FREEDOM OF REPRESSED...

by Heywood McGillicuddy, Chairman,
and Erkuden Sakana, Company Secretary:

Exhibit A: Misanthropy

True to its name, the Misanthrope Specialty Co. is rife with pet peeves. This should come a surprise to none; the Company members all wear their curmudgeonry on their dirty shirtsleeves. Furthermore, it's reflected in much of their creative output and merchandise.

One gripe which inevitably bubbles to the surface after a weekend of peddling wares at a show is a lack of decorum by trigger-happy photographers. Much disdain has been expressed for those shutterbugs, be they amateur or professional, who sidle up to the Company booth and, with no acknowledgement of the presiding merchant, proceed to photograph the merchandise. Doubly so if the photographers in question take aim at the Misanthropes themselves.

Exhibit B: Double misanthropy

Obviously, not everyone is of the same mind, but it is the general sentiment of the Company that having a blog, and the fact that one's cellular telephone is equipped with a camera shouldn't be taken as inference that one has been issued an all-access press pass.

In response to this, the Company passed a bill some time ago, authorizing its members to respond to such lapses in courtesy in kind.

Old policy:"No pictures, please"

The preferred, though unofficial, implementation of this policy has typically consisted of the interjection of a single digit into the photographers' field of view. This method, however, has not been for everyone, so it was recently put to the Company to find a more passive alternative for the deterrence of unauthorized photography.

The solution was voted in today, and will henceforth be in effect at all subsequent shows, craft fairs, etc.

New policy: "Ten dollars, please"

Rather than becoming indignant, or pretending to do so for the sake of confrontation, the M.S.Co. has decided to put a price tag on unsolicited picture-taking. The Company will be happy to sell you the photos you just took without asking for a measly $10. Exact change is preferred.

As for those individuals with the good sense to introduce themselves and state their intentions before they start clicking away, the Company is usually willing to waive its fee.

* * *

In other news, the Company is cranking out drawings at full throttle.

"American In Peril" by the Company Away Team

The Away Team, in particular, has been quite prolific since it was granted partial autonomy during the postal strike state of emergency. Despite the logistics being stacked against them, given their lack of studio space, sleep, showers and regular hours, the itinerant Misanthropes have their cushy Toronto-rooted counterparts beat in terms of drawings initiated, completed, and even inducted this week.

"Stupid Garbage" by the M.S.Co. Away Team

Perhaps the touring members of the Company are more intune with eachother than those left bickering in the Bunker. Or perhaps their standards for what gets inducted are simply lower. Regardless of the reasons for the imbalance in productivity, this week's numbers appear to have ignited something of a competitive spirit between the two camps.

* * * *

THIS WEEK'S PRODUCTIVITY REPORT
Number of illustration initiated: 47
Number completed: 30
Number inducted: 22
Carried over to next week: 10

* * * *

PLAYING AGAINST TYPE...

by Erkuden Sakana, Company Secretary:

"Talkin' Trash Behind Blood Ghost's Back" by the M.S.Co. Part of the new Clubhouse
maze wall (photo by Arthur Corey)

The Company is once again taking advantage of their absentee slumlord's chronic neglect and doing a little creative restructuring of the layout in the M.S.Co. Clubhouse. Plans include a permanent maze leading up to the gallery space, complete with all manner of traps and pitfalls.
All week, the misanthropes have been knocking down old walls and putting up new ones using scavenged, freecycled and generously donated building materials.

The Clubhouse maze, in progress (photo by Lydia Caulpepper)

Today, however, construction was put on hold for the Company's regularly scheduled Sunday conference. Still, a large portion of the drawing session was spent decorating the exposed drywall; the objective being to provide a little atmosphere for next week's exhibition.

* * *

Those of you regularly in attendance at Clubhouse events may have picked up on the trend of a new instrument appearing the Company Orchestra's arsenal with every exhibition. It turns out this upcoming show will be no exception.

Voting on the name for this newfangled instrument remains deadlocked (photo by Heywood MacGillicuddy)

The Company's Chief Engineer and Musical Director surprised their colleagues with the unveiling of their latest development: A line of old typewriters modified into a variety of odd-sounding musical gimmicks.

Some are electrical, some accoustic. There are seven variations in total, though only two of the Orchestra members know how to play any of them thus far. And with Hallowe'en only one week away, it appears the misanthropes have their work cut out for them.

(music for unmodified typewriters)

* * *

Typewriters in need of some Company love (photo by Reverend Aitor)

It should be noted that Company policy strictly opposes the wanton destruction of typewriters [article 289A-2002]. These particular instruments were made using parts from some of the irreparable machines the Company keeps on hand for spare parts.

* * * *

THIS WEEK'S PRODUCTIVITY REPORT
Number of projects initiated: 10
Number completed: 8
Number inducted: 4
Carried over to next week for completion: 4

* * * *

SQUAT NIGHT IN THE CITY...

by Erkuden Sakana, Company Secretary;

Iconic shitty coffee in ironic pretty cups

Company members have been arriving in New York from their respective hiding places over the past few days. Some have found floors and couches upon which to rest their weary heads. A lucky few have even scored guest rooms, but many potential hosts are often overtaxed with all manner of visiting acquaintances during the summer months and there is no room at the inn for some of the misanthropes, let alone enough workspace to accommodate the entire Company. This is where the Company Location Manager steps up to the plate.

The Company's temporary Brooklyn offices

This anonymous individual is saddled with the task of arriving at Company destinations ahead of the pack; securing shelter, a base of operations, and often scouting out food and entertainment options for the collective.

