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Update About the Site and the Book
I thought I had reached a point where I was almost done with the book and would have more time to focus on the site again. Sadly, I was mistaken. It turned out that there was still a LOT left to do (clearing permissions for images, finishing a few chapters, editing, etc.). So that's why I haven't been posting much stuff lately. And I might as well admit that until July, I may not be able to post anything more because I really need to focus totally on the book. But come July, I have to be done, because my wife and I are going on vacation then (a long-planned vacation), and she's told me that I WILL NOT still be working on the book then, so that's pretty much an absolute deadline. So I should be able to resume posting then.
My wife and I will be doing a driving tour of hoaxes and wineries in the Northeastern U.S. After spending July 4 with my parents, we'll be driving up to Grovers Mill in New Jersey (where the Martians landed in 1938), then on up to Cooperstown, NY where the Cardiff Giant is. We'll next spend some time in the Niagara Falls area (visit some wineries in that region), then head over to Detroit where the fake Cardiff giant is. Next we drive to the Forevertron antigravity machine in Wisconsin, and finish up in Minneapolis where we're visiting family. Hopefully we'll also find lots of other interesting stuff along the way. I'm bringing along my laptop, so I should be able to post pictures of the trip as I go along (if I can find wireless internet connection along the way).
On another topic, after much debate my publisher and I have finally settled on a title for the book. My original title was the FAKE REALITY FIELD GUIDE, but that got canned because it was deemed not fun/quirky enough. So instead we've settled on HIPPO EATS DWARF: A FIELD GUIDE TO HOAXES AND OTHER FORMS OF B.S.
Hippo Eats Dwarf refers to the media hoax of the same name. We chose it basically because it's such a strange phrase, so it provides some indication that the book is full of strange things. I was a little worried that the dwarf (or 'little people') community would take offense, but I hope not. 'A field guide to hoaxes' is obvious. 'And other forms of b.s.' was settled on after a lot of discussion. The book is full of things that are kind of hoaxy, but not quite hoaxes: botox masks, Michael Jackson's nose, imaginary girlfriends, bizarre reality tv concepts, staged political events, etc. I was referring to all of this as 'fake reality', but my publisher convinced me that most people browsing books in a bookstore wouldn't know what that meant. So we settled on 'b.s.' instead because there seems to be a surge of interest in studies about b.s. (such as Harry Frankfurt's On Bullshit, and Laura Penny's Your Call is Important To Us: The Truth About Bullshit). The marketing people at my publisher figured that 'b.s.' would better convey what I was talking about. Plus, it's funnier.
I'm still kind of fond of 'The Fake Reality Field Guide', but my publisher is probably right that not enough people would understand what I was referring to.
My wife and I will be doing a driving tour of hoaxes and wineries in the Northeastern U.S. After spending July 4 with my parents, we'll be driving up to Grovers Mill in New Jersey (where the Martians landed in 1938), then on up to Cooperstown, NY where the Cardiff Giant is. We'll next spend some time in the Niagara Falls area (visit some wineries in that region), then head over to Detroit where the fake Cardiff giant is. Next we drive to the Forevertron antigravity machine in Wisconsin, and finish up in Minneapolis where we're visiting family. Hopefully we'll also find lots of other interesting stuff along the way. I'm bringing along my laptop, so I should be able to post pictures of the trip as I go along (if I can find wireless internet connection along the way).
On another topic, after much debate my publisher and I have finally settled on a title for the book. My original title was the FAKE REALITY FIELD GUIDE, but that got canned because it was deemed not fun/quirky enough. So instead we've settled on HIPPO EATS DWARF: A FIELD GUIDE TO HOAXES AND OTHER FORMS OF B.S.
