DJS
Post #2219 – 20070421
April 21, 2007
I just have to take issue with your comment on the program about obesity that if Leno were to make jokes about gay people, he would be gone. You must not have been listening carefully to his monologues, because I can confidently state that he makes gay jokes several times each week, has been for years, and he’s still there. So, fat people are NOT the last remaining group that it’s acceptable to criticize and make fun of. Both gay and fat people have had to develop a thick skin because of the constant barrages we get from all sides. And if we don’t like Leno, we shouldn’t watch him.
Daniel replies:
Quite right, he does make gay jokes, and black jokes, but they are usually inoffensive if not affectionate. His standard fat joke is usually a little mean-spirited, a shouted, ""how fat are we [Americans]?"" or ""how fat-assed are we?"" The implication being that people are fat because they lack the moral strength to be something else. If his standard gay joke were on the lines of ""those gays--they choose to be gay, and it is discreditable,"" I submit you and a lot of other people would be (more) offended, and he would have to answer for what he said. I do like Jay Leno, and I am not particularly offended by (funny) jokes about those groups to which I belong. I was just making a fairly trivial point, which naturally was left in by the editors of that mostly trivial documentary. I did like the fat chicks dance class, and the shots of my dog.
JDS
Post #2217 – 20070417
April 17, 2007
I won’t suck up to a younger author, but I will give credit where it is due. Pinkwater was toying with magic realism and paradoxism before Garcia Marquez or Margaret Atwood, And he introduced them in literature for children. How appropriate and just. He has written about racial and cultural strife in a common sense way, and does not dumb down complex issues. On a superficial note, he introduced the skin cut and snappy specs look to men about twenty years before it caught on with every second American male in this country. It still looks better on Mr. Pinkwater. I think if I could convince him somehow to stick his stale muffins and avocados in the fridge for a while he could write the next classic since Huck FInn, but that’s up to him.
Daniel replies:
Yeh, yeh, another literate type heard from.
Kim Cich
Post #2216 – 20070417
April 17, 2007
Greetings from Grand Island, NY!
It is once a year that our school system has the honor of inviting a guest author to our schools! I was wondering if this is something that you would be interested in doing? If so, Kindly respond! I would be happy to share more information with you at that time! Thank you for time and your consideration! Just think, it will keep you off the streets and selling salami from door to door at least for a day or two! Chow!
Daniel replies:
Thanks for the invitation. These days I am too busy being an author to be a guest-author. When I get time, I plan to create a robot-author who can go around visiting.
Horace Edwin Barre
Post #2215 – 20070416
April 16, 2007
Is that Charles Nelson Reilly asking the Marx bros. riddle? I thought he was dead. Anyway, here’s a quote that touches on the whole thing:”I was changing a light bulb over Groucho Marx’s bed, so I took my shoes off, got on his bed and changed the bulb. When I got off the bed he said: ‘That’s the best acting you’ve ever done.’ “
–Elliott Gould
Daniel replies:
I thought that was Karl, not Groucho.
Anne Burgess Rowe
Post #2211 – 20070415
April 15, 2007
What I have to say is that I wrote and illustrated a children’s book–hours and years on making it as right as I can–I think it’s a good book ;the illustrations are beautiful. The entire book was a dream, start to finish, so the actual work of putting it into form was not a struggle. I am in awe of the field of children’s literature, but totally clueless about what steps to take towards possible publication.
A friend just suggested that I ask you for advice, so I am. What I have is manuscript,copies (black and white and color) of the illustrations and a dummy book. I am purposely leaving it all out in my studio until I do something with it–a daily reminder that I don’t know WHAT to do. Any suggestio from you would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you–Anne Burgess Rowe
Daniel replies:
The children's book writing society, which is like a cross between a wannabe writers' club and some kind of scheme like Mary Kay or selling Tupperware, claims to have around 20,000 members, (the overwhelming majority of whom will never get published, and oughtn't to). 20,000 members! And those are just the ones with money to throw away on membership, conference fees, and extras. Then there are no end of websites all about getting published, also no end of books purporting to tell you how to do it. You want my advice? I advise you to be me--and fall into it without meaning to or knowing what you're doing. If you can't be me, be you--and do what you would do, if you were you.
Adam
Post #2212 – 20070415
April 15, 2007
Mr. Pinkwater,
I had to do a report where I had to pretend to take an author to lunch. I chose to take you to MARS 2112 in Times Square because I have read that it is wild and crazy like you. I ordered you shrimp cocktail, a great hamburger, and cheesecake. I also got you a grape soda. What do you think of this menu?
Also, I was wondering did you ever find out what your dad’s business was. I listened to your NPR interview and heard you talk about it. Also, did you have any relatives like Borgel?
Thanks,
Adam
Age 9
Daniel replies:
Great choices! A little light on the veggies, but what the heck--it's a special occasion. My father bought and sold all kinds of large, heavy, dusty, grimy things, and I had to work for him summers, lifting and dragging them in dark basements, and hot warehouses. Uncle Borgel is based on a real uncle of mine--I had to tone the character down or nobody would have believed it.
Carmen Montagna
Post #2213 – 20070415
April 15, 2007
THE SHOW “Fat: What No One is Telling You,” FAILS TO DO YOU JUSTICE. I HAD LYPO DONE IN ’96 AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT WHILE I GOT TWO NODS FROM TWO LADIES IT WAS A BUNCH OF HOOEY. ANYWAY, I WAS WONDERING IF YOU HAD SEEN ANY OF THE MOVIES LIKE TALES FROM THE GIMLI HOSPITAL BY GUY MADDIN WHO MAKES SILENT FILMS RIGHT HERE IN THE 21ST CENTURY. ALSO, HAS ANYONE TRIED TO MAKE LIZARD MUSIC INTO A MOVIE? I WANT TO SEE THE CHICKEN MAN AND 3-D OR EVEN MUPPET LIZARDS WITH MUSIC BY TOM WAITS, DIRECTED BY BOTH DAVID LYNCH AND TIM BURTON, WITH YOU DOING AN OPENING CAMEO LIKE ALFRED HITCHCOCK DID IN ALL HIS MOVIES.
