World Watch OnLine: The UnOfficial Buckaroo Banzai Mailing List
# 133 (14 May 2000)
Submissions: WWatchOne@aol.com
Editor: WWatchOne@aol.com
Homepage: http://www.worldwatchonline.com
Calendar: http://members.aol.com/wwatchone/web/2000cal.htm
FAQ: http://www.figmentfly.com/bb/bbindex.shtml
Official BB site: http://www.banzai-institute.com

Number of subscribers: 517
(NOTE: anyone who doesn't have an "@something" behind their name 
is from 'aol.com.')

Contents:
Greetings
TABB merchandise, eBay, and half.com
Re: World Watch OnLine 132 - 7 May 2000
RE: World Watch OnLine 132 - 7 May 2000
BB Jersey
Re: World Watch OnLine 132 - 7 May 2000
At The Auctions
Dragon Tales

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Greetings and Happy Mother's Day to the moms out there!

Had tech trouble with my address database. And haven't
been as good at backing it up as I should've been.
Incredibly sorry to anyone getting this that had 
unsubscribed previously. Just reply with 'remove'
and I'll take care of it and make a dozen copies
of the file and scatter them around the county in
case something like this happens again. Again, I'm
very sorry.

'TABB' is coming up again on the S-F Channel in June.

AOL has been giving me more fits than usual (and despite
its rep, I've had less trouble with it than with any
*real* ISP I've had) with the email. Changes they
made resulted in me not being able to recieve any
email from fellow AOLers, so don't take it personal
anyone if you tried to get to me and it bounced back.
Because of that and other troubles (which probably has
caused some of you to get two copies of this thing)
I'm seriously considering switching this over to 
eGroups as an announcement-only type list. Seems like
that way, the only difference any of you would actually
see is in the return address of the List, though you'd
still use the same old AOL addy to send stuff too.
Thoughts? Anyone really hate the idea? They seem pretty
serious about not releasing email addys to outside
parties. Just something I'm thinking about.

Added some more stuff to the 'Stuff' page, including
a few links that might be handy for stuff like the book.

Also added a Post Office, so you can email BB postcards
to folks. 

AND the final ish of the original newsletter is finally
up, after a few tech difficulties getting it uploaded.

What should I do next?

Anybody out there with an ATI All-In-Wonder card know
why I can't record sound when using the coaxial cable?
I hear it through my computer speakers when I'm recording,
but on playback - nada.

'Silverado' is on right now. Great movie if you haven't
seen it, and not just because Jeff Goldblum and Pepe
Serna are in it. Best thing Kevin Costner has done,
if you want my opinion. It breaks my heart to think that
the town was destroyed for the likes of that "Wild Wild
West" abomination.


Later...
ArcLight

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Subj:	 TABB merchandise, eBay, and half.com
Date:	5/7/00 11:35:42 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:	jetlightfoot@juno.com

As many of you may have guessed by now, many of the auction sites -- or
at least the people auctioning off things -- have gimicks of one sort or
another. As Dragon and Crazy Horse have been saying, things aren't always
what they appear to be at first blush.

This being the case, I should report that BBI Agate recently obtained a
copy of the movie. She got this at http://www.half.com, which is a much
better way to go than eBay in my opinion -- if only for one reason.
Sellers at half.com can charge whatever they like for an item UP TO HALF
the original price. 

Obviously, this means that an original-issue (SP speed) copy of BB can be
significantly more expensive than the later (LP) release, since the
earlier version had a higher street price. On the other hand, this is
still very likely to be cheaper than you'd find it at a normal auction
site.

The downside to this, of course, is that you're not likely to find a copy
of the book at half.com, since the maximum price a seller could get for
it is well under $5. The same probably applies to the posters and shirts
as well as any other low-price official items. Of course, if you DO find
them at half.com, it's much more likely than not that they're legitimate,
and up for sale by some BBI who's managed to get their hands on more
copies than they need...

