Good Evening #6 of 20

GOOD EVENING

This is John Hodgman writing via special ELECTRONIC SATURDAY INTERRUPTION SERVICE regarding…

THE AREAS OF MY EXPERTISE

…a compendium of amazing true facts, historical oddities, and esoteric trivia that are almost exclusively MADE UP, by me, JOHN HODGMAN, a professional writer.

(SEE: [http://www.powells.com/biblio/0525949089 and, weirdly, http://www.skysoft.co.jp/Newskysoft/GetTitleDetail.asp?UserID=29181450&ISBN=0525949089])

Today is SEPETEMBER 24, 2005, and events require that I quickly, and I hope painlessly, burden you with:

……THESE FEW TIMELY ANNOUNCEMENTS…… ……THAT IS ALL……


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PART ONE: THESE FEW TIMELY ANNOUNCEMENTS

1 ……THIS WEEKEND, the radio program “THIS AMERICAN LIFE” broadcasts episode number 298, on “Getting and Spending,” which includes a complete reading of that section of my book known as SECRETS OF THE MALL OF AMERICA.

NYC AREA LISTENERS may hear this episode by setting their radios to FREQUENCY MODULATION 93.9 (WNYC) tomorrow (Sunday) evening at 6PM.

LISTENERS in other parts of the country may go to www.thislife.org to find out broadcast times for their locales and/or investigate “podcast” options.

THEY WILL ALSO HEAR in this episode: the very fine work of Alex Kotlowitz and radio producer Diane Cook.

AS USUAL, the AMPLITUDE MODULATION listeners have already got the dope, having received this broadcast THIS MORNING at 11AM. To the amplitude modulationists, as always, I say: BRAVO.


2 ……ON TUESDAY, September 27, as previously mentioned here, I have been asked to speak at THE JONATHAN AMES SHOW, a new showcase hosted by Jonathan Ames which each week shall welcome A MAGICIAN, A WRITER, A COMEDIAN, AND A MUSICIAN. (SEE: www.jonathanames.com).

IN THIS CASE, I am passing myself off as THE WRITER. Specifically, I will speak on the subject OF LOBSTERS, and Jonathan Coulton will join me.

This will occur at MO PITKIN’S, 34 Avenue A, in New York City, at 8:30 PM, and tickets will cost $12. They may be ordered electronically here (SEE: http://www.ticketweb.com/user?region=nyc&query=schedule&venue=upmo)


3 ……AND THROUGHOUT THE COMING MONTH, a selection of items from my book shall appear in the OCTOBER issue of GQ MAGAZINE (cover subject=Cameron Diaz).

THIS EXCERPT includes information on UNFORTUNATE HAIRCUTS, WHAT TO TIP IN GRAND HOTELS, PROHIBITION ERA EUPHEMISMS FOR ALCOHOL, and CANE SWORDS, and is designed to be CLIPPED n’ SAVED.

(PLEASE, PLEASE note the dashed “Clip n’ Save” line along the inside edge of the pages, which might be easy to miss, and yet reveals the ASTONISHING TROUBLE GQ went through in order to take this material seriously. Whatever the wisdom of this action, I am grateful).

THE EXCERPT BEGINS on page 212 of the magazine. Astute readers of previous deranged e-mails will note that if you take the “1” out, you are left with the number “22.”

YOU, I TRUST, OF ALL PEOPLE, WILL UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS MEANS.

4 ……THE NEXT LITTLE GRAY BOOK LECTURE, No. 32, on the subject of “HOW TO PREPARE MANUSCRIPTS FOR PUBLICATION” shall occur at Galapagos on October 19 at 8PM.

MORE DETAILS ON THIS SUBJECT SHALL FOLLOW.


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PART TWO: THAT IS ALL

This special ELECTRONIC SATURDAY INTERRUPTION shall constitute the entirety of update #6 of 20 regarding THE AREAS OF MY EXPERTISE,

…a book to be published by Dutton on October 24, 2005, and which shall be for sale via bookstores and computer networks October 20, 2005.

As always QUESTIONS COMMENTS AND CONCERNS on this or any subject may be posed to Hodgman@littlegraybooks.com.

PLEASE DO NOT CALL DUTTON WITH YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT HOBOES.

If you wish to be removed from this mailing list, simply respond to this address and include the word “NO MORE, PLEASE NO MORE” in your reply.

The final mailing on this subject will be made January 2, 2006.

THAT IS ALL.