Sinister: Drinking Strange Wine

[James Gilmer]

Hello dear Sinister Siblings! The Sinister Village seems to be coming alone
quite nicely and I think Portmerion would make a splendid local for the
village. Well it seems as if many of the more exciting shops are spoken for,
it also seems I have already have a job waiting for me as the Lovely Laura
Llew wrote:

"So far, I would love if the following would
come & be residents of the book shop: Jim 'I'm so hip I have trouble seeing
over my pelvis' Gilmer"

    ummm...I do believe that's a compliment but one can never be too sure.
Well, I suppose I can take employment with Lil' Llew until I figure out what
sort of shop (no, make that Shoppe) I want to open. Until then I can sit in
Llew's bookstore sipping hot chocolate as I debate the wit and wisdom of
Harlan Ellison with Lil' Llew. Ah, I have not only made another B&S convert
this week but also converted someone to Jeff Noon and Harlan Ellison...the
revolution continues apace. Has the village a video store yet? I can sling
videos with the best of them, (Iwould of course have a massive cult section
filled with indie films and foreign films and anime and anything else I can
think of) or if there is a burning need for a breakfest cook then you need
look no further. Or perhaps I could run the occult shoppe down the lane,
filled with strange old books that moan in dead languages when you open
them? As you can tell I'm up for anything...

    Someone (apologies, I forget who) was brilliant enough to mention The
Prisoner, which was the most dead brilliant television show I've ever seen.
It was with much glee that I found a local shop that rents the old episodes
and managed to complete my collection. I also must agree that Portmerion
would make a perfect local for our Sinister Village and must bring up
pennyfarthings. The Sinister Village must have pennyfarthings because I
think that would be just the twee-est (and I think pennyfarthings look cool,
though I'd never in a million years try to ride one).

    Awhile back Erica mentioned that we should all listen to "Playground
Love" by AIR, and it is with much shame that I admit I hadn't heard of AIR
until several fine sinister people brought it up. So I was looking for them
in Harmony House only to find them under techno...nothing wrong with that
but I suspected that it might not be my cup of tea so I put off buying it.
Well, of course I later heard the MP3 of "Playground Love" and was floored
by it, absolutly astounded. It's brilliant and I rushed out to snatch up the
album. So the moral of the story...when Erica says go out and listen to a
bloody song you damn well do it, it's for your own good it is.

Nick said:
    "I've just got a promo copy of the new Delgados album, called 'The Great
Eastern', which has brightened my day.  I didn't even know there was one on
the
way.  It's great what you can find in the Guardian music editor's bin."

    The Delgados are another band that Sinister people turned me onto
(including the chap who first introduced me to B&S those long fourteen
months ago) and I should add that they are brilliant, wonderful, and a total
blast. A new album coming soon then? Ah, it is indeed a Good Thing.
    I should like to thank all my Sinister Siblings for the wonderful music
they have turned me onto that otherwise might have slipped through my
fingers; from Lucksmiths to Looper to Degados to Elephant Six, such
wonderful tunes.

    Oh, and I would be remiss if I didn't send thanks out to the Sinister
Chatters who had many fine suggestions for me when I had to go read to the
elementary children for Dr. Seuss's birthday. Alas, though I ended up going
with AA Milne's original "Winnie-the-Pooh" stories instead of some of the
wonderful suggestions that I got, the chatters (especially Will for his
"Fredrick" suggestion) introduced me to a slew of kids books that I ended up
getting for my niece.
    Speaking of that, I had a most brilliant time on thursday. A local
school (in fact, the school I attended when I was in K-5) held a community
event where people came in and read to classes for Dr. Seuss's birthday. It
was a blast as the kids were wonderful, intelligent, and a great audience.
    It was rather odd since several office aides and two teachers recognized
me a full decade after I had been there. I'm not sure if it's a good thing
or a bad thing that I've changed so little.

Ah, well....

Recommended reading is: anything by Robert Holdstock..."The Hollowing",
"Bone Forest", "Lavondyss", "The Fetch", all brilliant.

Goodbye Rag!
Goodbye Tag!

Be Sinister Children.....

Jim

"One last love song, to bring you back, bring you back. One last shot in the
dark. One last kiss in black. Walk right on.And keep walking, for as long as
you can. It all ends, old son. In the death, all you've got is a memory and
an old love song".- Warren Ellis, "Hellblazer"

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