Yes, it is a Wikipedia World. The validity of a central, unifying truth is increasingly challenged as popular education expands and more people have access to the input end of the media. Meanwhile, small groups such as RA establish themselves as keepers of the faith in whatever spheres of knowledge appeal to them, girding themselves for battle with alternative beliefs.
The PI, that eternal seeker, is overwhelmed. How much of what she remembers actually happened, and how much was agreed wisdom? Is there anything to be gained by revisiting and revising old, cold cases? She rummages her desk for her bottomless bottle of bourbon, and wonders what Wikipedia pays its editors.
Just got back from Las Vegas, my first trip, and I'm wondering, given the current financial news, if maybe it won't be my only trip there. So many construction cranes, but I didn't see any of them moving. Maybe it was the wind. Maybe it was the weekend. Maybe, Christmas carols pumped into every concrete corner, it was just the off season.
Christmas as surreality's off season, or the end of surreality as I almost got to know it? That's my dilemma but I'm home, tired and broke, and first thing there's an RA email lamenting that some authoritative source got some bit of info wrong and I wanted you all to know that it's good to be back on familiar, noir terra firma.
Best,
Kerry
BTW- I took an unexpected Ripley "Angel" book with me (thought that funny-as-hell series ended long ago) that is not even close to hardboil or noir, but it doesn't matter because there's no place in LV to sit down and only horses read standing up (pretty sure I saw that on Wikipedia.)
----- Original Message -----
From: Dick Lochte
To: rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2008 12:11 PM
Subject: RARA-AVIS: Re: "Pulp" broadcasts on BBC7
In downloading the readings be sure to let the recording go for a few extra
minutes and you'll hear a very British, very self-assured BBC announcer note
that Paul Cain is the author of The Postman Always Rings Twice. Once the
initial amusement wears off, however, there's the depressing thought that,
except for we noble few, the history of crime fiction matters less and is
less well known than the history of Brittany Spears, And not even the BBC
cares enough to research their "facts." It's a Wikipedia world.
Dick Lochte
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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