**** Half.com! Great idea. I hadn't thought of that one. - ArcLight ****

BTW, the only original long sleeve t-shirt I know of was black, with the
movie logo on the front and the legend "Team Banzai" followed by the
double-b logo imprinted in yellow down the left sleeve -- essentially a
long sleeve version of one of the standard t's, with additional
lettering. While the short sleeved version of this had a 10th anniversary
variation, I'm not certain that was issued with long sleeves; Starland
would know for certain, since these were their merchandise. I suspect
that the jersey Dragon and Crazy Horse describe in the latest auction
report is at best like the Institute clock(s) -- very possibly made
either one or a very few at a time, then auctioned off in hopes of making
a load of money for a small investment. While it's always possible that
these people are in fact auctioning off things they mistakenly think are
TABB related or items they've made because they couldn't find them, it's
my experience that inordinantly high opening bids (and $45 is high for a
jersey unless it's autographed -- maybe even then) mean someone's looking
for easy money.

Replay

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Subj:	 Re: World Watch OnLine 132 - 7 May 2000
Date:	5/7/00 11:18:35 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:	tachyon00@yahoo.com (stacey hoskin)

A couple of things about the latest WWO newsletter....

You guys...well, I guess all of us fans, need to realize that people
are snapping up BB merch and turning it over not because they are
fans, but because they recognize the cult status of the film, and the
obsessiveness of the fans. 

There are people all over eBay (or alike places) right now snagging
BB merch for a not too bad price, and then reselling it to the
diehards for a ridiculously inflated price.

Most of the comments I read here on the WWO are quite negative
towards this, but really, it's a democratic process. I don't like it
any more than you do, but at the end of the day, it's all stuff we
WANT, not stuff we NEED. 

Most of the BB fans I run into online aspire to some degree, to
follow and learn from the philosophies of Earl Mac Rauch--I mean,
Buckaroo Banzai...myself included. I always wonder, if Banzai were a
real person he would think it was pretty damned stupid to be involved
in a bidding war over something like this.

Why pay someone 50 bucks for a tshirt that's a color transfer iron-on
the guy made with his scanner? Make your own. So much of the junk on
eBay is such crap and so many fans get suckered into it. 

**** That's what I (and I think Dragon and CH, tho' I don't presume
to speak for them) are trying to do with our various 'rants' about
eBay (and other auction sites by extension). I don't really mind someone
auctioning off a laserdisc for $100. If I didn't have one, I'd sure
be tempted. But I don't want fans being suckered into paying through
the nose for something they can either get new cheaper from a legit
source or even worse, for something that somebody whipped up in
their basement. The fan-made belt buckles that recently went up sale 
at Starland are showing up on eBay now. - ArcLight ****

Do what Banzai would do...donate the 50 bucks you wanted to spend on
the shirt to hunger relief efforts in the inner cities or something.

I just accquired a second VCR. I have the Video Treasures version of
BB. I am thinking about hooking up people with copies (and even
tossing color scans of the box for their own BOX!) for cost. Cost.
COST. I don't care about profit. I just want to help people see the
movie.

Email tachyon00@yahoo.com if you would be interested in such a thing.
Remember, cost includes the tape, the time, and the postage (and if
you want the color scan box, a little more). That's it.

I'm not even saying I AM going to do it. I just want to know if
anyone wants or needs it bad enough, and can promise not to turn
around and dub the copy I give them for an eBay sale. If that
happened, it would be the last copy I made.

BBI VoodooKlohn

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Subj:	 RE: World Watch OnLine 132 - 7 May 2000
Date:	5/8/00 12:57:16 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:	swalker@starland.com (Stephen Walker)

Yes, Starland we did make the shirt. We made a few designs 
in long sleeve jerseys. $45 does seem a bit high, but maybe 
the seller just doesn't want to say goodbye to the shirt.

**** Okay, I did not know that. Cool. I'll have to
make sure I note that on the site. Don't suppose
you remember exactly which ones had long-sleeve 
variants?- ArcLight ****

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Subj:	 BB Jersey
Date:	5/8/00 4:22:24 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From:	gross@aish.com

Re: BB Jersey:

I can tell you that a long sleeve T-shirt was given to the cast and 
around the time production ended. It was black and it said "Team 
Banzai" on it. 

So, considering the colored silk-screen on the ebay shirt, it is 
definately not an original.

