From: embeach@pdaxs.techbook.com (Electronic Dreams)
Subject: Writer's block / Dreamer pride / Fish and electricity
Organization: Portland Public Access sponsored by TECHbooks Bookstore
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 18:10:30 GMT

Elana walks in guiltily into Callahans from who-knows-where. She
KNEW she had promised the Callahaners a big story a long while
ago, and not done so.  The fact that most of the patrons had
probably forgotten all about it by now is besides the point for her. 
She had promised, and found she could not deliver.  She proceeds
to the bar.
 
Laying down a dollar, she says, "Mike, I want a glass of ginger ale
with a cherry in it."  Mike serves her in a flash, as they grin at
each other in the enjoyment of a good inside joke.
To the chalkline...
 
<gulp> <gulp> <gulp>  There goes the ginger ale...
<CRASH!!>  There goes the glass...
The fate of the cherry remains unknown...
 
...as Elana smiles a little and then faces the crowd.
"Hi guys.  Awhile back I came in here promising to tell a MAJOR
story of my involvement in the world of E-music and how I got
started with the organization Electronic Dreams.  Well, that is the
LAST time I go off and promise a story before it is complete.  I
had finished it in the first draft, and then after that I got good and
stuck... WRITER'S BLOCK!  The problem is that the essay - as
written - had a "look at me!" quality that I absolutely could NOT
stand.  Unfortunately I found I could not change it without
destroying it completely.  So I gave up.
 
I am a proud member of Electronic Dreams, i.e. a "Dreamer" with
a capital "D".  (The fact that I also happen to be the founder is
besides the point.)  The best Dreamers do NOT brag on about
themselves regarding their accomplishments.  We let their work
speak for us.  That is a part of Dreamer values and Dreamer pride.
 
If anyone is interested in the world of Instrumental Electronic
Music, a.k.a  E-music, (including the classic days Tangerine
Dream, Jean-Michel Jarre, Vangelis, Schulze, etc.) and what
Electronic Dream's role is in that scheme, they can email me for
information.  I will be happy to let them know what E. Dreams is
all about, how it got started, etc.. I have a good, basic information
letter I can send, much different from the 'look at me!' story I had
originally intended.  But to tell the original story to all of you as it
was written..."  
 
Elana shakes her head, looks down and smiles to herself.
 
"No, no.  I am a Dreamer.  I'll let my work speak for me.  Anyone
who wants to, (ESPECIALLY if you know of the artists I
mentioned) they can specifically request it via my email address."
 
At this point, Elana straightens up and grins her trademarked "up-
to-something" grin at the crowd.
 
"Ah, but if there IS something that we Dreamers are truly known
for, it's our sense of humor!  Yes, we love puns as much as the
rest of you guys at Callahans.  So I include here a great quote
from the Electronic Dreams newsletter, DREAMS WORD, issue
number nine, published about two years ago.  Hope you enjoy it!"
 
At this point, our Dreamer takes that issue, flips it to the right
page, circles the quote, and tacks it to the wall.  The quote reads:
 
----------------------------------------------------------
A true story:  The Mark Dwane interview in DREAMS WORD #7
originally was conducted by phone and recorded on a cassette
tape.  A non-Dreamer who didn't know the language of E-music
got the honor of transcribing the tape.  At one point in the
interview, Mark had talked about pitch-to-voltage converters. 
When the transcription finally came back to me, the transcriber
has typed "FISH-to-voltage converters"!  
 
That was a real laugh riot, but that wasn't the end of it.  I (Elana)
called Mike Birtchet to tell him, and he was greatly amused.  Then
I threw him a challenge: "Ok, Mike!  What IS a fish-to-voltage
converter?"  With no hesitation, Mike replied, "Bonneville Dam" (a
local hydroelectric project).  Leave it to Mike to come up
something like that so fast!  Later on, our friend Brenda said, "If
you wanted just a few volts, you'd get a microfiche!"  (Socket to
me!)  All I could think about was electric eels.  It figures.
--------------------------------------------------------------
 
Elana bows and heads up into the rafters.  
"Go have fun with it folks!"
 
(-:

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