9-Dec-91 21:25:38-GMT,32413;000000000401 Received: from athos.rutgers.edu by aramis.rutgers.edu (5.59/SMI4.0/RU1.4/3.08) id AA03660; Mon, 9 Dec 91 16:09:28 EST Received: by athos.rutgers.edu (5.59/SMI4.0/RU1.4/3.08) id AA27201; Mon, 9 Dec 91 16:09:24 EST Date: Mon, 9 Dec 91 16:09:24 EST Message-Id: <9112092109.AA27201@athos.rutgers.edu> Errors-To: owner-ecto@athos.rutgers.edu Reply-To: ecto@athos.rutgers.edu Sender: ecto@athos.rutgers.edu From: ecto@athos.rutgers.edu To: ecto-request@athos.rutgers.edu Subject: ecto #77 ecto, Number 77 Monday, 9 December 1991 Today's Topics: *-----------------* tower up from out from under me re: Real time vs Ecto time To be e. mortal... Re: Hostages I Bring You Tidings Of Great Joy! Stuff (tm) Do All Rhodes Really Lead to the Mall?, or: The Ecto Shopping Guide ======================================================================== Date: Mon, 9 Dec 91 00:51:59 EST From: woj@remus.rutgers.edu (woj) Subject: tower hmmm...for some reason, i just do not like that store that much. i've only been to the greenwich village store in manhattan, but just the mass volume of it makes me skittish - especially when you combine that with the general level of competance of most employees (i've got a good story about my quest for _heaven or las vegas_ that happened in a sam goody, but the same thing could well have happened in a tower as well...i'll tell you all some other time though). i went looking for the "rocket man" single today and the first place i looked for it was tower in the village - mostly cos i figured that they would be the most likely store to have it so soon on these shores. they didn't. the guy i asked about it didn't know about it either. i was less than impressed. so i stopped at second coming around the corner (and down a little bit...) and found what i was looking for: the 12" of "rocket man". listening to it for the third time right now. and to be honest, i rather like it. i'm not at all sure what people are so worked up about it having a reggae beat and such to it either - i dunno if it "adds to the lonely feeling of the song", as richard caldwell was denying, but it is an intereting inter- pretation of the song. anyways..."candle in the wind". (flip) hmmmmmm. it does sound kinda "slapped together" with an obvious electric piano and wavy synths in the background weaving between the channels. but i think it sounds more cheesy than anything else. if she had done it with a baby grand and no backdrop, then it would be effective. now, it's a bit distracting to listen to. well, whatever. i'll try to coherently say this in a post to love-hounds eventually. need more listens i think... woj ======================================================================== Date: Thu, 05 Dec 91 13:46:00 EDT From: @cdp.igc.org:S.A..Ezust@p38.f1.n721.z5.Fidonet.Org (S.A. Ezust) Subject: up from out from under me Date: Thu Dec 05 13:47:00 1991 GMT+2 Alan here... I got another person hooked on Happy last week. This girl's really into analyzing lyrics, so I printed out the lyrics for warpaint as I handed her the tape of it, and she got right down to work. There is definitely something to be said for how personal and piercing some of her lyrics are, as this girl felt an immediate feality to Happy after reading some of the words for about 5 minutes! And I finally got Happy's older stuff on tape now, so I'll going through some of the messages which were posted in digest 71 and 73 in more detail later on. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> < > < Would some kind soul mind sending me the text lyrics for > < Rhodes Vol1, Vol2 ,Ecto and Rearmament? I don't have ftp access... > < > <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> I was trying to explain the kind of fanatic following Happy has on the computer network, but I think kIrI's message sums it up quite nicely. I'll have to print it out and show it to my friends - I hope you don't mind, kiri... > From: Nimue - Gwragedd Annwn > Subject: Hullo - lots to tell > and YES.....right after passing Rutgers on the New Jersey TPike he plays > Murder by Happy Rhodes from Albany New York (i practically screamed in > the car)!! yeeeahhh.... > Those few minutes made my week. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Vickie sez: > Does Happy have more of an ability to attract people who have known pain? > I think so. I think she can touch deep feelings in people who have been > privliged and pampered, but it's the "wretches" she speaks most deeply to. > I consider myself one of "the wretches" so I'm not taking shots at anyone. > Kate's fans are half and half, I think. Lots of what I'd call 'alternative' music is alternative because people who are not members of the mainstream tend to listen to it. The mainstream people are the ones that tend to fit into mainstream society, and as Vickie put it, are privileged and pampered, and have no cares in the world. You'll find that there are very few alternatives who fit into this category. I can't listen to mainstream music, for the simple reason that I know these people aren't singing to me. I also can't dance at discos that play mainstream music. It