May 1st, 2009 / 2:38 am
Contests

Brandon Gorrell is holding an embarrassing contest at his blog.

22_various_nine_cameron_smith_youth

from brandon’s blog

here are the contest guidelines:
work must be fiction, 300 – 5000 words
entry deadline is friday may 15, 2009
submit in the body of an email to brandongorrell[at]gmail.com with ‘contest’ in the subject heading
paypal your entry fee/ agree to mail cash or check to mailing address provided at the same time as submitting your story. stories without entry fees will not be considered

I think it’s sort of tacky that Brandon is doing this. I know he just lost his job at the BBQ Café and probably needs money. I don’t know. It doesn’t seem like a worthwhile investment for anybody. Aren’t there are other more concrete things to do with your money? And if you win you get a copy of Brandon’s book? It reminds me of the bratty girls in elementary school who would tell me I could come over to their house after school if I did their homework for them. Like, cool, great, thank you. Do you also want seven dollars?

Tags: ,

225 Comments

  1. matthewsavoca

      i believe the winner gets more than just a copy of the book

      this is like people who live together in college and play 10 dollar buy-in games of texas hold em on random tuesday nights but with a judge who decides who has played the best

      at the risk of being called brandon scott gorrell’s male lover, i am going to say that i like this idea

  2. matthewsavoca

      i believe the winner gets more than just a copy of the book

      this is like people who live together in college and play 10 dollar buy-in games of texas hold em on random tuesday nights but with a judge who decides who has played the best

      at the risk of being called brandon scott gorrell’s male lover, i am going to say that i like this idea

  3. matthewsavoca

      i believe the winner gets more than just a copy of the book

      this is like people who live together in college and play 10 dollar buy-in games of texas hold em on random tuesday nights but with a judge who decides who has played the best

      at the risk of being called brandon scott gorrell’s male lover, i am going to say that i like this idea

  4. skeptic

      i think some people are over-estimating their “net worth” and “level of fame” lately.

  5. skeptic

      i think some people are over-estimating their “net worth” and “level of fame” lately.

  6. skeptic

      i think some people are over-estimating their “net worth” and “level of fame” lately.

  7. chris

      i am going to run exactly the same contest on my blog, though this comment will be the only mention of the contest, and the winning entry will be a story i have written myself.

      to enter please email chriseast83@gmail.com

      thank you

  8. chris

      i am going to run exactly the same contest on my blog, though this comment will be the only mention of the contest, and the winning entry will be a story i have written myself.

      to enter please email chriseast83@gmail.com

      thank you

  9. chris

      i am going to run exactly the same contest on my blog, though this comment will be the only mention of the contest, and the winning entry will be a story i have written myself.

      to enter please email chriseast83@gmail.com

      thank you

  10. Kevin O'Neill

      I would monetise this comment if I could.

  11. Kevin O'Neill

      I would monetise this comment if I could.

  12. Catherine Lacey

      I agree. I’m all for obscure, writer-people to blog and make literary journals and find other obscure writer-people to work with and read their blogs, but you get your mug in one slightly less obscure magazine and expect the money to roll in? Run the contest, yes, good. Will people enter it? I don’t know. Maybe we’re all just a bunch of assholes and it will be the contest of the century and we’ve all “under-estimated” bsg’s “net worth.”

  13. Catherine Lacey

      I agree. I’m all for obscure, writer-people to blog and make literary journals and find other obscure writer-people to work with and read their blogs, but you get your mug in one slightly less obscure magazine and expect the money to roll in? Run the contest, yes, good. Will people enter it? I don’t know. Maybe we’re all just a bunch of assholes and it will be the contest of the century and we’ve all “under-estimated” bsg’s “net worth.”

  14. james yeh

      the idea you described is a funny idea. i would not like participating in something like that idea. but i do enjoy knowing that that idea exists.

  15. james yeh

      the idea you described is a funny idea. i would not like participating in something like that idea. but i do enjoy knowing that that idea exists.

  16. Josh Kleinberg

      Do you think he’ll front me the seven bucks? He can then take it from the rest of the pool if I win.

  17. Josh Kleinberg

      Do you think he’ll front me the seven bucks? He can then take it from the rest of the pool if I win.

