No teenager could possibly have hurried more eagerly to an Elvis Presley concert on that day in the late 1950’s when I led a delegation of the Urbana High School Science Fiction Club to attend a speech at the campus of the University of Illinois. The speaker was Sir Arthur C. Clarke, our hero not only for his great science fiction, but also for such concepts as the triangulated space satellite and the “space elevator.” The first has paid off already with global communication. The second is still seriously proposed as using infinitely strong strings of Buckyballs to link earth to a space station.
Clarke was erudite, witty, friendly, and signed all my books. It was years later that I met him in connection with his screenplay for “2001: A Space Odyssey,” still the greatest of all science fiction films. And years after that when I began receiving reproaches from his home in Sri Lanka that he had not received his quarterly update to the Cinemania CD-ROM. Cinemania, edited by Jim Emerson (now editor of this site), linked reviews, info and bios of movie people with the reviews of such as Pauline Kael, Leonard Maltin and myself.
It was a brilliant idea and became for a time the top-selling consumer CD, but Bill Gates was correct that the future of CDs was on the Internet, as the Internet Movie Database so abundantly proves. Also, IMDb got its content for free, and Cinemania actually paid for its reviews.
I explained time and again to Sir Arthur why there was not and never could be another update of Cinemania, but he died at 90 still unconsoled.
He was the most diligent of Answer Man sources. Once a reader complained that in the vacuum of space he should not have been able to hear a tiny “click” when the astro-stewardess grabbed a floating ballpoint pen.
Clarke invited two friends, one a space expert, the other a blind friend with acute hearing, to listen for the click. Just as he thought, he said, there was no click.
Clarke was in the great tradition of classic science fiction -- converted by his first sight of Amazing Stories magazines, welding hard science speculation to robust adventures, and adding some whimsy in the form of “Tales from the White Hart.” He died convinced Bill Gates had made a big mistake in not keeping the Cinemania CD-Rom in print.
Roger Ebert: Film hero. I used to keep a blog and mention and quote you liberally. I'm ecstatic that more of your writing will now be made available to the public.
- Joseph (uber fan)
PS Wishing you a safe and speedy recovery.
Posted by Jim Emerson???
JE replies: As you'll see from his latest entry, Roger is writing longhand right now. As his web editor, I posted it for him.
Mr. Ebert,
Sir Arthur C. Clarke was and will always be my favorite author, and I was greatly saddened by his passing. It pleases me to no end that you've not only written this piece about him, but that you've also chosen him as the first subject of this new blog. I've bookmarked it and I look forward to your future entries.
Ebert, you are the man.
Mr. Ebert,
Brilliant!! I couldn't be happier to see more of your writting(s), this blog, along with your reveiw page (RE.com) will be in the top of my 'favorites'. Thank You!
Remember that scene in "Network" when Howard Beal announced that the chairman of UBC had died, and then had to explain why the audience should care? I had the same experience announcing Clarke's passing to my high school literature class. Sad.
Also sad -- Mr. Clarke had said, publicly, repeatedly, that he would be the first passenger on the first commercial moon shuttle. In the sixties, he had every reason to think the day would come in his lifetime. But he made it to 90, yewt still didn't live to see it.
Meanwhile, an entire generation -- up to 35 years old! -- have never seen a man walk on the moon.
Clarification: The "click in the vacuum of space" debate actually did not involve a vacuum, but a claim by an Answer Man reader that in the shuttle sequence of 2001, you could hear a click as the stewardess grabbed the ballpoint pen that was floating in the air -- because it had been attached to a sheet of glass. Mr. Ebert and Mr. Clarke demonstrated there was no click. Nor is it logical there would be -- the scene played with only a music track; why would they put ambient sound on the soundtrack when they don't WANT any sounds?
What should have been audible had there been sound would be a ripping every time the stewardess took a step, as her velcro slipper detached from the carpet.
Welcome to the Blogosphere, Roger! Please feel free to maintain the only blog on the Internet without pictures of kittens.
(I can't remember a newly coined word taking off as fast as "blog". From "web log" to "weblog" to "'blog", then almost immediately losing the apostrophe, and now it's everywhere. I can't believe we haven't seen a horror movie called "Deathblog".)
