'Reader' Reacts as New-York Ghost Goes From Weekly to 'Seasonal'This morning, fans of The New-York Ghost, the weird and frequently wonderful little "Newsletter You Print Out at Work," were treated with a new issue, Vol. IV, No. 53. But instead of calling itself a weekly, the digital-only paper of McSweeney's-like squibs, poetry, essays, and fiction (with occasional contributions from writers like The New Yorker's Sasha Frere-Jones) is now calling itself "seasonal" due to its semi-erratic publishing schedule. Started in 2006 by Believer co-editor and Personal Days author Ed Park, The New-York Ghost went from mini cult to the subject of a New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Times 'City' section profile by Sani Knafo in 2007, which dubbed dub 1 tr.v. dubbed, dub·bing, dubs 1. To tap lightly on the shoulder by way of conferring knighthood. 2. To honor with a new title or description. 3. Mr. Park The Wizard of Whimsy whim·sy also whim·sey n. pl. whim·sies also whim·seys 1. An odd or fanciful idea; a whim. 2. A quaint or fanciful quality: stories full of whimsy. . (Disclosure: This writer worked with Mr. Park at another paper five years ago but has had no contact with him since.) As a possible explanation for the newsletter's long absence (the last issue—topically re-dubbed The Wasilla Ghost—came out October 7, 2008 and consisted of a poem by Aimee Kelley that began, "Dick Cheney's home is only visible/in winter. Those months he sits/underground dreaming"), the new issue begins with a surprisingly confrontational imaginary dialogue with a reader: So— So... What happened? We got scared. Why? Too much attention. PUBLICITY IS GOOD. Yes but— WHAT is your PROBLEM? It's just that, well, let me begin by saying— WE DON'T CARE... WE JUST WANT FRESH ISSUES OF THE GHOST DELIVERED TO OUR INBOXES ON A REGULAR SCHEDULE. IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK? The thing is, I HAVE been putting together issues, I just, it's just, once I'm done I somehow don't have the heart to hit SEND, or more often I don't QUITE finish the issue and then it just taunts me in its unfinished state... It's torture, really... HEAR THAT? Um... what? SHHH SHHH Self Help for Hard of Hearing People, Inc (Bethesda, MD, USA) . THAT. What? IT'S THE SOUND OF ME CRYING OVER YOUR SITUATION. Oh, I, I don't, I guess I don't hear anything and— THAT'S BECAUSE I'M NOT REALLY CRYING. This "prologue pro·logue also pro·log n. 1. An introduction or preface, especially a poem recited to introduce a play. 2. An introduction or introductory chapter, as to a novel. 3. An introductory act, event, or period. " is separated from the rest of the issue by a perforated per·fo·ra·ted adj. Pierced with one or more holes. line. Readers are advised to "Detach de·tach v. 1. To separate or unfasten; disconnect. 2. To remove from association or union with something. & Abandon" it.
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