Hippo Eats Dwarf refers to the media hoax of the same name. We chose it basically because it's such a strange phrase, so it provides some indication that the book is full of strange things. I was a little worried that the dwarf (or 'little people') community would take offense, but I hope not. 'A field guide to hoaxes' is obvious. 'And other forms of b.s.' was settled on after a lot of discussion. The book is full of things that are kind of hoaxy, but not quite hoaxes: botox masks, Michael Jackson's nose, imaginary girlfriends, bizarre reality tv concepts, staged political events, etc. I was referring to all of this as 'fake reality', but my publisher convinced me that most people browsing books in a bookstore wouldn't know what that meant. So we settled on 'b.s.' instead because there seems to be a surge of interest in studies about b.s. (such as Harry Frankfurt's On Bullshit, and Laura Penny's Your Call is Important To Us: The Truth About Bullshit). The marketing people at my publisher figured that 'b.s.' would better convey what I was talking about. Plus, it's funnier.
I'm still kind of fond of 'The Fake Reality Field Guide', but my publisher is probably right that not enough people would understand what I was referring to.
|
Categories: Miscellaneous Posted by Alex on Tue Jun 21, 2005 |
Comments (33) |
| More from the Hoax Museum Archives: | |||
it sounds great...cant wait for it to come out
Posted by RAMONESxMANIA on Tue Jun 21, 2005 at 10:51 AM
Hm, you should have included something about ch*vs in the title. Then you would have been more Google friendly. 
Posted by Charybdis in Hell on Tue Jun 21, 2005 at 11:09 AM
I hope you remembered to dedicate your book to me, your one true british fan who pops up now and again but avidly checks for more stuff every day!
wow.yayness.
Posted by thunder in England on Tue Jun 21, 2005 at 11:12 AM
wow.yayness.
I think "Hippo Eats Dwarf" will stand out nicely on the shelves. I know I'll buy it.
Posted by AqueousBoy on Tue Jun 21, 2005 at 11:14 AM
Ahem.
One true British fan?
Don't make me fight you!
Anyway, joking aside, I can't wait until it comes out, Alex. And I said as much in the review of the first book that I wrote on amazon.co.uk today.
And I love the name!
Posted by Boo in The Land of the Haggii... on Tue Jun 21, 2005 at 11:38 AM
One true British fan?
Don't make me fight you!
Anyway, joking aside, I can't wait until it comes out, Alex. And I said as much in the review of the first book that I wrote on amazon.co.uk today.
And I love the name!
Sounds great, Alex. Do we get to order signed ones through you again?
I'm verrrry excited.
Posted by Winona in USA on Tue Jun 21, 2005 at 01:14 PM
Do we get to order signed ones through you again? I'm verrrry excited.
"AND OTHER FORMS OF B.S."? Just how many chapters are you devoting to covering the posts of Hairy Houdini?
Posted by BugbearSloth in earth, 3rd planet, sol system on Tue Jun 21, 2005 at 03:00 PM
When can we pre-order those signed copies from you? Huh? Huh? But I want to give you my money now! Can't wait to see it.
Posted by Tru in Other Words on Tue Jun 21, 2005 at 05:28 PM
Bugbearsloth said:"'AND OTHER FORMS OF B.S.'? Just how many chapters are you devoting to covering the posts of Hairy Houdini?"...hey, hey, hey...I do not Bullshit in any way, shape or form, just for the record... I do, however, cowpoop, moocrap, Gurnseyturd, and calfcaca now and then..."Bullshit"...hmmmf...I'm offally offended
Posted by Hairy Houdini on Tue Jun 21, 2005 at 06:17 PM
Add my name to the ever growing list of those who wish to buy an autographed copy from you Alex.
Take care and don't forget to take a break to stop and smell a rose once in a while.
Posted by Myst on Tue Jun 21, 2005 at 06:35 PM
Take care and don't forget to take a break to stop and smell a rose once in a while.
Is the book for real, or just another hoax?
Posted by wdl in honolulu on Tue Jun 21, 2005 at 06:52 PM
I'll join the queue for the book too!
Posted by Smerk in to mischief on Tue Jun 21, 2005 at 07:25 PM
well while you at it, go ahead and put me up there too
Posted by RAMONESxMANIA on Tue Jun 21, 2005 at 08:21 PM
I really want to go see the Forevertron now. I'd never heard of it before.