Interesting that you should receive that question. Even if there had been a "click" when she grabbed the pen, it wouldn't be a mistake. Sure space is a vacuum, but I'm pretty sure that the inside of the space ship that Haywood Floyd was traveling in was not a vacuum (at least I hope it wasn't, for his sake). Therefore sound waves would be transmitted normally. I think the reader who submitted that question may have been confusing "weightlessness" with "the vacuum of space".
It's nice to see you have a journal now! I've been a huge fan of your reviews for many years now, Mr. Ebert.
Dear Mr. Ebert,
Thank you for the entry on Arther C. Clarke. I'm excited that we'll be screening a 35mm (alas, no 70mm) print of the film in San Antonio this summer.
How great it is to see this blog up and running! For years, I have enjoyed your writing; it's illuminating and most of all, enjoyable. I can read the smile on your face when you write, if that makes sense.
And even with the Internet, I, too, and holding on to my Cinemania CD-ROM. It's a good tool to have for quick reference without having to wade through Internet muck. I'm just glad that Windows XP will still install it.
Yours sincerely,
Nathan Cone
San Antonio, TX
I remember being fourteen years old and discovering Arthur C. Clarke at my local library. I came across Rendezvous with Rama and read it from cover to cover in a single day (it was during a summer vacation when my trips to the library were on an almost daily basis). I was so haunted by the book that when school started back up, I suggested to my English teacher that it should be on our reading list. "Sorry," he said. "No sci-fi in this class, we are reading REAL books this year." I remember thinking, "REAL books?? How about a REAL teacher?!"
I am now 29 and I still remember in great detail what it was like to read that book for the very first time. Now if that isn't an impression from a REAL book, then I don't know what is.
On and on a side note, I wish you a speedy recovery Roger. I owe my love of movies to you. I remember seeing you and Gene reviewing films on TV when I was a kid and I was blown away at the sight of seeing two people that were so passionate about movies. It was then that I started to realize that there was a huge world of movies that was much larger than the Saturday afternoon stuff I would watch on the local Boston stations. I always wanted to say thank you for that Roger!!
Having read, for the first time, some of Arthur C. Clarke's stories I find them thought provoking, challenging and surprisingly witty. Thanks for sharing your memories of the man. I would like to add that, despite the frequency with which I use IMDb, part of me still wishes Cinemania were still going. For a long time I used it to look for Ebert reviews that predated your old website.
-Adam
Roger -- this blog is a great gift to your fans. Thank you for your memories of Mr. Clark.
Being a college student, after first watching "2001" I thought it was too long, too lacking in action, and, well, too boring. Yet this is one of the few movies I've seen in my short movie-viewing career that has stayed within me in the days and months after seeing it.
Glad to see you've started a blog, Mr. Ebert, which means I get to read your great writing even more often!
Leave it to His Majesty, Roger Ebert to have the best movie review site on
the 'net.
Sometimes I pretend Roger Ebert is sitting on the couch watching movieswith me. Last night Roger and we watched the bicycle chase scene and end of E.T. Roger knows I am from Southern Illinois. He
knows I have been to CHOATE a few times. I may have even met Stevie down there the first time in 1987. I remember a guy that thought he was a snake or something. We watched parts of A Simple Plan too!!! Sometimes(Especially when watching Wit), Roger and me will hold each other in a loving embrace because we are both crying. I think we shed a few tears during ET last night, come to think of it. And when the movies are done, we sit and have a jam session. We will sit and listen to Don't Drink the Water by The Dave Matthews Band over and over and over until Mom makes us turn it down. Oh and that silly little dance Roger does when we listen to SHAME ON THE NIGHT by Ronnie James Dio. I love to pretend Mr. Ebert comes over.
Somewhere in my collection of stuff I still have the Cinemania CD-ROM, as well as the original text-only collection of Ebert's reviews in hypertext. I wouldn't trade them for anything.
Dear Mr. Ebert,
As a huge fan of your work, I'd like to wish you a speedy recovery and many long years of movie-watching and writing. This is a selfish desire, since friday mornings would be incomplete without reading good and bad reviews (especially the bad ones) on your website.
Vivek Govekar
Dear Roger,
I'm happy to hear you've started a blog. I've been a fan for a long time. I've prayed for your recovery and hope you continue to progress. If you ever come to Taiwan, I'd be happy to show you around. And maybe I could convince you to ask the Coen brothers to adapt and film A Confederacy of Dunces!