  18. Ryan Call

      ‘i’ ‘dont’ ‘know’ ‘what’ ‘i’ ‘feel’ ‘about’ ‘this’ ‘contest’

  19. Ryan Call

      ‘i’ ‘dont’ ‘know’ ‘what’ ‘i’ ‘feel’ ‘about’ ‘this’ ‘contest’

  20. Kevin O'Neill

      like.

  21. Kevin O'Neill

      like.

  22. David Erlewine

      chris, say you’ll at least consider the one i sent you. it’s about a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her

  23. David Erlewine

      chris, say you’ll at least consider the one i sent you. it’s about a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her

  24. barry

      “Maybe we’re all just a bunch of assholes and it will be the contest of the century and we’ve all “under-estimated” bsg’s “net worth.””

      i like this a lot… only without the “maybe”

  25. barry

      “Maybe we’re all just a bunch of assholes and it will be the contest of the century and we’ve all “under-estimated” bsg’s “net worth.””

      i like this a lot… only without the “maybe”

  26. chris

      if you film it it will win

  27. chris

      if you film it it will win

  28. brandon

      where did i estimate my net worth?

      where did i overestimate my net worth?

      did i say or make it appear that i expect the money to roll in, where?

      “another factor you may want to consider when deciding to enter this contest is that if a very low number of people enter, like 2 or 3, you have a high chance of making a couple of dollars + getting my book for free, or getting my book at almost half the cost”

  29. PHM

      Word.

  30. brandon

      where did i estimate my net worth?

      where did i overestimate my net worth?

      did i say or make it appear that i expect the money to roll in, where?

      “another factor you may want to consider when deciding to enter this contest is that if a very low number of people enter, like 2 or 3, you have a high chance of making a couple of dollars + getting my book for free, or getting my book at almost half the cost”

  31. PHM

      Word.

  32. Justin Taylor
  33. Justin Taylor
  34. skeptic

      you’re so right brandon

      you should be able to live off your writing while everyone else busts their asses at day jobs

      you should be able to tell us exactly how many thousands you’re going to make off our stupid asses, and then expect that to be an accelerant in the process

      you should be able to take, take, take, give next to nothing back, do a couple readings, do little to improve your writing, mimic the fuck out of better/more original writers than yourself (and not let us take this as an insult to our intelligence)

      you should, and you seem to intend to, with all your shallow little heart: so go for it

      if you’re afraid of not eating, go out and shoplift. i’m dead serious. at least tao lin has lived some of the antics he writes about. at least he exhibits passion in his own undeniably apathetic way (this is not a contradiction if you understand tao lin, which you seem to only on a surface level–ie, ‘the’ ‘way’ ‘he’ ‘writes’)

      you can sit here all day and say this isn’t about money, but i don’t believe you

      this is about money

      moreover, this is about you not having to earn your money like the rest of us

      you and tao have been talking about money non-stop lately

      you’re losing your fucking minds

      you know, i’m all for not working if you can find a way not to, but don’t make that way something as disrespectful as ‘i’m going to tell you how much money i’m about to make, and i’m also going to hustle my books non-stop, and then, for my true supporters, i’m going to run a contest with all my literary merit behind it’

      right now, brandon, i feel like you’re a bad person

      so shut the fuck up and let us bitch about it.

  35. skeptic

      you’re so right brandon

      you should be able to live off your writing while everyone else busts their asses at day jobs

      you should be able to tell us exactly how many thousands you’re going to make off our stupid asses, and then expect that to be an accelerant in the process

      you should be able to take, take, take, give next to nothing back, do a couple readings, do little to improve your writing, mimic the fuck out of better/more original writers than yourself (and not let us take this as an insult to our intelligence)

      you should, and you seem to intend to, with all your shallow little heart: so go for it

      if you’re afraid of not eating, go out and shoplift. i’m dead serious. at least tao lin has lived some of the antics he writes about. at least he exhibits passion in his own undeniably apathetic way (this is not a contradiction if you understand tao lin, which you seem to only on a surface level–ie, ‘the’ ‘way’ ‘he’ ‘writes’)

      you can sit here all day and say this isn’t about money, but i don’t believe you

      this is about money

      moreover, this is about you not having to earn your money like the rest of us

      you and tao have been talking about money non-stop lately

      you’re losing your fucking minds

      you know, i’m all for not working if you can find a way not to, but don’t make that way something as disrespectful as ‘i’m going to tell you how much money i’m about to make, and i’m also going to hustle my books non-stop, and then, for my true supporters, i’m going to run a contest with all my literary merit behind it’

      right now, brandon, i feel like you’re a bad person

      so shut the fuck up and let us bitch about it.

