just me, I bet. I had a Berliner once. It wasn't bad. Like a jelly donut with a dark soul and a furrowed brow. 2012 wasn't your best year? Oh, well, 2013 definitely will be. Really, its bestness is completely definite. ** 5STRINGS, France or Paris is the place to be, Europe-wise, word. Berlin gets the wannabe ex-pat headlines, but Paris is far better situated geographically, and, well, it's French, so it wins because of that or something. No, to answer your question. Me neither re: champagne. I didn't get fairy dusted, so you won. You deserve it. Quitting smoking? Good luck with that. I mean it. Whoa. Happy Wednesday, bro! ** Rewritedept, That would cause your brain to hurt understandably, yes. Sounds fun, though. I wonder if Jello mellowed or whether he was always really nice? Lydia Lunch has mellowed sort of a little bit. Karen Finley has gotten even meaner. I think your new direction sounds both fruitful and circumstantially wise. Bizarre sexual material? Don't you know that serious literature and bizarre sexual material don't mix? ** Patrick deWitt, Buddy boy! How's it? Happy Days and Nights to you, big pal! I hope the novel is still cooperating with you implicitly and entirely. ** _Black_Acrylic, Yeah, sorry for the mix-up on Jax's thing. Today's the day. Well, what a charming and goofball term for New Years then. Great about you booking the Paris/May venture! Fantastic, man. Can't wait, and, obviously, we can sort out the mutual parts between now and then. ** Kyler, Hi, Kyler! HNY! Yeah, I think it is possible for nice guys to succeed against the odds on occasion. It hasn't hurt me, I guess? No, I am not ready for my impending birthday, short answer, but I congratulate you on getting ready for yours. If I were going to be there, I would for sure be at your pizza and wine party, and you never know, I guess, but ... NYC in early February? I don't know, man. ** Rigby, Hey, big R! Post-top of the New Year joy and festive feelings galore to you! Right, about 'Cecil B. Demented', right? That has to be John's most underrated movie. It is awesomeness, etc. I should rent or download (or something) '21 Jump Street'? I keep wondering if I should. You good? Everything good or at least sort of good? Any plans to visit the big P? ** Cobaltfram, Glad you dug what Carolyn provided, man. Right, Carsen is way into 'The Iliad' and all that kind of stuff for sure. Don't start waiting on my novel yet. If I even finish it, you won't see it for at least year if not two probably, the way publishers work. But, uh, 'The Weaklings XL' comes out this year anyway. Dachshunds are cool, underrated. No, I have not seen your new tumblr. Wait ... Yes, I have seen your new tumblr, and it's very pretty and compelling to me, no surprise. I think you should hook up with Captain Backfire. I'm not joking. Anyway, very cool tumblr. Keep it going, okay? I just bookmarked it, and please don't let that marking be in vain. Everyone, I direct your attention here, here being a new tumblr by prose and blog commentary maestro Cobaltfram called 'Central Texas Personals' that is at once clever, heartbreaking, visually exciting, possibly boner producing depending on the particular shape/needs of one's libido, etc. Need I say more? ** Misanthrope, And he probably would have let you rim him for a few hours. God damn the inflexibility of time, man. No, Beach Sloth has never met me, obviously. You, however, have, and know the cowering that must be implemented by everyone who comes within three feet of me. Good going. ** Creative Massacre, Thanks for the congrats, pal! Mark Doten also recommended WORD Books, if you didn't see it. When are you off the NYC? How is the New Year for you so far? ** Ken Baumann, Ken! I will, man, assuming I find a Parisian fellow adventurer, or maybe even if not. Do you like going to the movies alone? I do, but I always have a devil of a time making the decision to. Strange. Anyway, I can't see not seeing that 48 frames thing, so ... ramble ramble, I will! How's the writing and everything going? ** Mark Doten, Happy New Year to you! It's not even all that new anymore, but it still deserves to have the word happy attached to it, which is nice, no? Thanks for the rec for CM. Glad Carlsen did you in in the good way. Lots o' love. ** MANCY, Man, you really undersold 'Blue Pill'. I like that one a whole lot. Total spell creator too. I watched it three times in a row yesterday. These new works of yours are really great and fucked up. I really, really like what's happening in the new pieces. Big kudos! Ha, Andy Stott as a fireworks prep does sound kind of dangerous. ** Sypha, Very good for you. I'm liking those productive plans. Nose to that grindstone, please. It'll encourage me to put my nose somewhere grinding too. ** Slatted Light, Slat! You came back, and I'm not sick even sick and your unworthy recipient anymore. Well, an argument could be made that I'm eternally unworthy of you, sir. I know, deviant gentleman sounds so ... 18th century? Or is it the 19th? Glad you're getting along there. I'm okay, especially now that sickness is mostly behind me. I just have this really stubborn, stand-offish novel I'm trying to write very unsuccessfully of late, but, otherwise, yeah, things are okay, I think. Love to you, Daviant! ** Right. So, today's post is the first one I made when I was sick, and it heralds a shortish phase of sickness-inspired posts, and I think everything will probably be okay again in about a week or a bit longer from now, and, in the meantime, maybe we can all learn something from these posts about the relationship between human illness and the technical requirements of the Blogger format if we pay the right kind of attention or something. See you tomorrow.
