Mr. Muddle's Befuddled Universe

Tim's MailBox: Who are you?

Attempted apology: I beg the pardon of all the kind and gentle folk who have sent me queries. I am very tardy in making my replies. I give special regards to a very special lady. I hope she can find it in her heart to forgive me. I will attempt to catch up on my correspondence in the very near future.

— Tim

Photo Credit: Eradicator
Cropping: Mr. Muddle

MAILBOX QUESTION:
Who are you?

(But first, a) Phone Call

You didn't RSVP! Are you alive?

REPLY: I looked all around the house. I called the authorities. No body found. No person reported missing. Arrive at your own conclusion.

Letter

I received a message from a nice Brazilian woman. She is an event promoter.

Let's call her Julie.

Julie asked, ``Who are you?"

Julie said she is a curious person.

MY REPLY: Thank you so much for your message, Julie.

Who am I? Such a simple, yet challenging question. What are the possible answers? We are what we do. We are what we think. We are what we eat. Let me attempt a reply to your question that is relevant to your position as an event promoter.

I live in the Bay Area of California; that is, San Jose.

I consider myself an independent writer and publisher (something akin to an independent musician). I develop my own projects. I do my own writing. I publish my own work.

Currently I have three projects. These three projects are: (1) Tim's Befuddled Universe, (2) Loose-Leaf Living, and (3) Harry & Olive: Their True Adventures.

Tim’s Befuddled Universe* focuses on popular culture (music, film, TV, etc). Tim’s Befuddled Universe has been in operation since December 2004.

Loose-Leaf Living is a Pop Philosophy site. It is currently inactive, while it is being revamped. I plan to re-launch the site early in 2009.

Harry & Olive will be an online episodic fictional series, which will be launched in the fall of 2008. Each installment will be about 2,000 words in length. There will be about 5 to 8 installments per episode. The episodes will be text-based, but fast-paced and exciting. (The Harry & Olive website will be located at http://www.harryandolive.com.)

At the current time I am focusing my energy on the launch of Harry & Olive, and that is keeping me very busy.

I recognize Befuddled.org has a growing audience in Mexico and Central & South America, and I hope people in those regions realize their readership is very much welcome and appreciated. As I hope all befuddled readers realize they are very much appreciated. A big smooooch to you all. (Also, hugs and kisses to the folks who share their smiles.)

Julie, as an event promoter, you may wish to keep me informed of acts and events that you are promoting. To do this, you can send me a press release or personal message via email.

Thank you, Julie, for your interest, and your curiosity. I too am a curious person. That's one way I get into so much trouble. ;o)

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*See ``Tim's Befuddled Universe: Back to the Future" for additional information about plans for Befuddled.org. One such plan is guest columnists; for example, Crazy Red.

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``Keep those cards and letters comin', folks
   (Dean Martin)''.
MAILBOX

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Technorati Tags:
music, people, philosophy,
literature, film, and video.

Tim's MailBox: Potpourri

Photo Credit: Eradicator
Cropping: Mr. Muddle

MAILBOX MISCELLANEA

Thank you all again for the grand array of cards, letters, notes, messages, and comments!

Today I was cleaning out my INBOX, and I discovered a number of delightful little cards that more or less spoke for themselves. So I will do just that, let them speak for themselves.

Please, allow me the opportunity to make two brief comments before we begin.

1. May you all have a pleasant and happy Valentine's Day! (Valentine's Day submissions.)



2. Astute readers of Tim's Befuddled Universe (and you all are, except perhaps Harry Bentley),... Now, I have lost my train of thought. Oh, yes! Astute readers have noticed that Part two of Nomali Brennet's concert write up is long past way overdue! Long past overdue!
   Even astuter readers (``and you know who you are!'') have also noticed that the presentation of the next Chewy Choice Lifetime Achievement Award is also long past way overdue! Long past overdue!
   Hmmmmm.
   Curious circumstances, indeed! However, Mrs. Muddle would say, ``Correlation does not mean causation!'' (For example, two people fart at the same time, then they later develop the same type of cancer. Mrs. Muddle would suggest that we should not jump to the conclusion that farting causes cancer, even though farting clearly has an obvious correlation with cancer. Poor Mrs. Muddle, she clearly doesn't  realize how dangerous farts can be!)
   Now everyone repeat, ``The Voo Doo doesn't work, if you don't Doo Voo!''
   Soon this will be as clear as pea soup on a muggy day. Until then, listen up here.
   Previous Chewy Choice winners were Patrick Tanner and Lorna Bracewell.

Cards

Marisa Tomei is Still Lovely

A Nashville, TN, reader is a big Marisa Tomei fan (aren't we all?). He thought we might enjoy a look see at her 2000 appearance on Jon Stewart's Daily Show. Take a look see!

Next, A What?

The short film that follows was recommended by a fan of Tim Gadzinski. I admit I do not know who sent in the recommendation, but I do have a short list of some of Tim Gadzinski's closest friends, so I am ready to round up all the usual suspects.

