IT'S MY BIRTHDAYANDBUTT-NUMB-A-THON HAS ARRIVED!!!!

It's just after midnight, the morning of December 11th 1999... My 28th Birthday.

In just under 12 hours I'll be entering the Alamo Drafthouse for BUTT-NUMB-A-THON.... and I ain't coming out till it's done. Folks, in my opinion... I have had a wonderful year, and most of it is because of you folks out there.

Reading all the letters... the talk-back... the scoops... Talking to folks on the street, in restaurants, in theaters, around the country and even some foreign locales... With each of you, I begin to realize what a cool thing we have going here with film.

On this internet thing that we all occupy, we share our loves and passions. On AICN, it happens to focus on film for the moment. We exchange thoughts on how these movies touch us, how cinema affects us on a personal level. We get angry, elated, frustrated, anxious, hopeful, melancholy, celebratory and thoughtful by the films and the folks that make them. We argue passionately, leaving behind so much of the standard good graces that we have in the physical plane. Here... alot of the times... it's pure emotion.

I like that. There's life here, some may debate that, but for me I watch it. Friendships and Enemies made from across the globe. I love that.

The site is getting ready to begin taking it's next steps. Where we continue with the interactive two way street thing we have going on here. I'm going to begin getting more help, thank God, and folks... You haven't seen anything out of AICN yet. I love this site. I love film. And I'm glad to share it with all of you. As I sit here... almost ready to sleep for the last bit before... Well.. I can't anymore for a while... well, I just can't help but think about this site.

Forgive the lack of updates over the period of the next couple of days.... I'll be in a celluloid crazy-house... Over half of the participants have come in from Outside Texas. I can not wait to hang with this group. To spend my birthday with them. To celebrate film with them. Big ones, small ones. Loathed ones, Cherished ones. Old ones and New ones.

Folks... If you are coming to this event... heh... I'm soooo gonna fuck with your head. And if you aren't.... Hopefully I'll get to play with your brain... next year.

Just for the records... I turned 28 after leaving Moriarty, Segue Zagnut, Quint, Copernicus, Johnny Wad, John Robie, Mongo, and two.... as of yet untitled underlings. As the midnight hour approached, I was driving my favorite stretch of road... Lamar alongside Peace Park here in Austin, while NIGHT ON BALD MOUNTAIN pounded. Didn't plan NIGHT ON BALD MOUNTAIN... it just happened that way. Tytla rocks.

Sunday NIGHT (perhaps even Monday MORNING) is when I will next update. For a bit, we thought about bringing computers to BUTT-NUMB-A-THON... but this event is about watching film... not working on a site.

I've rambled in exhaustion long enough... It's time for sleep. Have fun wherever you are this weekend. I will.

Harry