33 comments:
Yay for sick day posts! ...but I suppose I would have a tendency to be biased towards a post with creepy dog gifs and doggie eugenics... And why do they all say "I love you"? Needy much? I think it would be much more convincing if the dogs of the world all spontaneously burst into a howling chorus of "fuck you fatty" ...but maybe it's just me?
Dennis:
I shot the post to your "dcooperweb" Gmail account. Let me know if there's another one I should send it to.
-will
No, it's not just you Scunnard:) That dogs saying I love you cacophany is truly bizarre and says so much more about so-called dog-lovers than it does about dogs. And those sinister pics of the beasts? The Hitler stuff is fascinating, though.
Just checked, Dennis: Django hits Glasgow on Sunday 20th January. Looking forward to it.
Thanks for posting the RIO link. As with 'Princess' I did a whole Facebook 'event' for the four days preceding to create the obligatory buzz: managed a low-level hum, I think, which is better than nothing – and people did tune in etc etc. so that was cool. Very much a learning experience, was RIO - and I'm not fishing here – cos in retrospect there's a little too much going on, story-wise, and it's all a bit rushed cos the script was too long,leaving my poor producer to trim where she could, and a lot of the scenes were too short to really work on radio. Next time – hopefully there will be a next time – I'm gonna err on the side of shortness and give the whole thing more space to breathe. And do longer scenes.
Black_Acrylic: The Fred MacCauley Show makes me wanna tear my own legs off, so hopefully you didn't have to put up with too much the damn thing.
Nice Doggies!
Dennis, check your e-mail (I think you'll find it a treat.)
As I may have said I like LeMiz a lot. But it's definitely not for everyone.
I'm muddling over whether or not I should write about Quetin Trantino. Part of me wants to. The oter part thinks it will only encourage him.
Nice piece on Ashes.
No, I didn't watch the spreecast....thought maybe it would be up and archived for later viewing but I'm not sure it was.
YES! on our books! It's totally possible, right!?!?! (for YOU at least!!) FINGERS CROSSED! LET'S DO THIS! XOXOXOX
Happy New Year, a day late, to all. I was unplugged for about a week and a half, visiting in-laws in Minnesota.
I'm a cat-man temperamentally, and this post shows me pretty pointedly why. A cat would never drive itself crazy trying to please you. If you put it on the spot, it will either ignore or insult you. I think I'm a sort of masochist, petwise. I'm in love with my cat Lois, who rarely expresses anything besides her imperious disdain for all life. It helps the effect that she's black and very graceful. If she were a movie character, she'd be Glenn Close in Dangerous Liaisons.
Still, it's good to be reminded of what I'm missing. If I had the space to keep a dog happy, I'd love to have a dog. A golden retriever, probably: a golden retriever doesn't just love you, he loves everything else too. Emotional promiscuity is where it's at with dogs, so I say go all the way. I'd name my retriever Prince Myshkin.
Dennis, Merry Late Christmas. Hope yours was a good one.