isn't snobbery or anything; I just don't fit in, and I can't ever see myself happily dancing away to that "cool beat". If I try, I feel so artifical, almost as if I'm acting like someone I'm not. It's almost painful to even try acting like this. One strong difference I notice between alternative music and mainstream music is the lyrical content. Alternative music usually has interesting messages behind the lyrics, as well as interesting messages promoted by the lyrics. As a contrast, I think I can safely say that there aren't many profound messages behind the song "Lucky Star" by Madonna: Just a couple cute celestial word-plays to keep the song light and happy. Whenever I play some of "my music" to people who have never heard anything even close to 4AD, they say "whoa! those lyrics are pretty weird/heavy/scary/unreal/whatever." All punks and alternatives are misfits in one way or another, myself included. We all had trouble getting into the groove, if you pardon the madonna reference again. We wrote songs protesting the mainstream, and speaking our minds and hearts through alternative music. This trend is quite self-prepetuating, I might add - the more people do this, the more people do this... Another point I wanted to comment on is that Pink Floyd was the original "alternative" group. They sung about angst, isolation, alienation, disillusionment, depression, and rejection long before anyone else did, and if you start tracing the influences of your favorite alternative musicians back, they'll all end with Pink Floyd. As I am listening to "The Perfect Irony", I understand now why Jon Drukman made the LPDs comparison. The sounds are very similar, but the lyrics are a little more ambiguous in LPD songs, where there isn't quite as much room to make your own interpretation of what's going on with Happy's lyrics. But that gives me a good segue to say what I wanted about LPDs in the context of the Alternative Music scene. IMHO, The legendary pink dots is the epitomy of outcast-music. The lead singer, Edward KaSpel is the original social misfit. He looks and talks strange, he does drugs, and he even spent a time in an insane asylum. He's been blacklisted, and I think he may even be barred from returning to his home country (although I could be mistaken on that point). He sings about the psychological pain and suffering we all go through, as well as a lot of other things. The people I know who like this music are the people who can relate to him, from their own personal experiences. However, to be honest, from a different point of view, this entire alternative music movement (and ESPECIALLY the legendary pink dots, as well as Happy Rhodes) is angst-ridden college pretentiousness, if you don't mind my stealing the words by our illustrious outspoken love-hound, Jon Drukman. I happen to like it though, so I don't mind if someone describes my favorite kind of music in terms like that. It's true! I canna' deny it, captain! I say, if the shoe fits, wear it. But back to the social misfit thread, which seems to be repeatedly cropping up on this base each month, I feel a little awkward explaining exactly WHY I considered myself a social misfit. Lets just say that there are some things other people feel comfortable doing which I don't, and this comes from the fact that I was one of the original computer nerds who for the longest time prefered talking to people through computers than through more conventional means. While I still quite enjoy this mode of communication, I am gradually learning how to socialize with people on a more personal level. The song that I most relate to so far is "Words Weren't Made for Cowards", due to the fact that I wish I could "always" tell everyone the truth about how I feel, but I tend to hide my feelings and stifle my words because otherwise I would put strains on my friendships and make enemies from acquaintences. The simple fact is, there are some things which even if they are true are not socially acceptable to say. Thanks to Doug and Steve for your wonderful posts on this subject. Especially to Steve, I understand and can relate to your problem quite well, as I was twice in a situation where I had to deliberately avoid certain friends I became quite dependent on simply because I didn't want them to feel unfomfortable about the friendship. It can be an effort, especially since it is times like those that you need these friends the most. Actually, I started to understand love-relationships a lot better after this; when there is mutual love between two people, the fear of being dependent on each other is non-existant (at least in my case), and we can take advantage of the support we can give to each other without worrying about the connotations. With my girlfriend, when she had problems, I was almost flattered that she depended on me for support during some of her 'bad weeks' (she had quite a few of them). I enjoyed giving her all the love and attention she needed. I can't do this with a friend that I don't 'love' though. It just doesn't feel right. I don't think I will analyze why it doesn't feel right, as I would then try to step back from myself and