  36. brandon

      it is about money

      “while one of my motivations for doing this contest is to gain money, money gained will be relatively little. for example, if 10 people enter, i will make $21, minus a book (retail $12). that is a net profit of $9. that will probably equal $3 an hour or less, considering that i’ll be reading submissions, tracking progress of contest, spending time in front of computer for the sole purpose of running the contest, etc. other motivations for this contest include attracting visitors to my blog, thus potentially increasing book sales, ‘networking’ and/or ‘building relationships’, and giving writers an opportunity to make money off their ‘work’ (rather than working for someone/something else)”

      i didn’t say anything about true supporters

      the reason for ‘telling you how much money im going to make’ is this: ‘to ensure certain levels of transparency, i will soon create a new link at the top of this blog called ‘contest’ or something. here i will post the rules of and some info about this contest, and the number of people that have joined. this way, a person can decide if he/she wants to join the contest based on the number of people that have joined, and thus the amount of money that could potentially be gained’

  37. brandon

      it is about money

      “while one of my motivations for doing this contest is to gain money, money gained will be relatively little. for example, if 10 people enter, i will make $21, minus a book (retail $12). that is a net profit of $9. that will probably equal $3 an hour or less, considering that i’ll be reading submissions, tracking progress of contest, spending time in front of computer for the sole purpose of running the contest, etc. other motivations for this contest include attracting visitors to my blog, thus potentially increasing book sales, ‘networking’ and/or ‘building relationships’, and giving writers an opportunity to make money off their ‘work’ (rather than working for someone/something else)”

      i didn’t say anything about true supporters

      the reason for ‘telling you how much money im going to make’ is this: ‘to ensure certain levels of transparency, i will soon create a new link at the top of this blog called ‘contest’ or something. here i will post the rules of and some info about this contest, and the number of people that have joined. this way, a person can decide if he/she wants to join the contest based on the number of people that have joined, and thus the amount of money that could potentially be gained’

  38. Julia Cohen

      Weak Sauce Contest.

  39. Julia Cohen

      Weak Sauce Contest.

  40. matthewsavoca

      i feel like someone should say “lighten up” or something similar

  41. matthewsavoca

      i feel like someone should say “lighten up” or something similar

  42. brandon

      i will front you seven dollars josh

  43. DeathFromAbove

      Ha, this is such bullshit.

      Or, if I was to say it like BSG, that carbon copy Tao Lin, I would say:

      this ‘contest’ is ‘such’ ‘bullshit’

      god im so sick of these fucking self indulgent assholes. i wonder if tao lin is considering his ‘net worth’ in all of this. if i were tao, i’d be worried about all of these assholes aping my style, and making me look like a fucking moron. you know, as much as i enjoy tao’s stuff, the fact that he is indulgent of all of these second tier writers who bite his style is making me actually dislike him now. and that’s in ‘concrete – fucking – reality’

      how the fuck is BSG going to be a judge of the quality of anyone’s writing? in fact, if the people who enter the contest are all of those writers who circle around tao like flies on a fresh dog turd, how will he even tell them apart?

      anyone who puts their money into this is a moron, period. at least when some fool bids on tao’s fucking myspace account or something they’re buying into what is essentially a warhol-esque comment on identity. I guess. I mean, I think theyre fucking stupid as well, but I think it’s quite funny that Tao is able to support himself from other peoples stupidity. Good for him. Its a moron tax. But to send money to this joker so he can ‘judge’ your writing, and basically take your cash and laugh in your face… well, look, if you enjoy getting fucked in the ass, there are night clubs and craigs list ads all over the place where you can find someone who will gladly do that shit for free.

      ugh, these people bore the shit out of me. their writing is fucking anemic and boring, and they are all wannabe petit-bourgeois assholes. *pukes*

  44. brandon

      i will front you seven dollars josh

  45. DeathFromAbove

      Ha, this is such bullshit.

