j040316 (imported)
March 16, 2004
Thanks, everyone, for the overwhelmingly positive comments regarding my last entry. Glad you liked it. 
A special note for my male readers:
Imagine, for a moment, that you’re laying in bed with your wife one evening, having a nice pre-sleep conversation (no, that’s not a euphemism) about nothing in particular. Further imagine that your wife makes a comment like, “I should call your plastic surgeon this week and see how much he’d charge to laser off my moustache.”
Should this happen to you, the correct response would not be a mighty guffaw and the words, “But then you’d look Amish!”
Just so you know.
After my conversation with Joe Quita about the Australian Men’s Health thing, I pretty much forgot about it, thinking it was all over.
It wasn’t.
Turns out it was growing in Australia before I even wrote about it, culminating in an article in The Australian, the national newspaper, on February 26. Below is an image of the text about Fred and Frank:
Old Frank sure gets around, doesn’t he? Note that the editor of the magazine called it a “little white lie.” Heh.
Enter Australia’s media watchdogs, appropriately named Media Watch. They picked up on the story and put it on Australian TV Monday night. Here’s a transcript, with some clickable links to screen captures from the TV show.
I feel practically famous. In Oz, anyway.
I got to “say” both “butt” and “arse” on national television on the other side of the planet. That fucking rocks.
To me, anyway.
I’ve emailed Media Watch and asked if there’s any way I can get a copy of the clip or show. Here’s hoping they’ll send it to me (and yes, I asked for it in NTSC format, so don’t be telling me I need to).
It’s a little disconcerting to work your way through a 635-page Pulitzer Prize winning book, only to find on page 596 that you’d been mispronouncing one of the main character’s names the whole time.
Because I’m all for being helpful I’ll tell you now: it’s kev-ALL-year, not ca-vuh-LEER.
As you read this, editors from Rodale, Simon and Schuster, Ballantine, NAL, McGraw-Hill Contemporary, and four others I can’t remember right now are reading writings about my penis.
It gives you a certain warm feeling to know that, doesn’t it?
And now, I leave you with some (creepy, to me) cemetery pictures I took Sunday at Maple Hill.
Here lies the body of Isabell Harris who departed this life
September the 13 aged 73, 1824
This one watches you. Wherever you are.
First! (Gee, I didn’t even know I cared!)
Hi Fred!
I know the 2nd photo is you, but is that your before photo as well?
Love the cemetary photos:)!!
I’ve never been first to comment before:)!!!
Jayne
Oh…………guess I wasn’t quick enough after all!!!
It’s the nostrils that frighten me most.
I feel famous here in OZ by just knowing you!!! Damm I missed Media Watch.
Jayne, both pictures are, in fact, me.
Fred,have you ever photographed the cemetary at night ? I would be curious to know if you would get those “mysterious” white streaks and orbs in the photos.
Rugbypet:
Alas, I have not. They frown on people being in there after dark (it’s against the law, actually) now. It’s a pity, because that used to be one of my favorite Friday / Saturday night hangouts in high school (why yes, I *have* been a freak my whole life).
I’ve been trying to talk Robyn into sneaking in there one of these nights, though.
-
Oh yeah. If you look closely at the second picture, there’s an orb (very visible in the full-size version) above the eye on the right-hand side of the picture (ie, above the statue’s left eye). For those of you who believe those are spirits, anyway.
Me, I think they’re just dust particles floating too close to the lens.
I understand why you are so upset, but I can’t help but wonder how poor Frank feels about the whole thing.
Hi Fred.
I love the cementary pics. For even more creepy cementary photos go and see jonathan-clark.com, that site is so great!
Regarding Frank: I don’t understand why they did not just asked for your permission to publish the story internationally. They could have even asked you if they could “localize” it.
And regarding Kavalier: I (as a German)would have pronounced the name exactly like you did. Now I know better:-)
Kate: what gave you the slightest impression I’m upset about it all?
It’s so nice to know that I’m not so wierd as my family thinks am I for wandering through cemeteries reading tombstones. Now to check out Johnathan-Clark.com - thanks for the link laura!
Thanks for the heads up re: K&C
You can rest assured that now I won’t make THAT stupid mistake!
Those tombstone pics creep me out! They are very cool though and you should enter them into the very next “creepy pictures of graveyards” contests right away.
Now it would be funny if I googled that and there was one! HA
And the comment you made to Robyn?
BAD FRED BAD BAD BAD!!!
Frank, um.. Fred, if you go here you can watch the clip. You’d better hurry though, coz it probably changes next show.
If I knew how to save the file I would
If you go to the Jonathan Clark site, go slow and watch the subtle animation and turn up the sound.
Fred, you are much more approachable and handsome than Frank! I really don’t see the resemblance!
I’m with Jennifer. The nostrils on that angel in the second picture creep me out!
Now I’m really curious–what are Tiny Teddies?
You are the second journaler I’ve read this week to post cemetary statuary photos. The other was at http://inkdragon.diaryland.com. Lovely!
Thanks to Melanie for giving us the link to Fred’s little Aussie piece. What a crack! I can’t believe someone would be so lazy to do something like that. My personal opinion is, the person should lose his job. They are very lucky Fred is such a forgiving and kind man, because your average American would probably want to sue!
Fred,
I grew up next to a vary large cemetary. I spent much time in the cemetary day or night. At night, it rocks, howls & creeps. It was also fun running from the cops. My friend fell in an open grave one night. One second she was running, the next she was gone. Luckily, she wasn’t hurt.
MRF!
Tiny teddies are a type of teddy bear shaped biscuits (cookies) in Australia. I think they’re like grahm crackers, sort of, but I’ve never had them.
Jayne
Ok, then I am glad to know you are NOT upset. But what about poor Frank. Is no one taking HIS feelings into accout? Poor, poor Frank!
Just got the book from Amazon and have been raving to all I know about “Fred” and his journey. Now Everyone wants to borrow it after the Media Watch story. I too feel famous by just having followed your progress. Love from Oz
Thanks, Jo, I’m glad you enjoyed it.