Thanks for the info! I assume that you are still living in fremont, and will send your issue to that address.

I am glad to hear that you are finding time for your own inspirations. And look forward to the long-awaited Texture issue. I am sure that whatever you come up with will be fine. My only concern is that (and I am re-re-re-repeating myself here) you do not tamper with my contributions (other than the werdz page, which we have discussed). You know me, and how retentive i am, and i trust that you will not alter any of my content.

Also, it does worry me immensely when you say things like, “maybe some you will not agree with” and “but to compensate for any bad taste”. Perhaps you can spill a few hints to ease my worried mind? I can’t imagine anything that I would not agree with as far as images go — nonetheless, i trust you know what you are doing and will leave it at that. And, as for bad taste, I doubt that anything you would do could be worse tasting than crunch and weasle.
so don’t worry! (which reminds me, if you would like to “black-bar” censor the swear words out of the c&w pages, just let me know..)

And lastly, there are business details to concern over_:

a. how many prints are you sending over for our distribution purposes?
b. does that number include issues for barry and your mom? or will you handle those?
c. i am willing to pitch in some $$, if you find yourself financially overburdened..

Just stuff, you know…

i am stoked to see the issue!

GO!!!!

heh, totally spaced on my address, but yes, still in Freemont. Actually, I found a way to keep all the words in the words page, you should be quite happy. oh, and about the things you might not agree with, they are not major things, most likely it would entail things like monetary concerns for what some people might consider wasted space, as I am trying to make it a large issue, but have limited content,… I’m sure you can imagine what that means.

No content is tampered with, but I have also made choices for displaying the artwork, giving extra space around some, and keeping some landscape artworks upright instead of inserting them sideways. I am thinking a bit more of the total look of the publication than showing off each individual piece, and you may disagree with that, but it is already done and I will not change it, I want to have it out there once for people to see and judge whether it is something that works or not for future stuff we do, sort of a tactile sensory experiment to actually see and feel than just imagine and theorize about. It might be cool for once at least.

Oh, I do have a question for crunch and weasle… one page is portrait, one is landscape format. I currently have the landscape one in sideways to fill the page because I thought that is what you might want, but in the back of my mind think it might look better upright, and somehow fill in the space at the bottom with something, but I will leave that choice entirely up to you, because either could work, I guess. let me know. As far as issues go, I am planning on between 15/20/or 25, if possible the lower number, but if this quantity does not suffice, let me know, I will bring the number up, I am hoping not make more than 25, as I assume that is more than enough, and I am planning on making it a limited run, something special, if you will. Even 10 might be cool, but I thought that would be cutting it too close. Work with me on this if you can. Let me hear your thoughts. Eager to hear from you. We had a snow day yesterday, yes in Seattle, so I worked on DLA for a while, tuffinin it up some.

ahh, so nice to be in touch again… let’s see… everything you said sounds great — and eased my worries. to be truthful, we have all been "into" doing things that are totally different as far as the zine goes. your changes in format and open spaces and, well, whatever you do, will most likely be found inspiring. we are just stoked that you are still pumped up enough about our mutual cause that you would take time out of your crazy schedule and "do" an issue. it is an honor — truly. thanks for filling me in on your planzaz (fyi, nobody else really knows yet..)..

as for crunch and weasle, i hear what you are saying, and the only concern i have about shrinking the second page and placing it "upright" is that, well, it would be shrunk. i mean, don’t you think it would be more awkward to have that page reduced — and subsequently reduce font, line width, comic panels, etc — than it would be to place it as is, that is, not "upright". i think, anyway. it is a trade-off. i am also worried that the detail (words, etc) would then be too small to read. you are planning a standard (legal in half) size issue, right? if so, i would ask that you place it as is and not shrink it.

and, i hope that you weren’t offended when we exchanged emails concerning the werdz page. i really wasn’t trying to come off as being rude. you know. i just happen to come across that way in email land. just think of a big warm smile when you are not sure about my email tone. i am only trying to be direct. so, indeed, please edit the werdz page if you feel that would be best. i would hate to think that you dismissed your idea for the werdz page just because you thought i was freaking out or something. it really is no big deal — i just tend to be over-dramatic in the emails.

moving on, about the print number, i hear what you are saying. here is our current distribution list_:

[... omitted ...]