      Or, if I was to say it like BSG, that carbon copy Tao Lin, I would say:

      this ‘contest’ is ‘such’ ‘bullshit’

      god im so sick of these fucking self indulgent assholes. i wonder if tao lin is considering his ‘net worth’ in all of this. if i were tao, i’d be worried about all of these assholes aping my style, and making me look like a fucking moron. you know, as much as i enjoy tao’s stuff, the fact that he is indulgent of all of these second tier writers who bite his style is making me actually dislike him now. and that’s in ‘concrete – fucking – reality’

      how the fuck is BSG going to be a judge of the quality of anyone’s writing? in fact, if the people who enter the contest are all of those writers who circle around tao like flies on a fresh dog turd, how will he even tell them apart?

      anyone who puts their money into this is a moron, period. at least when some fool bids on tao’s fucking myspace account or something they’re buying into what is essentially a warhol-esque comment on identity. I guess. I mean, I think theyre fucking stupid as well, but I think it’s quite funny that Tao is able to support himself from other peoples stupidity. Good for him. Its a moron tax. But to send money to this joker so he can ‘judge’ your writing, and basically take your cash and laugh in your face… well, look, if you enjoy getting fucked in the ass, there are night clubs and craigs list ads all over the place where you can find someone who will gladly do that shit for free.

      ugh, these people bore the shit out of me. their writing is fucking anemic and boring, and they are all wannabe petit-bourgeois assholes. *pukes*

  46. Brad Green

      Funniest thing I’ve read today.

  47. Brad Green

      Funniest thing I’ve read today.

  48. Brad Green

      I looked all through that front page. I kept expecting to find my blog’s link there.

  49. Brad Green

      I looked all through that front page. I kept expecting to find my blog’s link there.

  50. matthewsavoca

      can i publish this on my twitter feed? it is a small press now

  51. matthewsavoca

      can i publish this on my twitter feed? it is a small press now

  52. tao

      brandon is sweet

      i’m excited he did this

      seems so retarded/sweet

      this is sweet

      i told someone who is close to me to enter

      i’m probably going to enter under multiple names

      this is sweet

  53. tao

      brandon is sweet

      i’m excited he did this

      seems so retarded/sweet

      this is sweet

      i told someone who is close to me to enter

      i’m probably going to enter under multiple names

      this is sweet

  54. David Erlewine

      shit, someone told me it’s already been filmed. i need to see that movie. supposed to be good. julia brings subtlety.

  55. David Erlewine

      shit, someone told me it’s already been filmed. i need to see that movie. supposed to be good. julia brings subtlety.

  56. tao

      seems sweet

      seems concrete

      did brandon not supply comprehensive information

      confused

      in 2006 i won one story’s short story contest, $15 entry fee, and won i think $300 and they didn’t publish the story

  57. tao

      seems sweet

      seems concrete

      did brandon not supply comprehensive information

      confused

      in 2006 i won one story’s short story contest, $15 entry fee, and won i think $300 and they didn’t publish the story

  58. tao

      i feel good

      eating watermelon

      woke up, opened the computer, saw that brandon had done something i feel is funny, saw ‘pretty serious’ shit talking

      seems sweet

      what else do i need, in the world

      so far today seems ‘perfect’

  59. tao

      i feel good

      eating watermelon

      woke up, opened the computer, saw that brandon had done something i feel is funny, saw ‘pretty serious’ shit talking

      seems sweet

      what else do i need, in the world

      so far today seems ‘perfect’

  60. andrew

      I think the contest idea is really funny. Go Brandon!

  61. andrew

      I think the contest idea is really funny. Go Brandon!

  62. tao

      keep scrolling up and down thinking ‘lol’

  63. tao

      keep scrolling up and down thinking ‘lol’

  64. Jimmy Chen

      i think people are being too hard on bsg. we all have blogs and we all want to sell books or make money.

      there’s an unspoken ‘ethic’ about modesty that bsg has *seemingly* transgressed by running the contest — but to freak out and make such a big deal out of it (and then to say he’s no big deal, or to be indignant at the attention directed towards him) seems contradictory.

      the fact that chelsea even posted this indicates that bsg resides in our collected consciousness and the level to which people are taking this ‘personally’ attests to that, and that is a certain level of ‘success.’