Peace
Perry in Taipei
Excellent starting point for your new blog. I look forward to reading your entries. Is it going to be random postings or is there a set schedule of days and topics that you'll cover a la James Berardinelli's Reel Thoughts?
Roger,
Great to have you back. After 30 years you are like family. Continued good health to you.
What a wonderful remembrance of a passionate and important writer.
Roger, continued good wishes for your health. You are an inspiration, both as a film critic and as a human being.
Roger,
I look forward to you blog, as I do your reviews, and I wish you a swift recovery from your ailments.
Now, on to nitpicking. :-)
- I'm a big fan of 2001:ASO. If I'm not mistaken, the stewardess clicks the ballpoint pen while she is walking down the Aisle of cabin in the Pan Am Spaceship. This click was performed in the air of the cabin (neither she nor Dr. Floyd are wearing a spacesuit), and, therefore, should be audible. So, Clarke's calling upon a cadre of experts to listen for the "click" seems misplaced. Is this really what happened?
It is quite mind-blowing that you had such a relationship with Sir Arthur C. Clark. Congrats on the new blog. Your writing has had an amazing impact on myself as a writer and lover of moving images (dating back to scouring your reviews on Compuserve in high school). I can very honestly make the assertion that my knowledge of film and my love of the written word would be nothing without your often heartfelt, sarcastic, witty, and very intelligent diatribes and poignant critical analysis.
Dear Mr. Ebert,
The fact that you and I have consistently seen eye to eye in regard to films has been a source of great validation for me over the years. That you -- being not only my favorite critic but one of my favorite writers, period -- and I would have in common as well an appreciation for Sir Arthur C. Clarke's vision and work is equally satisfying. I share your sense of loss in his passing.
I also share the enthusiasm of others of this, your new venture into the blogosphere. It'll be a daily stop for me, starting right now.
My thanks to you for your endeavors, and my best to you in your recovery.
Best wishes to you on your recovery.
I remember reading Clarke's Dolphin Island and became hooked on his writing. Glad to see you have a blog. Look forward to reading it. Have been a big fan for over twenty years when a roommate of mine got me hooked on film and film critcism and I took courses in university.
Hope your recovery is speedy.
The blog's the thing!
Great idea in starting a blog. Though I mainly use the site to read reviews, I will basically read anything you write. Indiscriminate reading? Perhaps. Worthwhile? Certainly.
I wish you a speedy recovery and hope you will keep the entries coming.
Best,
- Fan^2
(my name is Fan and I'm also a huge fan of yours)
Gates? I can assure it was Al Gore who is to blame for the demise of the Cinemania CD-ROM.
Mr. Ebert,
Thank you for your tribute to the great writer, Arthur C. Clarke. I look forward to reading many more of your blog entries. It's nice to have you back.
It's wonderful to know that you're recovering, I miss your writing so much (this is very selfish of me, I know). Each time we've had news of your health problems, it has been horrifying.
I began watching you and Gene Siskel on Sneak Previews from episode one when I was in high school. Now I teach high school English and am doubly greatful for your insight, (sometimes wonderfully acerbic) wit and deep knowledge. I think you must have a very generous nature to share your enthusiasm so intently.
You have introduced all of us to hundreds of films we would probably have never known of, from "Tampopo" to the "Blue, White, Red" trilogy...to "Children of Paradise."
The amount I owe you for the debt of years of enjoyment and cultural deepening I've gleaned with the benefit of your knowlege and understanding is staggering.
Thank you, Mister Ebert. Thank you very much indeed, I wish you a speedy and full recovery.
Vince Frost
Dear Mr. Ebert,
Thanks to Sir Arthur's 2001: A Space Odyssey, I regard his work put to film as the first thought provoking science fiction story, and set to such a high bar, science fiction films still struggle to touch it (though a few have come quite close).
Welcome to your first blog! I look forward to more posts and reviews as always. You've been in my prayers for several months. It's good news to see you working again. A swift recovery to you sir. Keep those thoughts lucid.
A humble fan,
John
My friend Brandon says he has hesitated to watch Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968) because he thinks it looks cheesy. Knowing him to be a fan of good science fiction (if not great science fiction), I believe he would benefit from seeing this film, if only to enhance his knowledge and horizons as an aspiring science fiction filmmaker. What do you think? (I suspect I know the answer). P.S. Not to dishearten you, but he also didn't appreciate Scorsese's "Taxi Driver" (1976). He failed to see the point.
