Old and New

Giraffe, Giraffe, Giraffe

In desperation, I asked long-time friend Jim Munroe, (the acclaimed Toronto novelist -- Flyboy Action Figure Comes With Gasmask) to "come on board" as an editorial consultant in a last-minute attempt to save the zine. Here are his suggestions:

Bigge --

Sure I'll do it. Sorry to hear 127 is in crisis -- it's been a good john-read over the years.

By the way, no need to be all formal and send stuff through HarperCollins -- you can e-mail me direct. I like to stay accessible to the people, dig? I'd give you my phone # but I swore I wouldn't give it out any more after I got my cell bill (ouch!).

Anyway, here's the ideas that'll save 127...

Drop the literary stuff for tech. Cyberfy, cyberfy. Hey, it worked for Shift. I'm seeing it now: www.one272live.com

I know you've been throwing plastic ants at people. I like that. Now throw them at the right people.

Identifiable ant mascot. A bit cheesy, but I know you can flip that into kitschy. Name: Ant E. Establishment.

Get Ant E. Establishment into a grudge match with the Parkdale Wrestler. Can you say Zine Synergy ten times fast?

Get Elliot Smith to play a benefit show by pulling the indie-cred strings. If that doesn't work I'll give Spielberg a buzz.

I've told you before & I'll tell you again: more punk references, less poetry. Even ironic poetry is too close for comfort.

Vancouver bashing is going to be very hot, and as an ex-Vannie you're positioned perfectly. Better yet, get Ant E. to be the shit talker -- a little distance is safer.

At the mock funeral for the zine, if it comes to that, get zombies to attack the mourners -- but hire real flesh-eating zombies. Hello, cover of the Toronto Sun!

The stewardess is bugging me to put up my table so that'll have to do. I'll write the hype intro as soon as your cheque clears.

127 forever!
Jim