Book Club
 

I actually just bought five or six books yesterday but not that one. So I cannot play until I get through those and this month's Vanity Fair. Which reminds me, has anyone read Empress Bianca?

If you are wondering, the books I bought are the new John Irving (my favorite author, and if anyone wants to book club that, please let me know), Devil's Teeth, The Modern Jewish Girls Guide to Guilt (or something like that), Dry by Augustus BUrroughs ( I relaize I am behind on this), that Greg Behrendt book bc I recently caught his standup act which was the funniest one I have ever seen, and I have seen quite a few, and I think another one,

If anyone wants to bookclub Irving or the Devils Teeth (non fiction about greatwhite sharks and somebody's odyssey off of some islands not far from SF), do say so,

My last thought is the quesiton of who watches Book Notes on C-Span has finally been answered.

Book Club
 

Spanky has better things to do than search the dreck and drivel on the FB. Frankly, between this board and PB i see no use for the FB.

Ty@50, any futuristic commentary on the fate of the FB as a separate Board?

Book Club
 

I buy VF for Hitchens, and Hitchens' piece this month about the South is wrly/ryely funny, if you like that sort of thing. Is there a better writer than Hitchens?

FUCK Dominick Dunne. Somebody fire the decrepit starfucker already. Why does that relic still command five pages?

Book Club
 

Hitchens hates Clinton more than I do. And he's semi-pro-Bush. You confuse me.

Book Club
 

I thought you meant Dominique Dunn and I'm pretty sure she's already gotten more than what was coming to her.

Now I search and see she is his daughter. That is sort of sad.

Book Club
 

since this board is going member's only pretty soon I don't think the elitism is seemly. FB is still a fine board, and for those not invited here, an adequate substitute. separate but equal.

Book Club
 

There's style and there's substance. I like the way the guy writes.

Friends ask me why I read the National Review. Why not? Its funny. I like Buckley, and the writing's good, even if I don't agree with most of it. Why would anyone only read writers who reinforce their own views? That makes you an idiot, which explains a lot of this country, i guess...

Book Club
 

But why would ty keep deleting me then?

Book Club
 

So this thing with you and Penske and Spanky really is a circle jerk, and not some kind of blowing thing. Good. I got confused earlier today when there was the running the hand through the hair comment.

Book Club
 

That old man long ago burned thru all the free good will and accolaades he was handed because of his daughter's murder. He needs to hang it up.

Book Club
 

Yes, I am sure it will be fine for them

Book Club
 

Are you calling Ty an idiot?

Book Club
 

There's amodel on chubbyhandjobs.com that I imagine is you! Do you have relatives in the biz?

Book Club
 

For some reason I mis-read that as "cubbyhands.com" and I cut and pasted it. Merde!

Book Club
 

I have read the Hitchens piece, which was pretty good. I liked the bit about the beer druniks leaning on him for support. But the James Wolcott piece on the porn memoir was the true gem this month. That guy clearly is so repressed that he probalby never watched a porno til he got that assignment. Goes right to the very pomposity of VF that it somtimes should avoid.

I used to love the Dominick Dunne. I loved all his novels. That said, his letters have become little more than a token society name drop. And how is he not gay?

THe very best part of that magazine is the questionnaire by that old queen, George.

I lookforwas to the Jen Aniston reveal article.

Book Club
 

That *is* me. If we are talking about the same person.

First Book Club Reading Assignment
 

We have a quorum and the book is "Until I Find You" by John Irving. My local bricks and mortar bookstore cashier assures me that the feedback has been smashing from fans and newbers alike, and that the NYTBR was way off base. Probalby some hater.

Its a huge book. Should we set a deadline of the second Friday in September? Is that doable?

Book Club
 

I really can't say much. In September 2005 the Spanky board went private, and I missed the cut. I still was on FB with lots of really funny people! But I really can't say how that compares to what you (there I told you your fate) and the others who are "in" enjoyed over the years.

We tell ourselves it's not much, but well, rumor is Spanky invited most of you to his inaugural as Governor. Remember, and if it turns out true that he does, PM me?

Book Club
 

He actually wrote a piece about her murder for Vanity Fair years ago. It was the first thing I'd ever heard of either of them and, as you said, sad. Then I realized that he specialized in that sort of thing. As his bio says here: "The line between the personal and professional life of Dominick Dunne has always been blurred." (Link)

First Book Club Reading Assignment
 

Fiction is kind of hard to talk about isn't it? Either you liked it or you didn't. What else is there to say? I know English teachers like to look for symbolism, and the authors motiviations but I think that is B.S.

