This is a really excellent story. I enjoyed reading it. But you are a bit of an asshole for keeping hard-copy clips of all your early stories. I never kept a clip of my first story for the Detroit Free Press, shortly after leaving The Albany Knickerbocker News, shortly after you did. It was about a pig that got loose on the Ford Freeway in Detroit. Doing major shoe-leather reporting, refusing to accept "no comment," I discovered it had been killed with a ball peen hammer and eaten by a Detroit sanitation worker.
Thank you, Gene. While most people will agree with you that I'm a "bit of an asshole," I have virtually none of my clippings from the Knick. Same with the Indianapolis News, but I can find those via newspapers.com. The only reason I ever saved clips was to use them to get another job, and I no longer want one of those.
I subscribed to newspapers.com when I began writing my 5 a.m. Stories. I want my stories to be as accurate as possible. Whom do you think I'm writing for, the Washington Post?
I agree it's fun, though to be self-serving for a moment I wish it was on the Throwback Thursday blurb or a new 5 a.m. Story, rather than in the comments section of a year-old story. Still, yes, fun. Btw, this coming Sunday I'm doing yet another Ethicist parody. One of my editors calls the Ethicist the gift that keeps on giving...
You and Babs and I and Rachel need to meet for dinner at a good restaurant somewhere between DC and Indianapolis. Can we find a literal equidistant middle ground with a good restaurant? You can reserve in the name of Gregor Samsa.
Another fine writing soecimen of the Basler genre. As usual, a delightfully disorienting blend of adventure and misadventure. I can’t stop reading these little gems.
Bob, you had me at "what did James Beard,...", though the unwinding if this story about a story kept me rapt attentively right through the lesson learned part. Bravo as always and keep 'em coming, please!
My ex wife and I saw Elvis crossing a street in Pennsylvania a few years after his supposed demise. Great story! What did your bosses in Albany think of your triple dipping?
Even better the second time around! And has Elvis met the Baroness?
This is a really excellent story. I enjoyed reading it. But you are a bit of an asshole for keeping hard-copy clips of all your early stories. I never kept a clip of my first story for the Detroit Free Press, shortly after leaving The Albany Knickerbocker News, shortly after you did. It was about a pig that got loose on the Ford Freeway in Detroit. Doing major shoe-leather reporting, refusing to accept "no comment," I discovered it had been killed with a ball peen hammer and eaten by a Detroit sanitation worker.
Thank you, Gene. While most people will agree with you that I'm a "bit of an asshole," I have virtually none of my clippings from the Knick. Same with the Indianapolis News, but I can find those via newspapers.com. The only reason I ever saved clips was to use them to get another job, and I no longer want one of those.
WELL THEN YOU ARE A BIT OF AN ASSHOLE FOR SUBSCRIBING TO NEWSPAPERS.COM. You will never defeat me at this. I own you.
I subscribed to newspapers.com when I began writing my 5 a.m. Stories. I want my stories to be as accurate as possible. Whom do you think I'm writing for, the Washington Post?
Hey, do you readers know how good a writer this guy, Basler, is?
We need to keep up this dialog. It's fun.
I agree it's fun, though to be self-serving for a moment I wish it was on the Throwback Thursday blurb or a new 5 a.m. Story, rather than in the comments section of a year-old story. Still, yes, fun. Btw, this coming Sunday I'm doing yet another Ethicist parody. One of my editors calls the Ethicist the gift that keeps on giving...
Did you know I TWICE visited prostitutes for a story?
Never met you, but yeah, I believe you.
You and Babs and I and Rachel need to meet for dinner at a good restaurant somewhere between DC and Indianapolis. Can we find a literal equidistant middle ground with a good restaurant? You can reserve in the name of Gregor Samsa.
Another fine writing soecimen of the Basler genre. As usual, a delightfully disorienting blend of adventure and misadventure. I can’t stop reading these little gems.
Please don't stop, Nathan....
Never! 🤓
Bob, you had me at "what did James Beard,...", though the unwinding if this story about a story kept me rapt attentively right through the lesson learned part. Bravo as always and keep 'em coming, please!
Remind me to tell you about my one visit to AMI during my news hawking days.....
Cool. I'll meet you in your back yard...
That's a moving target.....
Truly, the one embarrassing fact I never knew!
Crazy! And they didn't change it at all, to, you know, make it more Enquirer-like?
No, they left it alone, except Harry Truman was from Saturn...
My ex wife and I saw Elvis crossing a street in Pennsylvania a few years after his supposed demise. Great story! What did your bosses in Albany think of your triple dipping?
You're simply the best, Mr B. Please, please never let them "catch and kill" this column.
What a story. What a life.
thank you, Carlyn, and likewise...
Love it! Good saga and your usual good writing, Cheers
Got your fingers burned eh? Live and learn kid.
Luvvit, Unca Bob