The first article in this book was originally published in Salon, about Rolf trying to sneak on the set of The Beach, ten years ago or so. I remember actually reading it way back then, and I’m glad this guy got off the ground. The rest of these stories tend to be more “successful” than that one, but they are all just as entertaining.

Hippie-raised movie-buff Gem turns on to Andy Warhol and her and friends decide to start their own “Happenings.” But Gem is serious about creating and Lo only wants to destroy. After a big falling out, Gem makes her own underground film and comes to terms with what she wants.

Dan Dunn isn’t Hunter S. Thompson, but that’s ok, he’s almost as entertaining. And they did hang out in Aspen for a few years. Dan’s a liquor and spirits reviewer – booze companies pay him to write articles about their products – which leads to some hilarious stories of degenerate behavior.

This book is basically an indictment of NHS addiction services, but most people in the States probably have a very different view. For one thing, more middle class people are likely to know opiate addicts, but Vicodin or Oxycontin rather than heroin. And far more of these people are high functioning, partly because the Romantic view of opium/heroin didn’t really cross over to synthetic or derived painkillers. And there’s no comparable support net for chronically unemployed, er, chavs. Or whatever.

Anyway there are certainly some similarities between say the inner-city heroin addict in America and in Edinburough, but the good doctors viewpoints are highly colored by working in a prison. The “addict” in his viewpoint is someone who was already a criminal – Britain is more lenient than the US in incarcerating people – and then does anything he can to get more heroin and commit more crime. He seemed to have almost no experience with the upper or middle class drug or alcohol addict, or perhaps found them statistically insignificant.

Most of his scientific points are perfectly legitimate – heroin withdrawal is not that big of a deal and certainly doesn’t cause TRAINSPOTTING BABIES ON THE CEILING. But anyone who’s actually known opiate addicts knew this too. The condemnation of the addict is certainly full on, but with some sympathy, compared to the condemnation of the medical apparatus in place for the addict. “If you get on methadone and tell your dealer, he will not throw his supply away. He will find a new client.” Kind of an interesting viewpoint.

I do agree that legalization won’t work without some limitations, like alcohol has now. He argues that any limitations will provide a black market, which isn’t exactly the case with alcohol. But, then, I think legalization of alcohol is super hypocritical coupled with illegalization of other drugs. And it’s true that I personally do lots of research about drugs, which almost no other user does. Taking a test before getting a “drugs license” doesn’t seem too far out of line. Again, this wouldn’t kill the black market, but it would decrease people just trying hard drugs because they happen to be legal.

But in general the good doctor is condemning the lack of viable alternatives to the so-called “spirituality” of drugs, and states that western culture is sick. He doesn’t outright say religion is the answer, but there’s no other provided. The more immediate problem is the complete giving-in of doctors to the disease model of addiction. Again, I don’t see this to be as big a deal in the US, where only rich people can afford addiction treatment, or some poor people in those few cities with free/cheap methadone clinics. But it does sound like the British underclass is seriously fucked up.

The nerdiest kid in school befriends the craziest goth girl, even though she likes only indie comics and he prefers superheroes. He’s so socially maladjusted that I had to grin when he noticed jocks pick on each other more than on him. Really interesting post-Columbine YA novel.

I don’t get why someone would write a book where the main character’s aim is to lose her virginity, and then the book is basically PG aside from that. It’s ALL glossed over. Skip this if you don’t see the point either.

I did like the Caribbean ideas, though. That’s all I read it for.

Grady’s mom choked on her own vomit 5 years ago this coming weekend, and he’s all conflicted about what to say for her tribute concert. Surprisingly touching and interesting story.

This is pretty cool even if you aren’t high.

Also, I still want to sleep with Damon Alburn.

It was more attack-y than I thought it would be, but not overly pedantic. I still knew most of the stuff he said. Very broad overview. Still, pretty enjoyable.

This series is a crime noir set in an alternate history in which Martin Luther was quashed and the Catholic Church is running everything in Europe. In Paris, a doctor’s priest friend is murdered and in trying to find out why, uncovers the mystery of the Holy Grail. AND it was first published before The DaVinci Code.