hey i don’t know you but you seem nice what exactly is this site? I was just board and wanted to talk on line and I found this. Am i suppose to ask you a question? if I am then heres one:how old are you and were do you live and stuff
Hey! I'm board too!
i read a wonderful story by you, dp. the portion i remember vividly was about reincarnation. the souls look down from above and see the couples in passion and jump down. which book or story is this? i love it and would like to reread it.
thanks, josie
You seem to be referring to the Tibetan Book of the Dead, which I did not write, to the best of my recollection, which is not to say I didn't write it.
I’m 32 but read several of your books when I was in middle school. The Snarkout Boys left a lasting impression on me, leading to my night owl ways, with the hanging out in coffee shops and telling people that mono is better than stereo (I have an unpopular DJ friend who agrees whole-heartedly). Thank you for enriching my life.
Sometime we should discuss why AM is better than FM. Thanks for the kind words.
I am trying to locate a copy of a story you did for NPR approximately 20-25 years ago. I was living in Washington, DC at the time and habitually listened to NPR and WAMU driving to and from work. The story concerned your personal initiation as a young person to art — painting I believe–as a result of a visit to a museum. It was a wonderful story of a transformational moment. I actually owned a copy of this once but loaned it out and never received it back. Do you know the story I am talking about?
No, I don't know what story you're talking about--but Webmaster Ed does.
I believe it's in ""Hoboken Fish and Chicago Whistle"" -- Ed.
Hearing Daniel and Scott read the science project story on NPR Sat a.m. made me think the author believes in “Grey Goo” — scary thought.
“Grey goo
Grey goo refers, usually in a science fictional context, to a hypothetical human extinction event involving nanotechnology, in which out-of-control self-replicating robots (Von Neumann machines) consume the Earth while building more of themselves. The scientific (technical) term for this risk, coined by Robert Freitas, is global ecophagy. In a worst-case scenario, all of the matter in the Galaxy could be turned into goo (with “goo” meaning a large mass of replicating nanomachines lacking large-scale structure, which may or may not actually appear goo-like), killing the Galaxy’s residents. The disaster would most likely be due to an accidental mutation in an assembler.
Assuming a nanotechnological replicator is capable of causing a grey goo disaster, safety precautions might include programming them to stop reproducing after a certain number of generations, or designing them to require a rare material that would be sprayed on the construction site before their release. However, it should be noted that it is unlikely that nanotechnology will be capable of creating grey goo at all.
The primary limitation on even arbitrarily sophisticated nanotechnology which prevents a runaway grey goo reaction is the lack of a sufficient source of energy. A nanomachine wouldn’t be able to get much energy out of eating inorganic matter such as rocks because, aside from a few exceptions (coal, for example) it’s mostly well-oxidized and sitting in a free-energy minimum. This means that the nanobots would be competing with natural life forms for organic matter or sunlight, life forms which have been evolving for over four billion years to optimize their ability to compete for these resources. If the nanomachine is itself composed of organic molecules, then it might even find itself being preyed upon by preexisting bacteria and other natural life forms. If they are built of inorganic compounds or make much use of elements that are not generally found in living matter, then they will need to use much of their metabolic output to fighting entropy as they purify (reduce sand to silicon, for instance) and synthesize the necessary building blocks. Grey goo may only be possible in an environment which lacks indigenous life. ”
Funny you should mention it. I had grey goo for lunch.
Daniel, I am enjoying the Neddiad , although I find the Chicago happenings to be unbelievable. For example, 551 East Roscoe would put you in 250 feet of Lake Michigan water. And there is no school with such a dumb name as Nettelhorst. Your loyal reader, Belmont Branch
This would explain all the fish my mother served. Glad you're on board, Belmont.
On imdb.com, you are listed as the narrator for the movie A Christmas Story. Now (December, 2006) there is a Cingular commercial which spoofs this movie, and the narrator sounds a lot like you. Did you do the commercial? I apologize for bringing up A Christmas Story, especially if it bugs you. I won’t do it again. Promise!
The great Jean Shepherd narrated, (and wrote), A Christmas Story, as everyone but imdb.com must know, and the commercial, in the great tradition of ripping Shep off, uses someone who sounds a little like him. I sound a little like him, 'cause of similar timbre, and also similar regional accent. And it was a thrill to be a commentator on All Things Considered after he had that gig for a while. Not exactly a thrill, but was a big honor to write an obit for him for the NY Times magazine section. There are some Jean Shepherd sites, where you can probably hear sound clips--but nothing can compare to the days when you could tune him in live on the radio, late at night, on WOR out of NY, a station whose signal carried to many parts of the country. Excelsior.
Dear Mr Pinkwater,
Long time no write. I’m now in 6th Grade. I just wanted you to know that your still number 1!!!!!!!!! I just finished “The Artsy Smatsy club”. And I have to say I could put it down. It was so good that I do not think i could read another that book can even come close to how good it was. Well thats all I have to say.
Sincerly,
Ryan Duncan
Ryan, when I finished writing the Artsy Smartsy Club, I felt that I could not write another book that could even come close to how good it was. This feeling was really strong for about 3 days. Feeling that feeling is the second-best thing about being a writer. Then the feeling began to wear off, and I wondered if maybe I could write something that would be as good, or possibly better. After a while I started writing The Neddiad, (which you can read, a chapter at a time, on this website). Right now, the feeling that I can't write another one as good, (as The Neddiad), has almost worn off, and I am almost to the point of feeling the first-best feeling about being a writer.
The most recent Citibank Christmas living richly advertisement voice over for Santa Claus sounds just like your voice. Any truth to the supposition?
I wish. Those voice-over jobs pay hugely.
Dear Mr. D. Manus Pinkwater/Daniel Pinkwater/Daniel M. Pinkwater,
I am a huge fan of your work, at least, a little. That is what I’m writing about. I love the Snarkout Boys, so if you could write another one of those, that would be awesome. Also, anything like anything in 4 Fantastic Novels would be great, and also, something as good as Alan Mendelson. It might be asking a lot, telling someone to write good books, but it would really make my life better.
The 456,782nd person claiming to be your biggest fan,
G. Charles Egan
Did you check out The Neddiad, currently available on this very website? For free!
Geez, with that question, I’m scared already! (thanks, Mom.!) At the ripe old age of 53, I realized that all these wierd storys I’ve been making up, and that kid’s seem to like, are kind of cool, and they just keep coming. One I am working on now is ,The Peanut Butter and Jelly Fish.
Where do I go from here?
Everytime I hear you talk to Scott on NPR, I get that warm , bubbly feeling, like I can do it. all these creatures, in my head ,want to speak to kid’s and just give them a laugh, because , I believe that is the very best thing you can give to anybody. Went I finnally have my story, pen to paper, where can it go?
Merry Christmas!
OX,
Cynthia L. Mason
The main thing is to write it. As to ""where can it go?"" there are a zillion websites which address that topic. A mistake to assume that because I am an author and get published I know anything. Have fun!
Last June you kindly shared your V 1.5 rules that includ the one (how could I have forgotten it?) most important: Don’t eat anything stupid.
Combined household weight loss since then: 18 pounds.
It is fundamental to have flavor and the soup can be made delectable.
I may add that we have not deleted wine from our lives.
Thanks
Renato
If your house is losing weight, it might be good to rule out termites.
Hi people
I do not know what to give for Christmas of the to friends, advise something ….
A large supply of oatmeal (uncooked), nicely wrapped, never fails.