start criticizing society, and since I am not a sociologist, I guess I better not. Enough for today... Ezust@p38.f1.n721.z5.fidonet.org University of Zimbabwe, Harare Engineering CAL Project --------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: Sometimes my From: field gets adulterated, so "reply" from your end sends your message TO: someplace which doesn't = my mailbox, and it doesn't bounce back to you either. Please manually enter my address in To: field to be sure that it gets to me. ======================================================================== Date: Mon, 9 Dec 91 11:36:25 PST From: barry@gnu.ai.mit.edu Hey vickie, where should we email you now, if your account isn't working? ======================================================================== Date: Mon, 9 Dec 91 14:00:49 EST From: Laura Clifford Subject: re: Real time vs Ecto time ======================================================================== From: Vickie:! >If my luck holds, I'll post a birthday list tonight, but just in case... >HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAURA!!! (one day early) Vicki - thanks, but you're actually 10 days early (must have something to do with real vs. ecto time :-)... did you get my 2 Kinski posts from last week (they haven't bounced back)? Laura ======================================================================== Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1991 4:16:44 +0800 (SST) From: N_HAYS@fennel.cc.uwa.oz.au Subject: To be e. mortal... G'day! Martin here. Vickie, a 100min tape is Happily Projecting its way across the Pacific ocean to you as I write. It contains one spoken message of no great importance and some o' dat music stuff, totalling just a smidgin under 6:30. The actual identity of the song shall remain a surprise for most of you, though I can reveal it contains the words "running" and "voodoo". :-) On the reverse side, Vickie, is an album by an Australian lady, Gyan, you may be interested in. While much of it is pap, there are some really good bits... the last song in particular was a strong favourite for my HGP song. But then so were "Blue Jean Blues" by ZZ Top, "Blue Spanish Sky" by Chris Isaak and "Blue World" by The Moody Blues. No, I'm not kidding. After the 23rd of December, I'll be travelling across to the East Coast for a few weeks... I have no plans, I'll just be dropping in on friends and meandering about Queensland and New South Wales doing a bit of sight-seeing. Anyhow, I'll be un-contactable for a month or so. But you can bet your drears Happy's coming with me. :-) Kiri, your reply is forthcoming... sorry about the delay, but my life is so incredibly full at the moment I really wish I was emortal so I could get everything done before I get old and creaky like some of the other crumblies in Ecto. :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) Re: emotional people / wretches / Happy's music. I've kept out of this until now, but I find I have to agree with what seems to be the consensus... I definitely find Happy's music is more readily accepted by people who are more caring, intelligent and "worldworn", if I may put it that way... ie people who've been hurt and hurt bad. Occasionally, I think it'd be nice to belong with the bland squad... I mean, wherever you go shopping centres will be playing your favourite songs. You could just drift blissfully through life without a care. Many problems others might face wouldn't even occur to you. You'd be most worried about who makes it into the final six for the finals. A bloke I work with doesn't like music. Not "doesn't like some music". DOESN'T LIKE MUSIC. Can you believe it? The same guy recently married a girl he'd just met in a nightclub and had a kid shortly after, and thinks nothing of it. Very very casual about the whole thing. This absolutely freaks me out. In the times I've really been in love in the past, I've absolutely devoted myself to the lady involved (often to my detriment as I miss out on exams, seeing friends etc...) and things have gone fine for a year or two before I get my heart crushed, squeezed, dried and returned, seemingly without reason. I still have sleepless nights over someone I broke up with in January. I realize my problems may be dwarfed by those chronicled earlier in these esteemed pages (to borrow Mitch's writing style for a moment) but to me they seemed pretty goddamn large... to the point of becoming physically sick... bad shakes, fever, aches etc Anyhow... enough of that,... in practically all respects I'm a very fortunate person. Imagine living without the fine music we're used to. I can hardly wait for my HGP and SiG tapes to arrive. Martin ,---------------------------+----------------------------. _ . | Feel the searing heat of | Martin Dougiamas. | ~ _r' Ll\ ~ | heightened conciousness. | n_hays@fennel.cc.uwa.oz.au | | \ ~ | Feel the yearning for | University of | ~ \ ._ / ~ | peace and happiness. | Western Australia | -->X~ `-' ~ `======== * Happy Rhodes * =+============================' V ======================================================================== Date: Mon, 9 Dec 91 12:29:46 MST From: dbx@olympic.atmos.colostate.edu (Doug Burks) Subject: Re: Hostages Greetings, I guess I need to start by clearing up any misunderstandings. My concentration on the Americans held hostage in my posts is purely personal. This is not a political discussion forum, and I mentioned the hostage releases because the release of two of them was a great _personal_ joy. I had no intention to be politically fair in my posts, and I have no intention to do so now. It all started when I met Marilyn Steen on a hike in the Big Sur area south of Monterey CA in June 1986. We became very good friends, and she told me about her divorce from Alann, due to his decision to teach in Beirut. Yet she held few ill feelings towards him, especially since he was the father of her two beloved daughters. The fact slipped my mind, until I read the news about Alann's kidnapping the following February. The news hit Marilyn hard, and she worked hard on the hostage issue, though letting her daughters and Alann's third wife stand out front. (I've never seen Marilyn's name in the paper, and an unnamed mention of her only twice). I've lost touch with Marilyn, but I'm sure she's as happy with Alann's release as anyone. Unfortunately, Alann didn't survive his five-year captivity very well. He was beaten severely, suffering neurological damage. Shortly after his return to the US, he suffered a seizure. He (along with many other former hostages) has been strongly out-spoken in punishing the hostage takers. I moved to Fort Collins three and a half years ago, and was surprised at the intense public concern for CSU Prof Thomas Sutherland. He had served as the dean of the agricultural school in the American University of Beirut for three years when he was mistakenly kidnapped. (His abductors thought he was the president of AUB). Many events were held in the city and on campus throughout the years to keep his memory alive. Already keeping track of the situation via Alann Steen, my sympathy extended quickly to Tom. After many, many release rumors, the increasing reports that he would be released in November were simply ignored. His daughter Kit said that she wouldn't get her hopes up (again) until she saw him live on television. Of course, she soon did on November 18th. One thing that didn't get in the news was the release's effect on Fort Collins. That evening, a candlelight vigil attended by a thousand people was held on the Oval on the CSU campus. For the next thirteen days, we watched with jealosy the news stories of celebrations in Germany and his Thanksgiving holiday with his daughter Ann in Berkeley. We were bursting in anticipation. Tom Sutherland belonged in Fort Collins! Finally, on December 1st, we got our chance and gave Tom the welcome he deserved. I went to the welcoming ceremony in Moby Arena on the CSU campus, one of the happiest emotional touching real events I've ever seen. The whole day gave a rare sense of community in this day and age. I bounced in its joyful afterglow for the whole week! Tom suffered in captivity as much as any other hostage. Six and a half years is a long time, he noted in his talk. Just think what has happened in YOUR life in that time. That time was stolen from him and his family due to a mistaken identity. He was severely punished for willfully disobeying the guards and comtemplated suicide several times, dissuaded only by memories of his family. He had no knowledge of the efforts made on his behalf in Fort Collins or the US. (He joked that he was going to complain to the Voice of America about their lack of Colorado and CSU coverage). He thought that everyone had forgotten about him. He never saw direct sunlight and was not allowed to speak above a whisper for six and a half years. He broke a tooth on his sixth day of captivity on an olive pit, and didn't have it fixed until after his release. He suffered some nerve damage which hampers his mobility. (He tripped and fell once during the ceremony and looked physically shaky). Yet look at the Tom Sutherland who emerged from captivity. While other hostages aged greatly from the ordeal, Vickie noted that Tom Sutherland didn't look old enough to have taught at a university for twenty-five years. Yet Tom turned sixty this year and still doesn't look it. Instead of displaying bitterness over his captors, practically the first thing in his speech was a thank you to the Islamic Jihad for his release. He credited his captivity with making him a more rounded person. He made an impassioned defense of the American University in Beirut and was considering a return. When asked if he worried about meeting his captors there, Tom said that he would probably shake their hand. (Sen Hank Brown noted Tom's indominatable spirit and Scottish pride by saying, "Many of us fully expect members of Islamic Jihad to be wearing Scottish kilts someday".) Unlike other hostages, he asks everyone to forget the past and move on to helping re-build Lebanon and solve the underlying disputes in the Middle East. Given our recent discussions of personal pain, Tom had a lot to say about avoiding despair. Most of it concerned trying to keep his mind active, to avoid focussing on