Yet another reason to abhor Baz Luhrman
Berlin looks so boring. Total Francophile! Now that I'm only paying for one, it is cheaper for me to travel! What was the question? It was an awful scene they claimed they had eaten Peter Pan and Tinkerbell and there would be no more glitter all year. 2 days strong, I need my breath to work. I don't do dogs. I like some really big dogs. I have a cool cat that lives outside and an awesome fish in the kitchen. I think my snowman came back last night. Probably heard I was reading AR-G. Back to reading, writing, and the good times. Happy Wednesday broski! =)
d-
so you don't count as serious literature then? that's fine by me, i've always loved how one generation's rule breakers end up being the next generation's heroes. i don't know how else to describe the stuff for the second book, though. i'm making a series of landscapes out of porn. very pseudo-sophisticated stuff, i guess. i dunno, i never try to put meaning into what i make, i just make it and let everyone else form their opinions.
really, i swear i'm not as deep as people like to think. i'm just having fun at this point.
i would think maybe jello/lunch/finley/et al gain a reputation for being mean from people who've never met them. everyone says the same stuff about albini, but everyone i've known who's spent any time with him says he's one of the most generous, gracious dudes around in the 'indie' scene (for the record, does albini still count as indie? i think a lot of people think of like passion pit or grizzly bear when they say indie now, and to me that shit's just background noise for cell phone commercials). that said, i know i would probably end up gaining a reputation as kind of an asshole too. probably comes from being smarter than the average bear, and not always being able to countenance stupidity.
so my arm's pretty much all healed. i'm going to give it a couple weeks before we do the touchups, just to be certain, but i think it turned out well.
hey bill p, i'm with you on today's post. cats rule. strangely, i own a cat who grew up with dogs, so she kinda thinks she's a dog. she's much more social than most cats. but yeah, i feel the same way about dogs as i usually do about kids. i can deal with other people's dogs/children for limited amounts of time. and only if they're well trained. which means no crotch sniffing. and say 'hi,' and then leave me alone unless i ask for you. pretty easy stuff, i think.
so i take it you're feeling better then? i slept a wonderful 12 hours or so last night, so i feel wonderful today.
oh yeah, i forgot to tell you last night. there was this kid who flew at work yesterday who looked almost identical to me when i was the same age, just with like dark blond hair instead of brown like mine. it was weird though. like i was on serious autopilot yesterday, thanks to the combination of two hours of sleep and a pretty massive before work fatty. first noticed it because his eyes were the same as mine, down to the 'i have really long eyelashes, so everyone is always asking if i'm wearing makeup,' thing that i had at that age. yeah, truly strange though. freaked me out right proper, you know? i'm just glad it didn't kill my high.
ok, must get ready to go. i am going to try to gather youtube clips for the anderson post when i get home, but we'll see how long band practice runs. talk soon.
-me.
OMG! Back on? The problem I am having might not be fixed till Friday. Arrrgh.
I feel kind of ridiculous post post posting. I spent so much time playing tag with Comcast. I can't imagine what suburban kids did pre-interwebs, hung around in parking lots getting drunk, thievery, long car rides to nowhere?
When I do get back online the effect is hyper overwhelming like an astronaut entering back into the heaviness of the earths atmosphere. I really wanted to be more thorough, research the the work behind the screen names. Give thoughtful personal responses. If I slagged anyone short, I am sorry.
Postitbreakup.
The writing? Wow thanks. I am super uncomfortable about my writing. No control. I just ramble like, me on, a cocaine binge. When I first began to comment here I was under the influence, medicating my awkwardness, but our Coop is such the subliminal host, I eased right in.
rewritedept.
That’s cool. There are allot of that rubs me in the wrong in music dubbed Techno say: Brostep or Purple, Maximalism (Rustie , I do try- because your adorable, but...). But I can be wrong in the head.
The term Techno is currently a bit slippery and expansive. Straight up party kids would tag what I listen too as experimental or noise or the ugly acronym IDM. And I myself tend to think of Techno as in the capital "T" Detroit (The Belleville Three: Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson and Derrick May and even more so Underground Resistance: Jeff Mills and "Mad" Mike Banks and +8: Richie Hawtin and John Acquaviva).
Given the DIY economy of the sound tools (that has nothing and everything to do with "hipness") allot of creative people are working digitally as opposed to guitar, bass, drums, speakers, microphones and of course other band members and recording studio cost. I don't know what all else.
_Black _Acrylic _
Dopplereffekt. We are one for one then. Thanks.
Chilly Jay Chill.
Thanks, I try, sometimes.
Billy Lloyd.
I like what you’re creating. Don't read me wrong, in away it reminds me a bit of the band Egyptian Hip Hop but, read this part right, your work is more interesting for me. You have a cool abstract pop sense, which I can spool back to the good in 60's psychedelic pop.