First Book Club Reading Assignment
 

You can talk about whether you think the author did a good job creating the plot, making his points or giving the characters what they needed in order to make an effective story. Whether it was compellingly told, had logical or aesthetic holes, etc. You can also talk about why a character did this or that, why the author chose to go in a certain direction, etc.

First Book Club Reading Assignment
 

And what is there to discuss with non-fiction? The accuracy of the facts? The ridiculousness of the thesis? I think Oprah would beg to differ but then I have never been in a book club. Maybe the PB should have a book club for political books?

First Book Club Reading Assignment
 

Speaking of Oprah, I don't think my Oprah haiku ever got the credit it deserved. So I'll share it again. Maybe Spanky will dig it.

The moon grows to full
Wanes, before waxing again
Kind of like Oprah

It's no "Spankyland Uber Alles," but still.

Book Club
 

Since I invented this board as THEE alternative to the FB, I believe it should be named after me.

Book Club
 

I'm down with that.

Book Club
 

Like, The Club?

someone PM me as I'm sure I won't be cool enough to qualify for membership. And I wouldn't belong to a club anyway.

Um, someone I don't have on ignore should PM me.

confidential post to everyone but fringie
 

If any of y'all should happen to correspond or otherwise communicate with the fringester and my name should happen to come up, please give her my regards, notwithstanding that we are are on break (fringe and me, not y'all and me, except for less, we are on break too (hi less!)).

Book Club
 

The porn article was good, but you're right. The author was too clueless to write anything revelatory.

Dunne's too boring to be a gay gossip columnist.

Why is Aniston still famous? I don't read the celeb expose pieces. I like my celebs in their movies/tv shows. I couldn't care less about their personal lives.

Book Club
 

I like that - or the CB for short.

Book Club
 

No fucking way. I point you to Spanky's post right after mine.
Link to this

Book Club
 

Which could also mean "chick board." Sounds about right for a book club.

Book Club
 

?:(

Cat Plague
 

Dear Spanky,
This is all over the news, but it case you missed it, there Plague is affecting cats all over Northern Cal. You're supposed to keep you cats indoors, but many people can't do that because they have outdoor cats, like you. Still - watch for signs of the Plague.

story here

Excerpt...State health officials warned cat owners Wednesday to keep their pets away from wild rodents, citing the detection of the plague in four house cats since late May.

"People who handle or have close contact with an infected cat risk getting plague," said Dr. Howard Backer, the state's interim public health officer. "The most important step pet owners can take to protect their cats and themselves from getting plague is to prevent their cats from hunting wild rodents."

"The motivation for us putting out this was, we routinely have one or two cases in cats each year," said Curtis Fritz, an epidemiologist with the infectious-diseases branch of the state Department of Health Services. "This year, we have already had four cases."

Plague is a highly infectious bacterial disease that is spread by fleas carried by squirrels and other wild rodents. Cats can become infected by hunting or consuming an animal that carries plague.

Although it is rare for humans to contact plague through exposure to cats, state health officials say 23 human plague cases in the United States have been associated with infected house cats since 1977, and four of them were in California.

Two California victims died: an El Dorado County resident in 1980 and a Kern County resident in 1984. The most recent California case was in August 1997, and that victim survived.

Health experts say house cats should be kept indoors if possible and should be supervised or, if possible, leashed (hahahahahaha, a leashed cat) when allowed outside.

Book Club
 

Ty@50, in the future do we come to realize that sometimes, less is more? npi.

Cat Plague
 

Thanks for the heads up.

Cat Plague
 

Just watch for coughing or sneezing. By the cats.

Bankruptcy
 

Legal Question


A guy I am buying a house from is filing bankruptcy today. The bank is scheduled to auction his house tomorrow. In order to stop the auction he has to let the bank "officially know" that he is in bankruptcy.

Does anyone know which document I send, or how I legally let the bank know that he is Bankruptcy?

Bankruptcy
 

The automatic stay kicks in immediately upon filing of the petition by operation of law. I'd send them a letter (with the case number), advising them that Mr. Smith has filed a petition for relief under chapter whatever with the bankruptcy court. Presumably, they're a creditor, so they'll get served with the petition by the clerk later.

I'm not smart enough to know whether you will actually be able to buy the house or not after he files. Good luck.

Bankruptcy
 

Send them what he filed. It should be available on line. If not, you should at least be able to get the docket.

Actually, send them any official proof and they are obligated by law to stop the auction. I'd also send a letter quoting the section of the law providing for the automatic stay.

Bankruptcy
 

I know I can buy the house after he goes into bankruptcy. I just have to get the administrator's permission. I have done that before. I just want to make sure that they don't auction the house tomorrow, and if they do, I want to make sure that can't claim that they were not "properly" notified.

tx