I have to say, as an undying fan of your film reviews, that I'm ecstatic that you've begun your own blog. I'll be reading it religiously from now on. Thank you, and keep up the wonderful work as always!
Re: Cinemania...
I agree!
I was a HUGE fan of Cinemania, and kept using it well into the IMDb era.
It combined the best aspects of the IMDb with Rotten Tomatoes and YouTube...all those great movie clips were part of the whole experience.
Good to know Sir Arthur was as big a believer in it as I was.
Just one more thing about him I respect.
Thank you for sharing your fond memories of a truly amazing and historical figure.
About the pen click, though. I can't hear the click either on my DVD. But such a sound would not be out of place since they are not in a vacuum. No one is wearing a breathing apparatus; the cabin is pressurized. Therefore, sound would travel just fine inside the "spaceplane".
I am absolutely delighted to be able to "hear" your words once again - ! :-) - (and have an opportunity to ponder your always interesting thoughts and impressions), and look forward to making your new Blog a new friend in the morning, as I sip coffee and muse about what to see (and avoid;-) IMHO you have been by far the most eloquent voice in film for (almost) as long as I've watched movies. All my prayers for a speedy recovery; and my awe at the extraordinary grace with which you're achieving it.
It is great to see this new blog. I look forward to adding it to my ever-expanding list of daily internet visits. I want to send my best wishes to you on a speedy recovery. I also want to wish you the best of luck with another Ebert-fest... Long may it continue to call attention to some of the best overlooked films of recent years.
TC Candler
PS -- Thanks for the mention a few months ago. It made my year!
Sir Arthur C. Clarke was a great writer. I was sad to hear he passed away. I enjoyed his novel "Childhood's End" when I read it as a teenager. I love the film "2001: A Space Odyssey." Also some his short stories such as "The Nine Billion Names of God" were great too. I belive Clarke died of post-polio syndrome. I am actually pursuing a graduate degree in theology. A Jesuit theologian I admire named Avery Dulles suffers from the same disease. Hopefully a cure can be found for that disease. Clarke was one of the best writers of the 20th Century.
I've always been in awe of Mr. Clarke, both for his mesmerizing science fiction and for how well he weathered the intial bewilderment with Kubrick's interpretion of "2001" (which I agree is the greatest of all science fiction films). He both accepted Kubrick's film and also attempted to build off it in a way that was fascinating if not alway successful. "2010" is a lesser film to be sure, and it perhaps answers too many questions, but I admire it as an intelligent, utterly reasonable response to Kubrick's impenetrable vision (likewise were the continuing books in the series). As Altman/Keillor noted in "A Prairie Home Companion," the death of an old man is never a tragedy. But I will miss his continuing contributions and dialogue to both the scientific and the literary world.
It is nice to be around for the start of something new from Roger Ebert. There are many fantastic films that I may never have been exposed to, at least not this early in life, had it not been for you, including things that I became interested in through links on your website. As a result of your Great Movies list, as well as Jim Emerson's Opening Shots project, I will be watching Playtime by Jacques Tati tonight.
It's great that Clarke was the subject of your first blog. If someone were to ask me what I thought the best film ever made was, I would probably answer 2001: A Space Odyssey.
With love and respect,
Matt
I loved Cinemania too. IMDb is not the same...
I'm so happy you have a blog now and I hope you post often! I look forward to reading your thoughts on all kinds of subjects. I once took your films class in Chicago. My friend and I still laugh about how you couldn't help but give away the gags in the Buster Keaton films we watched before we saw them.
"I love the idea of the new blog. Are all the great writer's gone? When can we expect your screenplays?"
I liked Clarke, and his passing and Vonnegut's passing got to me a bit.
I just hope Ray Bradbury never dies.
Thanks for the great post. I have one question though: why shouldn't the pen make a sound? The astro-stewardess is inside a spaceship, which presumably has canned air for the passengers to breath. Air that would transfer sound perfectly well.
Hope you will get well soon, Roger. We need you!
Dear Roger, great to read more from you (I just realized this is your first blog! Now I don't feel too bad at having started my own blog just last summer!) And great to read more of your stories on Sir Arthur C. Clarke. Thanks and here's looking forward to your next posts.