I obviously like wax plates but it is not necessity for me. I mean, It does tight spring buzz the plate, especially if the edition is limited. I am not a salesman and I would not know how to create a buzz around your work, perhaps an image? I am not suggesting that moldy ‘personality’ image which at this time reeks of tired. Something more conceptual like a design style or cutup of influences that create a kind of meta manifesto. Physical objects are cool though, how about a fanzine that contains code keys for musical downloads?
Schlix.
Hey. The Internet connection thing is fucking exhausting and exasperating. I am happy that I partially D-jayed your weekend! Rave!
Misanthrope.
TeeHee. Sure, be bold, sassy even. I’m not precious, well I am, perhaps, a wee chi-chi in the tipsy toe, but I can 'Armor All' the supple in my bendy bits.
Cue up that anecdotal puppy.
The other day could have been last Tuesday or Wednesday or Thursday, anyway.
One of my many sisters, the one they named Jen, pulled in for a visit.
On a late afternoon break, I guessed, sported up in her nurse whites, agency cell on hand, calls from her staff spastically punctuating the trains of her notions, still official. She was at the coffee table sipping a coffee with Aunty Pearl nattering about her clients. Like Hildegard DeSouza, who seems to have her two whole hands full of sticky fingers. One of Hilda's fav marks are batteries, she snatches them from remote controls, from the smoke detectors, she pries them from the Mini Insulin Refrigerators, "Don't let old Hildy catch you napping with your hearing aid in a dangle" they say.
Poor Hildegard, after all her years, now left without even an echo space to hide. They find her stolen clusters of voltaic cells, under the bed, wrapped in a fire resistant blanket along with cans of budget soups, cream styled corns, Rasinettes and biscuits of milk lunch. But she still has sass, training that one good eye in preparation for any unknown future.
Me, I try not to sit around counting my blessings like a turdy Protestant. But I do have a room with enough crevices to hide my goods and slights of hand. And that day, could of been Tuesday or Wednesday, most likely Thursday because anyway, I opened the door to my room in a search for coffee or cigarettes. Aunt Pearl had a fresh pot on because Jen was here on a visit. I signaled a shaggy hello as I turned by them on my way to the kitchen. I poured a mug and snatched up four Newport Caddies. I turned to do my afternoon shuffle back, when I noticed a look of confusion on my sister’s face. "What is that noise?" she said. "Oh, just must be the music from my room." I impassively answered. "That’s music?" "It sounds like a bunch of people scratching on stuff, searching for a way out."
Now Misa, you might be asking your self why? And you might be questioning how this Toss heard this conversation about Hildegard when he was clearly sitting in his room listening to his shit music? Further more, you might be asking me, what is your point? I guess the tip of my ramble is; you can never profoundly dance with in the contours of someone else's perception.
I had a teacher Lewis Klahr who once compared experimental film to hardcore punk. Explaining that to the uninitiated it can all sound/look the same and to express why it inherently isn't is rife with difficulties.
Who knows what kooky people will come up with like a whole tradition of layering sounds over a 4 by 4 beat, crazy?
Chris Dankland.
I am psyched that I could introduce you to some new/old tracks.
Ok, Peeps I took up way too much space. I promise to be zip for a bit.
.
Dennis:
And, holy wow: "Doggiewoggiez! Poochiewoochiez!" by Everything is Terrible! Check it out. I haven't been able to yet, but I've seen clips and it looks hilarious. They took all these clips of dogs talking from movies, shows, etc., and made an homage to "Holy Mountain," genius and sly. Just thought of that to share.
Anyways, I shot you the final edit on that post. Added a pic' or two that was desperately needed.
Best,
-will
I didn't see that recommendation. Thank you very much Mark!
You're welcome Dennis. Right now, the plans are to go from March 7th-11th. I'm taking my mom on a small holiday. She's never been so I thought I'd treat her. I've already seen all the touristy type stuff so I wanted to check out a few other places and whatnot.
So far, my New Year is going great. Everything is definitely looking up!
Hope yours is going well.
This is pretty impressive
Hey D,
This dog post is tripping me out, though all the dog barking is having no effect on Roxy, our golden retriever, which is funny to me. The only thing that ever really bothers her are fireworks; she flips the fuck out on July 4th, and on NEY she got up on the bad and alternated laying on Chad and I, I think to protect to us.
