From: owner-alloy-digest@smoe.org (alloy-digest) To: alloy-digest@smoe.org Subject: alloy-digest V5 #204 Reply-To: alloy@smoe.org Sender: owner-alloy-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-alloy-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk X-To-Unsubscribe: Send mail to "alloy-digest-request@smoe.org" X-To-Unsubscribe: with "unsubscribe" as the body. alloy-digest Monday, August 21 2000 Volume 05 : Number 204 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Alloy: Thomas in People magazine [Robin Thurlow ] Alloy: OT! why I missed yesterday (and what am I doing here instead of Ithaca) [Robin Thurlow ] Re: Alloy: New Wave Damn ["Trevor James Blagg" Subject: Alloy: Thomas in People magazine Hi all, Thomas has just told me he's featured in People magazine! & wanted me to pass the information along to everyone. He actually sent the message yesterday am but I haven't read it till just five minutes ago (reason for this coming momentarily in a different post) At first I was afraid he meant the online version & I'd missed the boat by being a day late; however I've just searched every corner of the site & found no sign of recent articles featuring Thomas... so I assume he means the newsstand edition. Which also means, I'm about to get dressed very rapidly & run to the newsstand to check it out! I'll get a few extra copies for any Alloy members elsewhere in the world who may have trouble obtaining it, just say the word. If it doesn't turn out it's the newsstand edition (though I'm sure it must be), I'll check it out further & get back to you. BTW everyone should check out the online People magazine site for previous articles and interviews which many of us may not have read before - go to http://people.aol.com/people/daily/ and do a search for "Thomas Dolby" in the various categories listed in the side bar. Robin T ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 20 Aug 2000 09:31:56 -0400 From: Robin Thurlow Subject: Alloy: OT! why I missed yesterday (and what am I doing here instead of Ithaca) Here's my rant which I'll abbreviate as much as possible... My union had negotiated a raise for us which was to take effect in Wednesday's paycheck. When Dave checked our bank balance to see if it had gone through, he found out they'd actually shorted my paycheck by half. He then received a phone call from one of the administration guys from my place of employment, saying that a 'clerical error' had been made, and that not only would I be short this week, but that next pay period two weeks from now, I wouldn't be receiving a check at all. Of course, I happen to be away attending a two-week class @ Cornell which is long-distance, and I'm receiving this information through Dave who wasn't given a clear idea of what the problem was. I phoned my supervisor Friday morning & we both thought it best that I come in person to speak to the people in charge. I had to leave my class early on Friday afternoon & got in just under the wire before everyone left for the day, to see if I could find out what was going on. I was informed that when they were adjusting my payrate they accidentally typed in the wrong codes and terminated me. Luckily, they're good enough to offer to front me the money & I did indeed have to sign a few things. Supposedly, everything is fine now... though i want to check out my insurance coverage to be sure that wasn't 'terminated' too (and you *know* I have a fight on my hands, unless the gods are smiling at me really hard right now..) In the midst of all this, I'm going through an employment crisis of a different nature. My position here at the State university is officially temporary (renewed every period, but still temporary), and the powers-that-be have expressed their feelings that my department, Preservation and Special Collections, is really quite useless. They'd rather see the old or damaged books tossed away - never mind the information and history that'd be lost or the immense cost to the library of replacing damaged books when comparatively my repairs cost them a fraction of reordering or sending them to commercial binderies to be rebound. As for Special Collections, I really don't think it would put the University in a very good position if we were to get rid of our original Nuremberg Chronicle and other invaluable research materials because our administration are too cheap to pay for their storage, while some of the university's professors literally have it written into their contracts that they have to have a limousine ride to school every time thay have to teach a class... I can't tell you how absurd the limo thing is at a state school! The only reason I feel remotely secure in my job is that my position is funded by a sizeable grant into which other departments are dipping, and they don't want to do without the money. Meanwhile, the managers of the budget are going through our legitimate supply orders with a fine tooth comb to tell us we don't really need this or that, we're running short on money etc. When I first began there, it took me a solid week to convince the budget people that for book restoration/preservation, we really do need acid-free paper (the most basic thing in the world). And of