Once again, she has proven her incomparable worth; gaining entry into an surprisingly inhabitable abandoned rooming house and single-handedly preparing a live/work space for the essentially homeless peers.

A little electrical handiwork

Though the gas remains shut off, she has managed to procure electricity and get the water running. It then befell on the Company's Minister of Acquisitions to furnish the apartment with some seating, work surfaces and sundry small necessities. Luckily, New York is a garbage picker's goldmine -- though it should be noted that any curbside treasure should be thoroughly examined for bedbugs. They've become something of a local scourge in recent years.

The Company's accommodations, all cleaned up and awaiting some furniture

With hardwood floors and the rat shit swept away, these free Brooklyn digs have become a a formidable base camp. The entire Company is celebrating by throwing a slumber party tonight.

BYOB.

* * *

THRIFT SCORE...

by Erkuden Sakana, Company Secretary;

The duties slash passions of the Company's Minister of Acquisitions include sniffing out every flea market, pawn shop and thrift store along the tour route in search of supplies, equipment and sundry treasures on behalf of the Company and its members.

One man's ceramic hot dog is another man's treasure

Yesterday the Company's intrepid scavenger made an exciting find during his expedition to Mechanicsburg, PA.

The PoleStar Do-It-Yourself Image Transfer kit pictured above was stumbled upon at a Volunteers of America thrift store for a bank-busting seven dollars. It is used to transfer 8 and 16mm film, slides and photos to video by means rigging a camera to one end of the box and projecting the film, or sliding the slides or photographs through the other end.

The Company is delighted by this novel find. It's sure to come in handy in future film projects.

* * *

BAWDY AND SOLD...

by Heywood McGillicuddy, Chairman:

"First Cigarette of the Morning"

And so begins another year; another session of Sunday congregations at M.S.Co. Headquarters; a second consecutive decade nobody can quite figure out what to name.

* * *

Speaking of things unnameable, it appears the Company's still untitled, still in production film has somehow already found a buyer. A bit surprising, since it wasn't yet put up for sale.

More Polaroid snapshots from the Arkansas shoot

On New Year's eve, a letter arrived from a California law firm putting in a bid to purchase the movie, sight unseen, on behalf of the project's chief grubstaker.

This is an unprecedented turn of events to say the least. It has generally been the Company's custom to celebrate a film's completion by organizing a Clubhouse exhibition wherein the film is premiered and hopefully subsequently sold in a relatively informal transaction. Not so this time, however.

Detail from "The Adventure of Quad" by T-Bone and Rev. Aitor

The purchase, as negotiated by the buyer's attorneys, is a far more formal and technical transaction than the Company is used to. Included in the contract is a stipulation forbidding a public screening of the film. Instead, T-Bone is to deliver Los Angels as soon as post production has wrapped up, and personally hand it over to the buyer at a time and location yet to be determined.

* * *

THE MORNING AFTER SPILLS...

by Cottonwood Fields:

We are proud to report that Stay The Night was an unmitigated success. Our subscribers and their guests filled up and fouled up the Clubhouse for our one-night exhibition, sale, concert, screening and sleepover.

(photo courtesy of Edur Coria)

There were many new faces in the crowd. In most cases, it was a pleasure to finally meet men and women with whom we correspond face to face. Some guests failed to observe the proper dress code and were either turned away or sent home to change. This hadn't been so prevalent an issue in the past, but these semi-secret events have steadily been drawing more and more people. This prompted some reevaluation of policy among the misanthropes and temporary slackening of the rules.

The fact of the matter is t hat not everyone is in a position to purchase what the Company deems "suitable attire" and shouldn't be penalized for it. While most of our own wardrobe hails from the lowliest of thrift stores, we admit a pang of elitist guilt for harbouring the expectation that everyone has twenty dollars to blow on an old suit. As with legal fees and cover charges, perhaps dress code too should be considered on a sliding scale. We've now resolved to keep a limited number of loaner jackets and ties on hand for future Clubhouse events. That being said: If you show up to a Clubhouse event in fancypants designer jeas or glittery dance club wear, you will be turned away.

* * *

(detail from "Too Soon" by the M.S.Co.)

The night commenced with general mingling and inspection of the exhibition, followed by a little talk by Heywood. The Misanthrope Specialty Co. Dilettante Orchestra bookended series of readings and presentations. Though it hadn't been planned, some of the patrons took the stage from time to time to share their own tales of travel and motel horror stories. Before before we knew it, it was time for everyone to change into their p.js for a little more fun before rolling out the blankets and sleeping bags.

The Orchestra serenades its overnight guests with an extended
rendition of St.Louis Cemetery Blues (photo by Arthur Corey)

An unexpected majority of our guest stuck around for the sleepover portion of the night. Those who did were treated to a second, gentler set by the Orchestra, and an all-night marathon of the Company's films for those who chose to beat the night.

The morning after was a little less cheerful for some. We remained true to the motel-themed spirit of the show in enforcing a strict eleven-o-clock checkout time.

* * *

(Polaroid photo left behind by an unknown participant)

A word of advice to those considering and all-night art opening: The serving of alcohol at art openings is an age-old trick to loosen the purse strings of inebriated patrons -- but did you know that the serving of coffee and juice to a crowd of hungover and under-slept patrons is doubly effective? And not nearly as costly.

We learned this completely by accident, but you can rest assured we'll be using the old one-two punch of booze at night and coffee in the morning the next time we decide to throw a slumber-party show.

* * *