      to judge him on his career goals or path is petty, because we all do things to make money. we should reward people for being ‘smart’ about how they make money. would brandon have more ‘street cred’ if he stayed working at the bagel place? there’s this really unhealthy romanticism that real artists must toil in obscurity, and the moment someone achieves moderate success, people attack them.

      bsg’s move was traditionally tacky, but he’s been completely transparent on his focus on money. the reason why most of us will turn into bitter obscure writers is that we think money is not important.

      i’ve chosen the easy route and have a full time job, but i admire any one who has the guts to try to make a living as a writer. this community attack on bsg goes against the ostensible spirit of htmlg, namely, new ideas about writing and publishing. bsg represents, i feel, new ideas about writing and publishing. and i’m not blindly defending him. i would defend anyone put in his shoes today with these comments.

  65. Jimmy Chen

      i think people are being too hard on bsg. we all have blogs and we all want to sell books or make money.

      there’s an unspoken ‘ethic’ about modesty that bsg has *seemingly* transgressed by running the contest — but to freak out and make such a big deal out of it (and then to say he’s no big deal, or to be indignant at the attention directed towards him) seems contradictory.

      the fact that chelsea even posted this indicates that bsg resides in our collected consciousness and the level to which people are taking this ‘personally’ attests to that, and that is a certain level of ‘success.’

      to judge him on his career goals or path is petty, because we all do things to make money. we should reward people for being ‘smart’ about how they make money. would brandon have more ‘street cred’ if he stayed working at the bagel place? there’s this really unhealthy romanticism that real artists must toil in obscurity, and the moment someone achieves moderate success, people attack them.

      bsg’s move was traditionally tacky, but he’s been completely transparent on his focus on money. the reason why most of us will turn into bitter obscure writers is that we think money is not important.

      i’ve chosen the easy route and have a full time job, but i admire any one who has the guts to try to make a living as a writer. this community attack on bsg goes against the ostensible spirit of htmlg, namely, new ideas about writing and publishing. bsg represents, i feel, new ideas about writing and publishing. and i’m not blindly defending him. i would defend anyone put in his shoes today with these comments.

  66. matthewsavoca

      well said, jimmy

  67. matthewsavoca

      well said, jimmy

  68. Ryan Call

      i already made the single quotes joke.

  69. Ryan Call

      i already made the single quotes joke.

  70. Gene Morgan

      Yeah, and he’ll make what, like $30?

      People are gonna hate because he’s doing something fun and might be able to take his girlfriend out to Chili’s for dinner as a result?

  71. Gene Morgan

      Yeah, and he’ll make what, like $30?

      People are gonna hate because he’s doing something fun and might be able to take his girlfriend out to Chili’s for dinner as a result?

  72. tao

      sweet

  73. PHM

      I’m going AWOL tomorrow. I expect everyone to send daily donations to keep me alive. Publishing contracts are a must. I will be completely transparent about my goal: to live without manual labor or dead time. I will stop reading your writing. I will begin to use the names of famous writers in a gimmicky way. When someone attacks me, Jimmy Chen’s policy of defending anyone put in the shoes of BSG today will rescue me. Thank you; I’ll see you in Canada.

  74. tao

      sweet

  75. PHM

      I’m going AWOL tomorrow. I expect everyone to send daily donations to keep me alive. Publishing contracts are a must. I will be completely transparent about my goal: to live without manual labor or dead time. I will stop reading your writing. I will begin to use the names of famous writers in a gimmicky way. When someone attacks me, Jimmy Chen’s policy of defending anyone put in the shoes of BSG today will rescue me. Thank you; I’ll see you in Canada.

  76. matthewsavoca

      haha chili’s

  77. Blake Butler

      as long as Brandon solicits T.C. Boyle or Alice Munro to be the ‘actual winner’ of the contest, and uses the entry fee money both to pay them and to go toward what he somewhere lists as exorbitant costs to upkeep his blog, I will, in light of this contest, label Brandon’s blog ‘Best Blog of the Year’ and ‘the Gold Standard of Blogs’

      sorry, had to.