course, if I should try to push the issue of a certain things we need in order to do our work, I'm reminded that my position is only temporary. Meanwhile, at my Cornell class, they've really liked my work so far and have suggested I apply for one of the bookbinding positions that's opening up this week (weird coincidence, given that I was 'accidentally terminated' this week at my present job!) It would be a permanent full-time position and a great work environment with an amazing collection of books, and full administrative approval and support. My problem - we would have to move to ithaca in the next month & we weren't saving for it & have very little set aside right now. My other problem - - I couldn't possibly leave my present job because of my intense loyalty to my immediate supervisor who is one of the kindest, most wonderful people I've ever met in my life, and is doing everything she can to hold the place together & try to wrangle our budget money out of everyone else's fists. She's counting on me to build the Preservation program based on what I learn at these Cornell classes - which she had to fight Admin to fund my going to. There's no way I could leave at this point... yet I felt I might be passing up a great opportunity if I didn't at least apply to Cornell's book lab. Given what happened to me with the violin shop last year, having my income pulled out from under me with no warning by someone I really trusted, I'm trying to be more logical about things, but I feel like leaving my current position would be a major betrayal & there's just no way I could do it. I would feel like the biggest scum on earth if I left under these circumstances. Anyway to make a long story short, with all this whirling around in my head on Friday, I gave myself a big fat migraine & spent the day in bed. Thus missing the email from Thomas till this morning. I'm now going to the newsstand, and then re-packing for my return to Cornell for the rest of the workshop! Robin T ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 20 Aug 2000 10:59:28 -0400 (EDT) From: Barbara Cohen Subject: Alloy: hi again? Hi all, It's Dr. Barbara Cohen here, from days of yore. I successfully completed my PhD in April and am now a postdoc in Knoxville, TN. Quite a change from Arizona! And now that I have copious spare time again (note dripping sarcasm) I'd like to rejoin the TMDR discussions and etc that I remember fondly :) Barbara Cohen University of Tennessee bcohen@utk.edu ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 20 Aug 2000 21:17:43 +0100 From: "Trevor James Blagg" Subject: Re: Alloy: New Wave Damn Melissa, I've only just got round to reading my email again as I've been on a course for the last few weeks. Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed the concert...I can't wait for it to hit our shores. Sounds like you got a bargain.... For anyone in the UK, the boys are showing some concert and interview footage on VH1 25th August 11pm. However, I quite agree, I'd give up all concerts for evermore just to hear Thomas again (I was 14 years old the last time at the Birmingham Odeon). If anyone should hear an inkling of such a concert, please let this list know, as I'm sure I'm one of a few people more than willing to bankrupt themselves by flying over the Atlantic to witness the event. Trevor.... - ----- Original Message ----- From: Melissa R. Jordan To: Sent: Sunday, August 06, 2000 6:20 PM Subject: Re: Alloy: New Wave Damn > > Trev, > > I just went on Saturday night - my friends and I had $10 lawn seats - the whole > thing was MARVELOUS! First, it was a gorgeous night - plenty of space on the > lawn directly on Baltimore Harbor, nice breeze. Lame opening act promptly > disappeared after 30 minutes, and then, Simon and crew came out and performed > for TWO SOLID HOURS! It was delightful! I felt bad that we'd only spent $10 on > the tickets (and then someone in LA told me they spent $70/each for their > tickets, so I ceased to feel bad!) > > Enjoy! > > Cheers, > > Melissa (I'd give up going to see everyone and anyone, though, just to hear > Thomas play live once...) > > > Trevor James Blagg wrote: > > > Michael, > > > > I can't wait for the Pop Trash Tour to hit our shores. I saw them live about > > 6 months ago in London and their sell out concert rocked!! > > > > Pop Trash.... hmmm Get it!!!...You neeeed it.... > > > > Trev... > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Michael and Denise Luckey > > To: > > Sent: Friday, August 04, 2000 2:09 PM > > Subject: Re: Alloy: New Wave Damn > > > > > > > > On another note from Thomas' appearance on the list my wife and some > > friends > > > of ours went to see Duran Duran perform last Sunday in Doswell, VA. I was > > > impressed by how faithfully they reproduced their hits ending with "The > > > Reflex" which stands as one of their biggest fan favorites but I still > > can't > > > figure out the lyrics to the song! I saw them in 1983 in their heyday so > > it > > > was intriguing to watch them again but as Denise put it when halfway > > through > > > the first song hordes of screaming thirtysomething women mobbed us going > > up > > > to the stage "I now fully realize I am not a teenager