Thanks for the big shout-out to the tumblr. I'll be sure to keep updating it for you if for no one else. Honestly, now that I'm constantly on the look-out for material for the tumblr I've been opening all the craigslist postings I'd normally avoid like death itself, and it can be a pretty heavy bummer.
I think I blocked Capt Backfire. Maybe I shouldn't have. I get sort of trigger happy with the blocking (justifiably) that sometimes I don't catch perks that would be immediately apparent.
J
I'm currently reading the Kent Jones-edited anthology on Olivier Assayas, published late last year by the Austrian Film Museum (but in English.) I haven't made it past the first essay, a lengthy overview written by Jones, but it's an excellent piece of writing. I read Assayas' memoir A POST-MAY ADOLESCENCE last night - the memoir itself is only about 60 pages, and the book is filled out with two essays on Guy Debord. It's an interesting, honest look at wanting to join the '60s revolt but feeling like one arrived too late. I suspect you and him may have shared a lot i both aesthetically and politically. In the anthology, he chooses THE DEVIL, PROBABLY as one of his 10 favorite films.
Belated happy new year to everyone here.
Dennis - This is crazy and slightly creepy post -- I like it. There's something to be said for fever induced post construction.
Have you ever done a Kevin Ayers day here? Are you a fan of his music? I've been sampling some of the earlier albums and it seems interesting. Weird combo of Barrett-esque whimsy and sometime prog structures. Curious if you have any favorite albums or recommend a place to start.
Some of these dogs are cute (though I'm more of a cat person). Having said that, I think I prefer the Screaming Sheep (and I don't even care if it's fake):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIaFtAKnqBU
I found a great quote from David Foster Wallace recently that was something along the lines of, "I will become a fiction writer again or die trying." So that's my artistic credo right now. Actually, the reason why I'm referring to the experimental novel as "The Project" is because that's what DFW referred to "Infinite Jest" as in the old days, when he first started it. Not that I'm under any delusions that I'm writing the next "Infinite Jest," of course.
Want to hear something weird? I recently found out that my childhood best friend tried to stab/strangle to death his ex-wife last Friday morning. It made the front page of the local paper and everything! I guess what happened was he was drunk, demanded custody of their daughter, and when she refused (as he was homeless, it would seem), he tried to kill her, but the kid ran up to the landlord's apartment and got the landlord to call the cops. Anyway, the ex-wife wasn't seriously hurt, but my old friend has been charged with some major felonies. Frankly, I'm not surprised, because even as a kid he had an edge, and what with the stuff he's gone through the last 2 years (divorce, job loss, losing custody of his daughter, alcohol addiction), it was only a matter of time before he went over the edge. I actually haven't spoken to him in years: we did friend each other on facebook this year, but I decided to unfriend him a month or two ago when he posted a homophobic joke on his Wall.
@ Jax, I finally caught up with RIO, and thought it was great fun! Very impressed the BBC took it on, which reflects well on everyone involved.
Hey Sypha, David E, and anyone who likes Broadway musicals (not YOU, Dennis! Ha-ha, except for Sweeney Todd of course, I know, it's got to have blood!)- posted this on FB, but it's really good and worth putting here for any of you musical queens (not that I'm one any longer - but I used to be.) Dennis, I love it when you talk to yourself.
I love you too, Dennis!
Hello Dennis, I have returned! I had a really brilliant few days with my pals in Brighton (which, if you are interested, you can see a few choice photographs from on my blog. It's always nice to be by the sea, I feel really good and alive whenever I am there.
REALLY enjoyed, the slave post. That's my fave regular post. Diamondass was my favourite because of the line "wants to laugh out loud, fucked, eaten out, fisted, beat, tortured ..... I can also play tennis". Also enjoyed the other two posts, though I am very afraid of dogs. Cute ones are ok though, I guess...
How are you? feeling any better? How was your NYE? and would love to know your thoughts on Stranger too!
Peace.
Dennis!
I like going to movies in whatever capacity, so I take what I can get. Although I haven't seen a movie alone in awhile! It's weird... lately, watching movies has felt more like a chore than anything. Probably because of quality, but still. I used to be gluttonous, and now I'm pretty picky. Sure that'll change with the season or whatever.