THEN WALTER CRONKITE COULD SHOW UP IN THE CREDITS.
Daniel replies:
Fails to do anyone justice. Maybe some movie producer will come here by accident and see your post.
Chan Yang
Post #2209 – 20070413
April 13, 2007
Dear Daniel Manus Pinkwater. Indeed, there are so many of you have a pleasant and enjoyable for the children of your soul and interesting book is the most fascinating paintings. In Hong Kong we enjoy in the translation of these titles : * Blue Moose (1975) * Borgel (1990) * * Hob obese men from space* Finally, Her Mentor Hoboken Emergency * * Lizard Paste Music (1976) : * find Bobowicz BRIEF Chick Incredible Story of a Moscow * * * Muffin Diva Incredible Pretzel** We hope that you write and tell you many more years of good wife Gil wish you a wonderful year.
Daniel replies:
Thank you. There are so many of US.
Roger Pekor
Post #2208 – 20070413
April 13, 2007
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
My daughter loves your picture books! The colors and crazy antics of the characters are like nothing else on the shelves of our public library! I wanted to get some of her faves (some are out of print, say the publishers). Is there any way you make these titles available (Like TOOTH NASHER SUPERFLASH and BEOWULF GOES HAWAIIAN) at LULU.COM as a Print on Demand title? Also, do you make guest appearances to autograph your titles and read exerpts? If you are able to travel outside of Poughkeepsie, how much do you charge?
Daniel replies:
I would pay someone else to allow me to travel outside Poughkeepsie. You can often find out of print titles on Ebay and through other internet sources.
Bunnie Watson
Post #2210 – 20070413
April 13, 2007
Thank you for your wise comments on the PBS special, “Fat: What No One is Telling You.” I was nodding and shouting “Amen” when you noted that Jay Leno disses fat people every evening on the “Tonight Show.” I won’t watch his monologue anymore for that reason. I’m glad you said it out loud, for all of us who are built for comfort and not for speed.
Daniel replies:
I watch Jay Leno's monologue, (but not the rest of the show), because he has good jokes sometimes. The whole question of fat is trivial. I would like it known that I declined to participate in that documentary several times, but was assured it was not going to be the usual serious-concerned-useless advertisment for the large industry that rips off and disappoints fat people after scaring them and causing them to be uncomfortable. Still, I agreed to appear only if I was paid money. I'm glad they showed me walking. Walking is good. Also my dog is pretty.
C.N. Reilly
Post #2207 – 20070412
April 12, 2007
You are obviously a man of considerable intellect. Perhaps you can answer this age-old conundrum. How many Marx brothers does it take to change a light bulb?
Daniel replies:
No, but I bet you tell us.
Carlos, Jane, and Tasha R
Post #2206 – 20070412
April 12, 2007
We were watching a program on PBS about overweight people, of which we are two (or possibly three) and were quite taken with Lulu. We have a beautiful Siberian, Tasha, who is our 4-legged daughter. We were speculating whether Lulu is a Siberian or a Malamute. No matter, she is absolutely beautiful, regardless of what breed she is. You must be very proud. And if she is as spoiled as our baby; well, God help you! Anyway, thank you for being on that program and sharing your experience with the subject matter and sharing your beautiful pup with us all. Thanx…..
Daniel replies:
I thought it was going to be a program about fat people and their dogs, or I would never have agreed to participate. Lulu is an Inuit sled dog. Inuit sled dogs are not suitable pets for the inexperienced. She came from Baffin Island in arctic Canada, (on board her mother), and walking her when there are people in the park is like walking Marilyn Monroe. You can read about Lulu in a book called Uncle Boris in the Yukon and Other Shaggy Dog Stories, and you can see her picture on the cover of a book called Superpuppy.
Lewis Rice
Post #2205 – 20070410
April 10, 2007
Mr. Fagan did well to mention the great Ken Kelman–made me get my film reels of Jonas Mekas movies out and project them allon my apartment wall. The instrument he refers to is the Suzuki Qchord, which is like an electronic autoharp (harp with concertina-like buttons for chords).
It is a great song writing tool. Then again, so is anything. Chickens, even.
Daniel replies:
I agree. The Beethoven Chicken Sonata is seldom played today, but is a remarkable piece of music.
Terp Winak
Post #2204 – 20070407
April 7, 2007
I recently learned that there is a two lane bowling alley in Antarctica. If man ever manages to inhabit Mars, the Moon, or any other extra-terrestrial locales, would it be unethical to introduce bowling into those potentially fragile ecosystems?
Daniel replies:
It is our destiny to introduce bowling to the rest of the galaxy.
Rabbi Samuel Friedman
Post #2202 – 20070405
April 5, 2007
A lot of what you say about avocados is an afront to Orthodox Judaism. How can you, a well-regarded author and American-born Jew, tell innocent children, many of whom are reading you in yeshiva, that it’s okay to do this and that with avocados and not to prepare it in the kosher fashion as suggested by Moses, Rabbi Simcha Zissel Ziv, Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler, and many others?? A chaleyre!
Daniel replies:
Practically everything I do is an affront to Orthodox Judaism. But without horrible examples like me, how would you instruct the young?