-Joel
P.S. Your post also reminds me of that '90s issue of a computing magazine of which I forget the name, where you and Gene Siskel rated the Internet and its resources... Among other things, Siskel: Thumbs down on the imdb. Ebert: Thumbs up. I still must have it somewhere.
It seems like I've been waiting for this for years! I'm so happy you finally got your own blog, Roger. Wishing you the best in your recovery and can't wait to see what you have in store for the future.
I was never as big a fan of Clarke as most of my peers. I was an avid reader, but too many of his stories were chunked with tedium, as his fascination with explaining this incredible idea he had suppressed his dedication to plot and characterization.
"Maybe this is the chapter in which something happens," I thought at several points in "Rendezvous With Rama." And yet...
But I loved those wonderful ideas of his. And I envied the hell out of his awesome Kaypro system.
More writings from Roger Ebert is reason to rejoice! I look forward to his future postings immensely.
I am glad you have joined the blogosphere with this journal. I have fond memories of watching Siskel and Ebert each week and owning your behemoth of a book on movie recommendations.
I am a Mexican and besides being a movie fan, I am a confessed Roger Ebert obsessive and I bother people with my take on movies knowing that at some point I am going to drop your name in and it will be the end of the discussion. As a Kubrick fan, I found your take on 2001 as one of the most enlightening ever.
Glad to see you are a warrior, Roger. You have many fans all over the world. Keep up the good work, we love you...
While it's true that Clarke could get diverted from the main plot to explore an interesting idea or theory, it would have to be contended that he always intended to do so and was in fact one of his primary purposes. Far from just dressing his stories in "sci-fi" clothing, the center of Clarke's story telling was always rooted firmly in science itself, never on just serving the plot of getting Character A to Place B to do Event C. The science was always the core of his storytelling, so he always felt that his reader should understand that as much as humanly possible, even if it took quite a few pages to get there.
For a contemporary example, see Neal Stephenson's CRYPTONOMICON, which devotes probably a third of it's pages to explaining different types and methods of cryptography, it's historical ramifications, the Pacific Theatre in WWII, and Cap'n Crunch cereal. And yet it's a wonderful book, probably my favorite of the last 10 years, and sits comfortably next to Clarke, Asimov, Hunter Thompson, Ellison, and Vonnegut.
Roger, it's only fitting that you have officially started to blog, because I think you actually gave birth to the medium years ago. What else would you call years of "The Great Movies", "Answer Man", your excellent festival coverage, and all of the other topical articles that you've written over the last 30 years, if not a blog that just happened to have been published in hundreds of newspapers. So, I vote that we add that to your numerous well deserved accolades: "Father of Blogging", or "Blogger #1", or "Blogfather", or something to that effect.
Long life and continued health, sir.
Individuals come and go. We contribute to the world, leaving our fingerprints on our friends and families, sometimes our co-workers, and through the stories they tell about us, maybe we can touch a few more. Voices sometimes rise for many reasons and can be heard by a multitude. Celebrity comes and goes. Teachers come and go. Writers come and go. You speak, as Mr. Clarke spoke, with a new voice, not within, but above, and beyond the previous expectations of the chosen forum. You touch lives, spark and stretch imaginations, as Mr. Clarke did. Commenting on moving pictures is a channel through which, with humor, insight, direction, character, care and love, you have placed your fingerprints on our culture. You have educated not only the motion picture audience, but also the motion picture industry. Your words influence past and coming generations of writers, directors, creators, the voices of our world. It is sad irony a man who moves so many with words is presently without vocal sound. Millions you have never met love you. We pray for your recovery.
Roger,
Get well soon. Arthur was the last of the 'big three' for me, Asimov, Heinlein, and Clark. He was a brilliant man who walked his own path in life. I admire him as much for that as for his wonderful writing style. In later years he did attempt to 'mentor' younger writers by 'co-authoring' books with them with I think limited success. His imagination took me into space and opened my mind to a different way of seeing things.
Not bad for books that aren't "Real" as the one poster put it.
I think Science Fiction didn't deserve to be in the Ghetto its been confined to. The few writers who had escaped it are now pretty much gone. There may never be another set of writers quite like the big three. Because books are fast disappearing from our society. Its truly sad. Look at us, we're discussing on a blog, same thing. Well at least we are seeing the dawn of the electronic book. Yet another thing they all predicted and none of them much liked (or their characters I should say).