  78. matthewsavoca

      haha chili’s

  79. Blake Butler

      as long as Brandon solicits T.C. Boyle or Alice Munro to be the ‘actual winner’ of the contest, and uses the entry fee money both to pay them and to go toward what he somewhere lists as exorbitant costs to upkeep his blog, I will, in light of this contest, label Brandon’s blog ‘Best Blog of the Year’ and ‘the Gold Standard of Blogs’

      sorry, had to.

  80. Blake Butler

      ‘what would happen if i deleted this thread?’

  81. Blake Butler

      ‘what would happen if i deleted this thread?’

  82. Matthew Simmons

      Another perspective:

      Brandon, like many Americans, is feeling the pinch in this difficult economy. Brandon has started a contest from which he will make a little money. Brandon will spend that money, helping the economy.

      Brandon is an American hero.

  83. Matthew Simmons

      Another perspective:

      Brandon, like many Americans, is feeling the pinch in this difficult economy. Brandon has started a contest from which he will make a little money. Brandon will spend that money, helping the economy.

      Brandon is an American hero.

  84. barry

      i like that link

  85. barry

      i like that link

  86. Matthew Simmons

      Also, Tao Lin’s Myspace account comment:

      Feb 27 2009 12:30 AM
      thanks for excepting me as a friend!
      :)

  87. Matthew Simmons

      Also, Tao Lin’s Myspace account comment:

      Feb 27 2009 12:30 AM
      thanks for excepting me as a friend!
      :)

  88. anthony l

      win!

  89. anthony l

      win!

  90. barry

      why are the people who always say the harshest and shittiest things always doing so under douche bag pseudonums like skeptic and death from above. if you’re too big of a bitch to say something under you a real identity then shut the fuck up. besides, people who ridicule other people are always the bigger losers.

      im not personally entering the contest, but i dont care who else does.

      good luck to the contest and to the winner and to brandon’s book.

  91. barry

      why are the people who always say the harshest and shittiest things always doing so under douche bag pseudonums like skeptic and death from above. if you’re too big of a bitch to say something under you a real identity then shut the fuck up. besides, people who ridicule other people are always the bigger losers.

      im not personally entering the contest, but i dont care who else does.

      good luck to the contest and to the winner and to brandon’s book.

  92. PHM

      I would say that sometimes people feel they can get their point more cleanly across if it is not polluted with whatever preconceptions people have about them.

  93. PHM

      I would say that sometimes people feel they can get their point more cleanly across if it is not polluted with whatever preconceptions people have about them.

  94. Catherine Lacey

      yay Jimmy.

  95. Catherine Lacey

      yay Jimmy.

  96. Catherine Lacey

      faux names make me a little nauseous.

  97. Catherine Lacey

      faux names make me a little nauseous.

  98. Aaron

      Well said Jimmy, and you’re right: pimpin’ ain’t easy. We all just need to watch out for the sharks and those with outsized conceptions of themselves. or ‘themselves,’ or whatever.

  99. Aaron

      Well said Jimmy, and you’re right: pimpin’ ain’t easy. We all just need to watch out for the sharks and those with outsized conceptions of themselves. or ‘themselves,’ or whatever.

  100. john sakkis

      there should be a moratorium on new posts when a hilarious comment stream emerges…

      give it half a work day or something…

      shit gets pushed down too fast…

      “BSG” as douche bag pseudonum of what?

  101. john sakkis

      there should be a moratorium on new posts when a hilarious comment stream emerges…

      give it half a work day or something…

      shit gets pushed down too fast…

      “BSG” as douche bag pseudonum of what?

  102. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      ha ha ha

  103. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      ha ha ha

  104. PHM

      I agree about the moratorium.

      I disagree that pseudonym is spelled “pseudonum.”

  105. PHM

      I agree about the moratorium.

      I disagree that pseudonym is spelled “pseudonum.”

  106. Nathan (Nate) Tyree

      I fucking love Chili’s. The bartender there sets my drink (Jack, rocks, double) in front of me before I ask for it. I love her a little.

  107. Nathan (Nate) Tyree

      I fucking love Chili’s. The bartender there sets my drink (Jack, rocks, double) in front of me before I ask for it. I love her a little.

  108. Nathan (Nate) Tyree

      That;s great

  109. Nathan (Nate) Tyree

      That;s great

  110. Nathan (Nate) Tyree

      I agree with this

  111. Nathan (Nate) Tyree

      I agree with this

  112. SKULL EATER

      Do you know how easily I could kill you, Barry? Do you know how many times I watched you go in and out of that shitty Philly apartment? You are still alive because I have allowed you to live so you show me some GODDAMN RESPECT!