The film is called All Amateur Ecstasy. It is a spoof, so put your tongue firmly in your cheek before you begin watching. (Of course, I have no idea what they're spoofing!)

AtomFilms.com: Funny Videos | Funny Cartoons | Comedy Central

All Amateur Ecstasy was an Atom Films production. Sophia Skiles, Miriam Sirota, Julie Atlas Muz, and Tim Gadzinski appeared in the film. Here is the other pertinent info: Producer, Kim Ima; Cinematographer, Director, Editor, Greg Pak; Still Photographer, Gaffer, Wesley Law; Boom, Kim Ima; Music, Rick Knutsen. Unfortunately, they did not list the caterer.

Metamorphose into a Frog Friend

Image ownership:
Ctr. for Global Environmental Ed.

Another reader suggested we should all learn more about frogs. Here is the link the individual recommended. It is a good resource for all ages.
http://cgee.hamline.edu/frogs/

Previous Letter Follow-Up

Previously, we had a letter from Charlie Chenney regarding fawm.org (February Album Writing Month dot Org). You can find the previous Q&A here.

After the posting, I asked Charlie how he prepared for a FAWM; that is, how does one prepare to write 14 songs in 28 days?

That conversation was off the record, so I can't mention what Charlie said. Nor should I mention that he listed off his last 13 sexual fantasies, and that I recorded the conversation, but I am digressing somewhat.

The point is that Charlie asked his fellow FAWMERS how they approach the task of writing a song. The question lead to a lively discussion in the fawm.org songwriter forum.

You can read the discussion for yourself here.

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``Keep those cards and letters comin', folks
   (Dean Martin)''.
MAILBOX

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Technorati Tags:
music, people, philosophy,
literature, film, and video.

Tim's MailBox: Feb Album Writing Month dot ORG

Photo Credit: Eradicator
Cropping: Mr. Muddle

MAILBOX QUESTION:
What the jeepers is fawm.org?
     Or...
Can you write 14 songs in 28 days?

Thank you all again for the grand array of cards, letters, notes, messages, and comments! You have illustrated once again what a truly eldritch group you all are. And that comes from my heart.

Cards

I will begin with a couple delightful postcards.

I received a colorful postcard from Secret Admirer. (Surprisingly, Mister Postman did not deliver the postcard to his private collection.)

Miss Admirer asked if she and Mister Tim might meet for coffee and share some sugar and cream.

REPLY: I fear I will have to postpone such and similar invitations for coffee, until I can afford to hire an appointments secretary, but your genuine and, dare I say, optimistic enthusiasm does verily hearten me.

Rumpelstiltskin wrote,``Guess who?''

REPLY: I know who you are, but don't expect me to spell your name any two times the same way.

Letters

Ah, at last we have arrived; that is, we have reached the question poised in the title.

What is fawm.org?

The question was raised by Charlie Cheney (no relation to anyone).

MY REPLY: Sorry, Charlie! I'm just teasing you.

Of course, Charlie knows that FAWM is the acronym for February Album Writing Month, which is an annual contest to write 14 songs in 28 days during the month of February.

FAWM has a really cool website, fawm.org, and the contestants are called FAWMERS. (How cool is that?) To top it off, you can watch the progress of all the individual FAWMERS online.

As Charlie told me, ``[the FAWM website is a] cool place to hear songs as they're written...  '' And it appears they also provide a place for you to comment on the songs after they have been written. (Zip me  and throw me in a box! I think I'm in Heaven. :)

4 MAR 2008 Update: Here is a thread in the FAWN forum you might find to be an enjoyable read.

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``Keep those cards and letters comin', folks
   (Dean Martin)''.
MAILBOX

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Technorati Tags:
music, people, philosophy,
literature, film, and video.

Tim's MailBox: Harry & Olive

Photo Credit: Eradicator
Cropping: Mr. Muddle

MAILBOX QUESTION:
Where is Harry & Olive's website?

Thank you all for the grand array of cards, letters, notes, messages, and comments you sent me during this holiday season.

I love you all, too.

I selected one message for my very first MAILBOX posting here on Tim's Befuddled Universe. The message was from Miss ACC.

The lovely note from the delightful Miss ACC, also contained a question.

Miss ACC inquired, `` How to access the new stories??? Harry and Olive...?''

MY REPLY: At the moment, the Harry & Olive stories are only available in your own imagination. But that will change.

Everything changes! Snow falls in the winter, then it rises again in the spring like March sleet. Nothing remains the same. But, it all works out, I guess, when there's April flowers in the end. But April is a long time away! Who could wait such a long time for something so delicious as April flowers?

(I am very Einsteinian, when it comes to time.)

What was the question?

Oh, yes, when will the Harry & Olive website go live?

Watch Tim's Befuddled Universe for announcements and updates; for example, take a look at the first announcement.

IBS also issues regular announcements, and public service updates.

Eventually, you will be able to follow the breadcrumbs that Hansel and Gretel leave behind! ;o)

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To find Tim.
Yahoo! befuddled.

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Technorati Tags: music, people, philosophy, literature, film, and video.