Upon seeing that you've entered the blogsphere, a line Billy Crystal had in "Throw Momma From the Train" immediately leapt to mind: Writer's write. Always.
And such an inspired launch point for this blog. I had actually posted a Myspace bulletin about the passing of Mr.Clarke the day the news broke. Your comments really captured the essence of why he was my favorite sci fi writer, with only Ray Bradbury scoring as high on my list. The man was determined to tell wondrous tales with a foundation in legitimate science. When fiction is woven so effectively around a core based on fact, the resulting plausibility makes it that much more entertaining. I daresay we will not see his like pass our way again.
I'll end this comment with one of my favorite quotes from Mr.Clarke: "The truth as always, will be far stranger." Intelligent words from a brilliant man who spent his life illustrating just that to those who were willing to listen.
Hi Roger,
I stumbled across your blog....How fortunate am I?
You sound terrific! I'm so sorry you had the accident! Just know that I am throwing healthy prayers your way.
Miss you on the television and so happy to keep up with how your doing with your blog.
BTW...Marlene is loving the Ebert Fest!
Best,
Darlene in Los Angeles
Me too on Cinemania. I still use my 1997 edition to consult pre-97 Ebert, Maltin, Kael, and Cinebooks reviews; it's faster than the Internet, even on broadband, and all the reviews are by pros.
This old Maroon and fellow Illini (who also saw a lot of movies in the RKO Virginia theater in her youth) wishes the old Tiger a speedy recovery.
RLC in DC
I met Mr. Clark when I was in high school back in 1973 and then I kept running into him around L.A. usually at some Sci-fi & Fantasy convention. Back then there were no "trekkies" yet just fans of sci-fi who were starving for anything science fiction remember Star Wars was not even a thought yet. Every time I met Mr. Clark he ALWAYS took time to speak with me about anything I brought up. A delightful man who is already missed. It's so sad that our alleged education system which worked by the way for a long time when teachers were left alone and the administration did NOT exist for parent to dominate and bully. A "C" student was far above today's "average" student and better read. If the internet has done anything it's dumbed down all of us by assuming when one reads something that they believe they think it has to be true. Information is not knowledge as Mr. Clark used to say. Thank you Roger for dedicating this to the great Clark and the rest of you for responding so well.
Growing up in New Delhi India, in the 1980's I discovered Clarke in my local public library. I think the first book I read was the anthology Childhood's end. I was hooked. As others have pointed out he never skimped on the science. However, he was also a humanist with human beings at the center of his stories. In fact I found this to be a big difference between him and Asimov. It was never about technology alone. His stories always exploreed the human condition.
I read all his stories and novels right upto the Rama series. I stopped when his books started being written with collaborators. I would often read Clark's stories in before going to bed at night. It always gave me a sense of hope and possibilities in the future. Above all his stories were superb entertainment. It also made science seem like a creative pursuit. It certainly broadened my horizons and may have had something to do with my getting an engineering education and working in microchip design.
2001 is probably one of the best science fiction movies of all time.In terms of production quality, 2001 can probably not be topped by any of it's contemporaries. I can only think of one other movie that holds up so well over time, Blade runner, although it doesn't have the vast canvas or ambition of 2001. However, let me add a couple of science fiction movies that I think belong in the category of greats solely for the ideas they explore. I would love to hear your opinion on these.
First, Chris Marker's Le Jette. I recently saw it in a DVD version. It still holds it's own after so many decades.
Second, Tarkovsky's Solaris. I saw it first in India when I was 16 on the government run TV network. They would show great movies from all over the world late in the night twice a week. Solaris captivated me even though I didn't understand every detail. It was haunting and continues to engage on repeated viewings.
On an aside, are you ever going to be back on Ebert and Roeper? The reviews have grown increasingly banal since your unplanned departure.
Ah, the greats are all beaming up to be with Scotty in the sky. I've been reading your blog for some months now with great interest. Thank you for a lifetime of wonderfully written and thoughtful reviews. I loved reading Clarke, Asimov and Heinlein. I got started in the 4th grade with Heinlein's "Spaceship Galileo." It was right after I finished the Freddy the Pig series. I guess that was as good a time as any to move on to other pastures.
So why did I start commenting here? I just had some free time today to go back to the beginning.
Just to register on #1.