David
gross@aish.com

**** Ah...but it seems it is. I knew that design
had been offered in a short-sleeve version, but 
not long-sleeve. - ArcLight **** 

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Subj:	Re: World Watch OnLine 132 - 7 May 2000
Date:	5/8/00 7:21:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:	MorrisJeff

I've got a copy of "The Crying of Lot 49" by Thomas Pynchon 
(which has a number of Yoyodyne references in it), in good shape 
and just acquired from the St. Louis Book Fair, that I'm willing 
to part with for $5, which includes postage and handling. 
Interested parties (first come first get) can contact me at
Morrisjeff@aol.com.

This continues a policy my wife and I have had related to Banzai
materials--we don't believe in gouging our fellow fans.

JSM

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Subj:	 At The Auctions
Date:	5/14/00 12:11:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:	alandsmith@uswest.net (Alan Smith)

At The Auctions with BBI Dragon & Crazy Horse

A quick statement: We've been asked why we don't include links to the
items we talk about. The reason is because we don't want to appear to be
endorsing the items, we are on YOUR side. We include enough information
in our reviews so that the readers can find the items on their own if
they are interested.

Banzai Head Band

Dragon: A headband had shown up for auction.
The bidding is up over $20 but the reserve still hasn't been met.
I tried to do a little research be checking completed items with this
title and found none in the last 30 days (I think that's how long back
it's going). As I recall I have seen this item up for auctions with a
selling price of around $25.

Crazy Horse:  Ebay is getting a bit ridiculous for BB fans lately.
 The headband is a good item, if legitimate. The only problem is that
the price will be higher than a crack-head on payday by the time the
auction ends.

<Dragon shakes his head back and forth and smiles>

-----

Buckaroo Banzai- Extended Version

Dragon: I love this job! And this seller!!! With a little checking...
back with a starting date of 4/27 and ending 5/2 high bidder with $19.50
bought this item.
AND LOOK! Just wait 6 days and make another copy and list it AGAIN.
Starting date of 5/8 and ending 5/13. Do the math... "...if it costs me
$5 for a tape and I get around $20 I pocket $15 every two weeks from
those BB fans, this 'cult movie' thing is a gold mine, what else can I
come up with...maybe have more than one ebay name to sell them under
next..."

<Dragon shakes his head back and forth>

Crazy Horse: The "Extended Videos" are getting out of hand!!! Anyone
with 2 VCRs can
make an unlimited amount of these, as TABB was released on video before
the ANTI-BOOTLEG technology was widely used. I keep hearing about how
"rare" these videos are. In reality, these extended videos are about as
rare as hot dogs at the World Series!!! These things are poppin' up like
pimples on a teenager's face!!! I swear, sometimes you can find more
copies of this than you can find of TABB!

-----

Whorfin Watch

Dragon: Laugh while you can monkey boys! Here we are again for round two
with the Whorfin watch, broken band and all. This item has gained a bit
of curiosity at the Gabbs lately, mostly wondering IF it sold and to
whom.

Crazy Horse:  The watch is just plain BS! This guy has a lot of cahones
to try to
sell it (again!!). You could do one yourself for just a few dollars. The
seller says something about "never been seen before." Well, I saw it
last week when nobody bid on it!!

-----

BUCKAROO BANZAI RARE Advertisement + BONUS!

In the description it reads about a short novel's worth and includes:
"BUCKAROO WHO?"...This RARE and HARD TO FIND pre-release magazine
advertisement... The
              pre-release "teaser" advertisement for BB alone is rarely
seen, much less offered for sale, and fetches a
              pretty penny... Auction winner also receives a FREE TOP
SECRET BBbonus (I'm sworn to
              secrecy) at no extra charge!

Dragon: I've been watching the BB auctions for a while now and I see
these magazine ad clippings all the time. There is one seller who seems
to have an endless supply and doesn't sell them very often. Those start
at $6 and IF they sell they go for the $6. How ever this seller must
think that with a short novel's worth of description and a "Bonus" they
can get $9.99 or more for the same thing. I'd personally like to own one
of these "rare" (not) items for my collection but I will not pay $6 for
it. Free Bonus, most likely that small tin fold-back button they were
giving away by the hand full summer of '84.