the captivity. He and Terry Anderson developed a intense friendship, teaching each other animal science, French, English, bridge, chess, etc. (Tom said, "Terry taught me more about English literature than my wife, and she has a PhD in the stuff". "I never had your undivided attention", Jean retorted.) Terry's strong condition on his release probably was due to the same thing. Both of them made pests of themselves with their captors, refusing to accept their demeaning treatment and over the years they eventually won most of the battles, especially getting radios, books, and magazines, which greatly helped their sanity over the last two and a half years. Though Tom didn't mention it, I also credit a strong sense of humor (obvious throughout his talk (His talk held the audience so rapt, that no one can tell who how long it lasted. News reports varied from thirty minutes to an hour!)) and love for his family for helping his survival. I hope that I can keep a memory of Tom's talk in times when my own life isn't going very well. His ordeal and his triumph over it was inspiring. The effects of psychological vs physical pain have been hotly debated in .gaffa and the subject of pain has been recently on Ecto. To my mind, the key question is not the fact of the pain itself or the pointless argument of which kind of pain is worse or even real, but how a person handles that pain. Tom Sutherland is not an extraordinary person. He had no special training in surviving six and a half years of brutal captivity. In fact, as a university professor, especially in Fort Collins, he probably was more isolated from the harsh sides of life than most people. Yet he survived a worse ordeal that most of us will even see. The strength is not unique in Tom, just more visible. That same strength is in each and every one of us, if we wish it. No matter what your view of pain, I hope we can all agree to hold Tom Sutherland up as an example to handle pain. Survive it, then forget it and get on with the rest of your life. Doug Burks _O_ dbx@olympic.atmos.colostate.edu |< She really is!! ======================================================================== From: foster@magnum.convex.com (Harry Foster) Subject: I Bring You Tidings Of Great Joy! Date: Mon, 9 Dec 91 13:39:45 CST Harry here: Thanks for the address, Vickie. My HGP song is Lene Lovich's "The Night" which clocks in at 4:30. Hey, the tapes in the mail ... :) _ _____ _______ __ / /_/ / _ \/ / _ \ \/ / / __ / _ / / _ /\ / (Hope you all have a Hairy Christmas) /_/ /_/_//_/_/_/ \_\/_/ ======================================================================== Date: Mon, 9 Dec 91 13:15:30 MST From: dbx@olympic.atmos.colostate.edu (Doug Burks) Subject: Stuff (tm) Greetings, Alan wrote an interesting article about 'mainstream' vs 'alternative' music: It seems to me that most of your argument is just playing with words. By definition, 'alternative' is not 'mainstream' music, whether it directly attacks the mainstream or not. On one hand, you admit that the source of most alternative music is 'angst-ridden college pretentiousness'. Won't you admit on the other that 'mainstream' music may have some interesting lyrics? Your definition of 'mainstream' seems to preclude it. Rock 'n' roll has always ridden a cycle varying from being part of the mainstream to attacking it. Elvis Presley was attacked viciously for his music and sexually suggestive live shows. The Beatles were equally attacked for their raucous music and long hair, even back in their early years (1964-65). (Gee, they look like nice clean-cut kids from our perspective, not the threatening rebels they were then). The punk/new age movement of the late Seventies was equally attacked for their colored hair, pierced noises, and wild shows. Personally, I haven't seen the same reaction to today's 'alternative' music. If they're attacking the mainstream they certainly aren't doing a good job of it. The attack is more from heavy metal and rap. All of these groups which so threatened the mainstream at one time, eventually moved in and became the mainstream. Way back in the good ole days, challenging music made the charts. The Beatles, Doors, Bob Dylan, and other groups I can't remember certainly didn't write empty lyrics. Moving into the late Seventies/early Eighties, Bruce Springsteen, U2, the Police, and others wrote meaningful songs while selling lots of albums. (How do you categorize KaTe, who is mainstream in Britain and alternative in the US?) These songs may not cover the "angst, isolation, alienation, disillusionment, depression, and rejection" and railing against the mainstream that you prefer, but that doesn't make them lyrically worthless. In short, every category in music has its good stuff and its bad stuff, including 'mainstream' and 'alternative'. By the way, thank you for your contribution to our 'social misfit' thread. Welcome back, Martin. Thank KaTe that you'll never know I screwed up your name again! (Oops!) A warm fuzzy blue welcome to Terry Partis, and a late, but still warm blue fuzzy happy birthday to Chip! Doug Burks _O_ dbx@olympic.atmos.colostate.edu |< She really