  113. SKULL EATER

      Do you know how easily I could kill you, Barry? Do you know how many times I watched you go in and out of that shitty Philly apartment? You are still alive because I have allowed you to live so you show me some GODDAMN RESPECT!

  114. Aaron

      here here, more time between posts so we can stew in it.

      and skull eater: ease up buddy. i dig your name, it’s gory and punk rock and hilarious, but do recall jimmy’s description of the giant’s intent, man. you might check out a necropheliac osteologist web community, or the jeffrey dahmer memorial blog. we’re talking words.

  115. Aaron

      here here, more time between posts so we can stew in it.

      and skull eater: ease up buddy. i dig your name, it’s gory and punk rock and hilarious, but do recall jimmy’s description of the giant’s intent, man. you might check out a necropheliac osteologist web community, or the jeffrey dahmer memorial blog. we’re talking words.

  116. pseudonum

      Skull Eater should post as “sack licker” or “licker of zines printed on sacks.”

  117. pseudonum

      Skull Eater should post as “sack licker” or “licker of zines printed on sacks.”

  118. david erlewine

      I think skull eater was screwing around, quoting from a pretty cool Eastwood movie. i could be wrong.

  119. david erlewine

      I think skull eater was screwing around, quoting from a pretty cool Eastwood movie. i could be wrong.

  120. davidpeak

      In the Line of Fire

  121. davidpeak

      In the Line of Fire

  122. Nathan (Nate) Tyree

      yes. Not a great film, though.

  123. Nathan (Nate) Tyree

      yes. Not a great film, though.

  124. Matthew Simmons

      Literature continues in earnest, gentlemen. And so must HTMLGiant.

      But we apologize for the wear and tear on your wrists caused by constant scrolling.

  125. Matthew Simmons

      Literature continues in earnest, gentlemen. And so must HTMLGiant.

      But we apologize for the wear and tear on your wrists caused by constant scrolling.

  126. john sakkis

      just copy n’ pasting from barry at 12:50…”pseudonum”…

      haven’t heard a “sack” pun in far too long…

      john “sack is small” sakkis,
      xo,
      xo

  127. john sakkis

      just copy n’ pasting from barry at 12:50…”pseudonum”…

      haven’t heard a “sack” pun in far too long…

      john “sack is small” sakkis,
      xo,
      xo

  128. Jimmy Chen

      oh btw, i love the shadow whack guy

  129. Jimmy Chen

      oh btw, i love the shadow whack guy

  130. pr

      who is the shadow whack guy?

  131. Aaron

      the smirking spanker in the photo chelsea used for the post. amen — good stuff

  132. Aaron

      the smirking spanker in the photo chelsea used for the post. amen — good stuff

  133. pr

      i didn’t notice that until now. I thought it was just a nice photo of Brandon.

  134. james yeh

      shadow whack guy is king

  135. james yeh

      shadow whack guy is king

  136. Josh Kleinberg

      Damn it. Now I feel remorse. I suck at being an internet dick.

  137. Josh Kleinberg

      Damn it. Now I feel remorse. I suck at being an internet dick.

  138. james yeh

      man tao has bad grammar

  139. james yeh

      man tao has bad grammar

  140. barry

      haha. i haven’t lived in philly in over 20 yrs you goddam moron.

      i live in the sticks in michigan.

      but nice try though.

  141. barry

      haha. i haven’t lived in philly in over 20 yrs you goddam moron.

      i live in the sticks in michigan.

      but nice try though.

  142. barry

      bsg isnt the spuedy, i was talking about skeptic and death from above and skull eater…

  143. barry

      bsg isnt the spuedy, i was talking about skeptic and death from above and skull eater…

  144. barry

      thank you very much for the correct spelling. i would not be able to teach writing everyday without your guidance.

  145. barry

      thank you very much for the correct spelling. i would not be able to teach writing everyday without your guidance.

  146. barry

      ha. i just started laugjing right now john, because i imagine you rereading your comments for spelling and grammar errors before you click submit. hahahaha.