Crazy Horse: The "BB Ad" is another cool item that will probably be
over-priced. I'd
love to have one, too, but for that amount of money I think I should get
the entire magazine it was in.

-----

Crazy Horse: By the way, if you really want a "BB Collector's Item," I
have an old
cardboard box with a Team Banzai sticker on it. I got it from a friend
of a friend of a friend who's cousin knew a guy that got the box from an

uncle who's nephew was married to a girl who was once married to a guy
that was the janitor's brother that worked on the film. Bidding starts
at $88....

By the way, the cardboard box is "near mint!"

<Dragon is now ROTFLHAO>

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Subj:	 Dragon Tales
Date:	5/14/00 1:03:44 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:	alandsmith@uswest.net (BBI Dragon (Alan Smith))

Greetings all!

The Gabbs have done well this last week. Topics included ebay and
auctions, fantasy baseball, kit cars and cars in general, movies,
martial arts, how we like our steak cooked, bouncing emails, books,
cats, who should play Priddy Penny in the tv series, viagra and beer to
name a few topics. So you see it's not anything close to BB talk for two
or three hours. It is however BBIs chatting for hours.

Gathering All Blue Blazes for a chat this evening and next week.
Remember, we are at the Team Banzai server:
http://www.team-banzai.net/Chat/chat.shtml
or point your IRC to: irc.team-banzai.net and then /join #Buckaroo
Sunday May 14th, evening 6 PM PST/ 9 PM EST
Wednesday May 17th, evening 6 PM PST/ 9 PM EST
Sunday May 22th, evening 6 PM PST/ 9 PM EST

Chats will last for around two hours. Drop in for a quick hello or stay
for longer.

I wish to thank all the private and public condolences from the BBIs
this last week.
Just a week ago (last Sunday) we lost Buckaroo our 15+ year old fox
terrier, here at home with the two of us at his side. It was not
unexpected, he'd taken a turn for the worse and we'd made an appointment
to have him put down last Tuesday, he didn't wait for that. We are
recovering very well considering. This was a long time coming so wasn't
as big of a shock as our last companion's death. The next day I was on
the phone and on the internet checking out options and making contacts.
We are perusing all angles now, our local shelter, Humane Society and
the fox terrier rescue people.
Our hearts are broken but in a way it's a good thing too. Buckaroo (k9)
is not suffering and we all have moved on now.

Well last week was Be Kind To Animals Week... I kept our bird feeder
full and have pursued adopting a dog or two... how about you? :)

I haven't mentioned BBcon for a while. I must confess that I have not
had the time nor energy to pursue it as I should have. As this event
stands right now, 3 months from it's date, there isn't anything much to
report. Other then a tentative 'yes' from one actor and from a publicity
agent for the film we have no guests. Our BBcon web site is nowhere to
be seen but the chat room area is working and is being used for the
twice weekly Gabbs. We have lost a few staff members to 'personal stuff
getting in the way'.
I'm at a point now where I can give it more attention and perhaps rally
my mojo and the spirits of the fans again on this project. I'll let you
know how it goes in the weeks to come.

Thanks.

Always True Blue,
BBI Dragon

A random novel quote - Lizardo (the human scientist who's body was taken
over by John Whorfin) having a 'discussion' with Lord Whorfin:
"You dominate my brain," Lizardo would say. "You give me no freedom to
think."
"If I didn't dominate you, you wouldn't help me," Whorfin would reply.
"You have no loyalty to the cause."
"That isn't true. I want to help you get off planet Earth, because I
know I'll never be free as long as you remain."
"But you think I'm evil. There is resistance. I can feel it."
And around they would go.

The Humane Society of The United States: http://www.hsus.org/
Team Banzai Chat server: http://www.team-banzai.net/Chat/chat.shtml
GABBs (Gathering All Blue Blazes) are scheduled twice weekly
Weds. & Suns. 6 PM PDT/9 PM EDT but you are welcome to drop by anytime.
Team Banzai.net is at: http://www.team-banzai.net/
B. Banzai e-mail list: http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/BuckarooBanzai
mailto:alandsmith@uswest.net

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