Everything else is very good! Spent the last couple weeks getting rid of shit, rearranging furniture, organizing space; buttressing against the ensuing stresses. Sitting, currently, in my rearranged living room, and it FEELS SO NICE. Amazing how calcified a space can feel, but you never know until it's different.
Writing's going! Finished the first section (out of a theorized five sections) in this novel. Started the second section just a couple of days, after having a big AHAH! moment about the structure, which will be pretty complex and pleasing and shaped, even if a lot of readers don't register it. The SATOR square has something to do with it...
Yours,
Ken
Flit - oooh didn't see your reply!
Thanks so much, I quite like the bits I've heard of Egyptian Hip hop!
Yeah, I'm trying stuff out with the visual identity or something, the problem is that I'm a control freak and find it hard to collaborate with people on those sorts of things but actually that's probably what's needed. Agreed on the 'personality' thing, I think it's a case of highlighting your most endearing traits and being honest to yourself (which I think the internet is a prime tool for doing).
ok now I feel paranoid that I might've missed other people's comments at me? holler at me if I did and I will make a better effort to check!!!
Flit, Oddly -or not- I get it, and I agree. Besides, my hearing's shit and impedes any real enjoyment of music of any kind for me unless I play it very loud hundreds of times.
Dennis, You know, I've never minded the cowering. It's just the having to bow on one knee and kiss your ring that's always gotten to me. But I'm loyal to a fault, so...I'll continue the ritual next time I see you.
I have this real problem with animals doing human things. I'm just really weirded out by it. Like when a four-legged animal walks on its hind legs or one sits on its butt on a couch like a human. Just creeps the fuck out of me. "Talking" takes it to a whole new level. Even when birds do it, and you know I'm a bird guy.
Oh, cool, I'm really happy you liked Blue Pill, thanks for having a look.
Hey Dennis, I played all the videos at once like you suggested, that's awesome...cute turned into creepy pretty fast, in the best way...
Thanks so much for those tips about "novel with cocaine" and Andrei Voznesensky, I've been googling them and reading little things here and there, their stuff is really interesting
Spent my NYE watching the ALG awards, which really made me feel good, seeing everybody from the internet in one place. I feel very recharged and refreshed from that, it was a nice night for me. Thanks so much for voting for me! That really makes me feel good.
Sorry that the novel has been giving you some trouble lately, it's frustrating to be up against a wall like that...but you'll totally figure something out sooner or later, and hopefully the difficulty will just make the book even better. I really feel boosted by how hard you work on your writing and things in general, you really are an example I keep in mind, re: work ethic. It gives me something to shoot for.
Have a good morning :)
hey dennis,
happy 2013! are you all healed now? sorry to hear you were sick, bummer bummer but hopefully you were well cared for. i've been thinking a lot about dog love recently, so this post was well appreciated. it blows my mind how i can feel so sure of my dog's thoughts and yet not talk to her. i completely forget she doesn't speak to me in words.
thanks for the encouragement about my writing. i just finished and feel pretty insane. i always hate finishing pieces for school because there seems to be some expectation that whatever you write can't be that good because you're still learning and it's not like you're publishing anything, so then it weirdly seems to invalidate what you're saying, or at least makes it seem juvenile and temporary. i don't know... it feels unsatisfying. i would maybe share one thing just to prove i really believe in it or something, at least at this fleeting, juvenile moment in my life. how do people share their stuff with you usually? are you working on anything that's making you feel less or more nuts than i feel?!
p.s. there was a pitzer party at my house tonight... my brother, the freshman...
p.p.s. i'm reading the collected brainard that was on your 2012 list— incredible! i'm at/am really into "self portrait on christmas night," holy cow. he's pretty great at being earnest and avoiding being cheesy, despite talking about ~art~ and ~truth~. that's the hard stuff. well, it's all hard
Hi Dennis! This post is creepy man. There is a line in one of your novels where you talk about a dog saying "I love you," it's a simile in the novel. I can't remember which one or the context, except that I liked it and it worked well. Do you know what I'm talking about? For some reason I think it is in Guide.
Glad you're feeling better. I've had crappy holidays: I was sick for a week starting on Christmas morning, then, on NYE, I got dumped via a text by a girl I was starting to fall in love with. The dumping was completely out of the blue, everything was going amazing. It kind of fucked me up. Thanks for letting me whine for a sec. Going to start catching up on past posts now.
Take care.
Very cool/Weird post, Dennis. And Happy New Year ++ to you and all!
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