..these are people who have shown continued interest in DLa and have remained on our mailing list for quite some time.. thus, if you can send 20 copies, everyone will be happy. our last issue, which was VERY expensive, was printed 30 times (ie, 30 copies — mucho dinero!), so we had ten extraz to surprise people with… (we printed 61 issues !! of the "fair" issue, #19) …so what do you think? 20 sound good? c’mon!

~ also, what do you have planned for the copyright information? please let me know… ~ and, please rememner that DLa is a FREE art mag, and so no price should be listed anywhere on the issue (unless it says "free"!).. there are more concerns, and stuff to discuss, about this and future issues, but let’s get this email’s stuff figured out first…

business never personal
double tuff

cool.

Yes, “standard”(not) legal size. So crunch will stay as is, I had placed it in sideways such a long time ago, I had forgotten why, but now that you mention it, the text shrinkage and line weight was the reason I did it, just as you outlined, heh, I am not as ignorant as once thought.

So, about the words page, don’t worry about tone in e-mails, i am sure I am misunderstood much more often. oh and, I didn’t change my plans based on your response, I simply am trying to add more STUFF in the zine for ‘filler’… well it isn’t like that, not that your words are just filler, I just had an inspiration of the fact in thinking in that vein. all’s well.

20 typical interested recipients for DLA! I had no idea that was what it was up to, I really have been out of the loop. Impressive. Now I must push myself harder with a bigger audience. Well, can’t short-change anyone, at least 20 it will be. (I have planz to keep the price low anyways, lets just say I am working ‘on the inside’ and have connections, as well as other
special printing planz)

Copyright page? Is there some concern there? you know, I don’t want to give away too much of what I am doing, It is supposed to be a surprize, and I already feel I have said too much to Master Starr of the East (don’t spill to the rest of the court)…. so, fill me in on your concerns so I may chose to answer or leave you in a mysterious haze of eager impatience.

No worries on the price thing, I would never think to put a price to this issue anyways(or any for that matter, i hate labeling worth), it will be much to valuable to sell!

Uh, I think that is all, talk to you soon I presume….
production west.

Okay!

sounds like all is working out smoothly. remember that if you need anything to let me know. i know how crazy the last couple o weeks of a dla layout can be, and am willing to help out. i hope you ended up with enough content to flesh out your textural vision for this issue. — we are all looking forward to what the Oss has brewing for DLa over on the westside..

(which reminds me — and to change subject for a second — the fam and i are planning on moving to the portland area this spring/summer (vancouver wa, actually). i am planning on attending a two-year radiology program at portland cc. radiology techs make almost twice what i am making now, and i need that kind of money to pay off my debt. true, i will first have to accrue more debt in order to get the degree, but in the long run, i believe it will be well
worth it. i will keep you updated on this..)

anyway, back to texture business, i guess the only thing left to wrap up for this round of email business is the copyright stuff — basically, i just wanted to ensure that you were mindful of including all of the relevant information. but what am i thinking? i know you know what’s up with all that business, oh Grand Business Master of the Western Realms… — if anything, check out issue 19 for reference, but please feel free to modify details/etc., as you see fit..

finally, i just feel that i need to say that, without your involvement, DLa would not exist. even though you have been physically absent from recent collective happenings, i know that you are with us in the spirit of things, especially when i think of you over there, in seattle, busting your hump, working on this issue of DLa. i recall the early days, and want you to know that thane and i are there with you, in spirit, and hoping that someday soon the three of us will again have the opportunity to work together on art. just some mushy stuff for you. i would’ve rather said it in person whilst working with you and thane (and yasuko), just to bring back the great memories of getting together, sharing tea, and collaborating on a project that is remarkably special — not just to us, but to everyone who shares in its experience.

anyway, good luck finishing things up –
here’s to the future.

j