is!! ======================================================================== Date: 9 December 1991 13:11:42 CST From: Subject: Do All Rhodes Really Lead to the Mall?, or: The Ecto Shopping Guide As per a good idea which Doug threw out at us last week, I have codified my new product ideas to date, and am now pleased to offer the 1991 Ecto Xmas Holiday Wish Book of inimitable fancy gadgets, guaranteed to delight any and all conspicuous consumers on your Solstice season gift list. This year's line of designer tchotchkes from the Ecto industrial machine: EAU de DREARS perfumes and fragrances WALKING TOAST outerwear and other cold-weather apparel (some electrically heated, batteries not included) DEEP-SWEEP vacuum cleaners CRANIUM KEEP carrying devices (sort of a fanny pack for the head) H.A.P. BOX bedside entertainment centers COME HERE (I WANT TO FEEL YOU IN THE DARK) luminescent sex toys CRYSTAL ORBS energy efficient, multiyear light bulbs HAPPY CAMPER recreational vehicles and motor homes FUZZY BLUE VICKIE lingerie/underfashions/intimate apparel in blue velvet (produced in association with the Victoria's Secret chain of finer lingerie dealerships) WARM FUZZY BLUE thermal lingerie/underfashions/intimate apparel (a joint venture of the Walking Toast and Fuzzy Blue Vickie divisions) POETIC JUSTICE (MY EARS HAVE PARASITES) flea sprays and related pet-care products (_not tested on animals_) MOONBEAM FRIENDS Oxy and Nitro Blend Shampoo X-ECTO hobby knives I'M GOING BACK Kitty Windows (a household ingress/egress device for cats) The FUZZY BLUE pre-mix cocktail (sometimes also referred to as the "Fuzzy Blue Navel"), a mix of blue curacao and an as yet indeterminate list of other liqueurs, which has yet to be perfected but is included here for completeness. The WARM FUZZY BLUE [NAVEL] pre-mix cocktail, a heated variant of the above with certain liquors traditionally served hot added to the formula FUZZY BLUE MOLD FARM starter kits for home penicillin-making. In addition to the above, the following special merchandise is being offered this year in consideration of the upcoming political campaigns: BUSH '92 posters, prominently displaying the likeness of our KaTe as the preferred candidate of Ectoians everywhere. IMPEACH BUSH posters, with the famous artwork of KaTe and the peach serving as the focal point for a cogent commentary on the state of the body politic in general :-). Both posters are available in either the regular or the deluxe Suspended ======================================================================== From: Gaffa! ///////////////////////////////////////// Since dreaming up all the foregoing, a couple of things have come to mind outside the realm of consumer products _per se_, to-wit: 1) In view of the growth of the so-called service economy in recent years, it might pay to latch on to this trend. My first idea for our branching out into services is the WRENCHES GONE AWRY? chain of tool repair and maintenance shops. This could be done on a franchise basis; to increase the appeal of franchises to unemployed unionized screenwriters, we could organize it into two operating units, to be called WGA?-East and WGA?-West. :-) 2) With the recent service reductions on many public transportation systems, riders will oft-times be waiting longer in the cold this winter, and then have to endure a slower, more crowded ride. They could use some diversions. For our first foray into transit advertising, we could reproduce postings to the Ecto mailing list, add a plug for the Walking Toast clothing line, buy space in bus interiors, subway stations, the shelters at certain bus stops, etc., and give the hapless straphangers something to read, under the umbrella title TOAST POSTIES. (Think about that one a while, and it may begin to make sense. :-) ) ///////////////////////////////// On a completely irrelevant topic: Chicago-area Ectoians may be interested in the new play _Christmas with Elvis_, which is on until the end of the month at a small North Side theater, the name of which escapes me. It's a comedy about a neurotic single woman who's visited by the ghost of Elvis during the solstice season. WBEZ had a feature on it the other day, and I didn't hear most of it, but what I did hear sure sounded amusing. I'm going to try to get out to see it next weekend, and will report back to you on what I find out. ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Fall semester project Future Robber Barons Club Boomdidiwana High School written by: Mitch Pravatiner chief copywriter ======================================================================== To join ecto, please send electronic mail to the following address: ecto-request@athos.rutgers.edu To have your thoughts included in the next issue, send mail to: ecto@athos.rutgers.edu To subscribe to "Ecto", the printed fanzine, send $8 to: Ecto PO Box 11291 New Brunswick, NJ 08906 Ecto is issued 8 times/year, and will include photos and as much material from non-net members as we can get! Donations above the subscription cost are welcomed - all money goes to bringing you better issues! Your "humble pseudo-moderator" -- jessica (jessica@athos.rutgers.edu)