anymore!" > > > To quote Thomas, we had to see them "out of sheer jealousy!" > > > M.L. > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: "Jon" > > > To: "Alloy" > > > Sent: Friday, July 28, 2000 5:10 AM > > > Subject: Alloy: New Wave Damn > > > > > > > > > > > > > > My email goes on the blink for a week, and I miss a really good > > > > conversation! Could anyone tell me what exactly I missed? Thomas on a > > > > panel and discussing the Psychedelic Furs?! How cool. I can tottally > > > > see why Thomas would like them...the Ghost In You was such a great > > > > song. And Michael and Denise, I totally agree that Bow Wow Wow was much > > > > more than a one hot wonder. And I think you are well within your right > > > > to consider Blondie new wavers...they were on the scene from Day 1. > > > > I just finished a great book entitled "Please Kill Me". Has anyone > > > > read it? I found it as satisfying as a 2 week vacation. It starts off > > > > with the Velvet Underground and Warhol Factory-Era scenesters, through > > > > Glam rock, the birth of "Punk", and ends with the early 80's + cocaine+ > > > > overdoses. The book is comprised of quotes which form a narrative > > > > thread, forcing you into a state of obsessive, page-turning voyeurism > > > > (eg Iggy Pop actually did THAT? Debbie Harry said WHAT?!) I really > > > > loved it. > > > > >>Jon > > > > > > > > Please Kill Me (the uncensored oral history of punk) > > > > by Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain > > > > > > > > -- > Melissa R. Jordan > > Owner/Artist/Rubber Maven, Compass Rose Studios (http://crstudios.com) > Chief Navigator, Compass Rose Consulting (http://askcrc.com) > > > ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 20 Aug 2000 21:10:37 -0400 From: "Melissa R. Jordan" Subject: Re: Alloy: Thomas in People magazine Hey, Robin! Thanks (and thanks to Thomas) for the heads-up. My favorite part is the 1985 picture with that wig! Crackers - this may be as close as you'll get to the drag shot you want. ;-) I had to attend a family funeral out in Oregon on Friday - did a redeye to get to the service and another redeye back on Saturday morning. It was a dreadful situation, and I was price-gouged by the airline, to boot. In an effort to cheer up, my friend James and I decided to carry on and attend the Wang Chung concert we had tickets for on Saturday evening. We got to the scary-ass "club" (in a run-down strip mall in suburban Northern Virginia) only to find that the opening band had been turned into the opening THREE bands, and that Wang Chung wouldn't be on until midnight... which came as a surprise to Wang Chung, who were sitting in the squished up, nasty, tacky lounge area with us. (This, like Alan Parsons, was another case of Melissa saying to James, "Uh, James - that's Wang Chung sitting at the booth next to us...") I was too beat to stay until midnight to hear, probably, a half-hour set. James had fallen on his way to work on Thursday and cut his chin open and chipped his teeth (!!!) so he still wasn't feeling all that great, either. And it was totally depressing, too, to see that we were the only people there not wearing badges identifying us as being with the band, and to overhear this perky chica telling the Wang Chung guys that she couldn't find them a hotel room near the airport in their $75 price range. Yikes. I still feel guilty, since we seemed to be among the token paying guests. Everybody have fun tonight... yeesh! After eating our $10 hamburgers and downing our $2, 6 oz. Cokes, we Wang Chung'ed our way home. (James had to pay for dinner, since he didn't believe me when I told him that Wang Chung was sitting next to us and was foolish enough to bet that it wasn't them - he should have learned after Alan Parsons, man! I can identify British '80's icon musicians having dinner at 60 paces!) :-) Long, weird weekend - must rest now... Cheers, Melissa - -- Melissa R. Jordan Owner/Artist/Rubber Maven, Compass Rose Studios (http://crstudios.com) Chief Navigator, Compass Rose Consulting (http://askcrc.com) ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 20 Aug 2000 21:14:56 -0400 From: "Melissa R. Jordan" Subject: Re: Alloy: OT! why I missed yesterday (and what am I doing here instead of Ithaca) Robin Thurlow wrote: > Here's my rant which I'll abbreviate as much as possible... > (rant excised) Holy mackerel, Robin! That's simply HORRIBLE about the pay situation! And what a quandry about the Cornell vs. current job thing. Jeez! I wish I could give you some good advice, but I'm certainly not the best to offer it right now (I'm duking it out with Commerce - they don't want to pay me any extra money for running this conference in Georgia, which is a huge slap in the face, now that Schevernadze is confirmed to attend.) I'll think good thoughts for you, both that you get PAID soon and that you and Dave can figure out this new set of possible employment parameters. When it rains, it pours... - - Melissa - -- Melissa R. Jordan Owner/Artist/Rubber Maven, Compass Rose Studios (http://crstudios.com) Chief Navigator, Compass Rose Consulting (http://askcrc.com) ------------------------------ End of alloy-digest V5 #204 ***************************