Actually I'd rather build my own when I'm a crazy old retiree...
Posted by Barghest on Tue Jun 21, 2005 at 10:00 PM
Actually I'd rather build my own when I'm a crazy old retiree...
Hey, Alex, you forgot Penn and Teller's show on Showtime called Bullshit!
Posted by Cranky Media Guy on Wed Jun 22, 2005 at 02:52 AM
Paneras have wireless in their cafe's. If you can find a Panera Bread...you've got a connection.
Posted by Maegan in Tampa, FL - USA on Wed Jun 22, 2005 at 06:13 AM
I used to work in the same complex as Marvin's Marvelous Machanical Museum. Everyone around there called the place "Marvelous Marvin's". Anyway, bring your quarters and have some fun while you're there!
Posted by Nat on Wed Jun 22, 2005 at 07:24 AM
a lot of holiday inns have wireless access called hot air
Posted by RAMONESxMANIA on Wed Jun 22, 2005 at 07:42 AM
Remember, My name is spelled with a "ph" not a "v".
S-T-E-P-H-E-N
and my last name is the same as the BOOK store.
W-A-L-D-E-N
and if you would like to include the "Sir", that is fine with me and encouraged.....
Posted by X in McKinney, TX on Wed Jun 22, 2005 at 08:25 AM
S-T-E-P-H-E-N
and my last name is the same as the BOOK store.
W-A-L-D-E-N
and if you would like to include the "Sir", that is fine with me and encouraged.....
Unfortunately, I don't like the "Hippo eats Dwarf" thing........
Posted by X in McKinney, TX on Wed Jun 22, 2005 at 08:32 AM
As a "little" hippo (the term "dwarf" being extemely insensitive), I find the title doubly offensive. I call on hippos of all sizes to stop eating humans long enough to *Bruuuuuup* boycott this horrible book, especially in those areas heavily populated by midgets and fidgets.
Posted by booch on Wed Jun 22, 2005 at 11:32 AM
come on...people who get all offended should chill out
Posted by RAMONESxMANIA on Wed Jun 22, 2005 at 03:16 PM
I'm offended that you told us to chill out. I oughta put you in a glass sphere, put that in a brass egg, and use the juicer bug booster array to generate enough ionic free static in the capacitors to lauch you into the imaginatosphere! Then you'd have to have long boring talks with the Secret Masters in their steam-powered balloons. Because that's where they hang out on Tuesdays, you know.
Posted by Barghest on Wed Jun 22, 2005 at 08:19 PM
Maybe a stupid question, but why not just "Museum of Hoaxes"? Other titles are too wordy, I think.
Posted by Jared on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:13 AM
Jared, it's actually the name of Alex's first book.
Posted by Smerk in to mischief on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:18 AM
Oh sorry, I assumed it was just about hoaxes... um, how about, "Alex's: Believe It And You're Not Paying Attention" !! Haha, hey yeah!
Posted by Jared on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 02:42 AM
Way to go Alex!
Apart from Hippo's, does it have any Llama's in it????
Posted by LaMa in Europe on Thu Jun 23, 2005 at 07:56 AM
Apart from Hippo's, does it have any Llama's in it????
Thanks for explaining where you've been, but, where's the Dusty girl gone?
Posted by Killer Bob in London, England on Fri Jun 24, 2005 at 05:10 AM
I like the title.
As I think I said here before, "Hippo Eats Dwarf" has got to be the greatest headline since "Jesus Wept," or at least since "Stix Nix Hix Pix."
Posted by Big Gary in Dallas in Dallas, Texas on Fri Jun 24, 2005 at 09:51 AM
As I think I said here before, "Hippo Eats Dwarf" has got to be the greatest headline since "Jesus Wept," or at least since "Stix Nix Hix Pix."
it could be museum of hoaxes II
but thats a bit boring
hippo eats dwarf sticks out
Posted by RAMONESxMANIA on Fri Jun 24, 2005 at 12:30 PM
but thats a bit boring
hippo eats dwarf sticks out