  147. barry

      ha. i just started laugjing right now john, because i imagine you rereading your comments for spelling and grammar errors before you click submit. hahahaha.

  148. davidpeak

      if tao was using “excepting” as a play on words, it’s actually really clever. if it wasn’t a play on words than it’s not clever, nor very sweet.

  149. davidpeak

      if tao was using “excepting” as a play on words, it’s actually really clever. if it wasn’t a play on words than it’s not clever, nor very sweet.

  150. pr

      John didn’t correct your spelling. You’ve misread the comment.

  151. david

      got $7. entering contest. think maybe this will piss people off, maybe get me more internet presence. cool.

  152. david

      got $7. entering contest. think maybe this will piss people off, maybe get me more internet presence. cool.

  153. barry

      madore told john he spelled pseudonym wrong, and john said he was just cut and pasting rom my earlier comment. i did spell it wrong…

      either way. im all for everone doing whatver they feel like it. im just trying to help chelsea reach 100 comments. which is the pinnacle of html giant success.

      hope this helps chelsea.

  154. barry

      madore told john he spelled pseudonym wrong, and john said he was just cut and pasting rom my earlier comment. i did spell it wrong…

      either way. im all for everone doing whatver they feel like it. im just trying to help chelsea reach 100 comments. which is the pinnacle of html giant success.

      hope this helps chelsea.

  155. pr

      oops. my bad.

  156. pr

      You know, I’m thinking of entering it too. Even though Brandon didn’t like my Cheever post eons ago and that made me sad.

      Also, I really liked Barry’s rant against the meanies. I’m feeling a little inspired. Might have to submit.

  157. brandon

      pr, you should

      if you are ‘down and out’/ ‘low on cash’ ill front you the money

  158. brandon

      pr, you should

      if you are ‘down and out’/ ‘low on cash’ ill front you the money

  159. pr

      Brandon- I married a man with a very good job. But thanks, you’re sweet. I don’t know how to use paypal but my husband does and he’ll be home soon. He does it for me.

  160. david erlewine

      yeah, i’d say a decent movie, in retrospect. did like when he twisted the neck of the minnesota lady. and it had vinnie terranova’s mom in it!

  161. david erlewine

      yeah, i’d say a decent movie, in retrospect. did like when he twisted the neck of the minnesota lady. and it had vinnie terranova’s mom in it!

  162. david erlewine

      skull eater is fucking cool

  163. david erlewine

      skull eater is fucking cool

  164. Aaron

      let’s get this to 100. let’s eat some skulls while we’re at it

  165. Aaron

      print some zines on some sacks too

  166. Aaron

      let’s get this to 100. let’s eat some skulls while we’re at it

  167. Aaron

      print some zines on some sacks too

  168. Blake Butler

      when this post reaches 100, i will delete it

  169. Blake Butler

      when this post reaches 100, i will delete it

  170. pr

      I deleted my hockey haiku post and sort of regret it- i did it because someone wrote a comment like “the end of the giant” like the “decline of the giant” comments that happen from time to time.
      But hockey haiku is a great thing.

  171. pr

      I’m watching Nadal and Verdasco play tennis in Rome. If I pay too much attention to the tennis, I tear up. These men are so beautiful.

  172. PHM

      All I have to say anymore is

      sweater puppets.

      I’m five, seriously.

  173. PHM

      All I have to say anymore is

      sweater puppets.

      I’m five, seriously.

  174. pr

      Ken Baumann said he’d play tennis with me and someone said he looked like Verdasco.

      My older son got into Ithaca College Piano Institute and I’m so proud of him I could cry. Tennis makes me cry, my sons make me cry, mean people make me cry. The other night I drank too much and found this stuffed animal that my dad had as a boy had become decapitated somehow. I cried, “Uncle Wiggly, Uncle Wiggly” (that’s the name of him, he’s a rabbit in a fancy coat) and held him and then passed out.

  175. pr

      I’m wearing a brand new purple striped Aeropostale T-shirt that no 41 one year old woman should wear. I’m ashamed, and yet I’m just at home and no one but my kids and thier one friend whose sleeping over will see me- and my husband. But he thinks I’m fifteen anyway.

  176. Mike

      who’s Tao Lin?

  177. Mike

      who’s Tao Lin?

  178. david erlewine

      i cried when kevin curran lost to becker. that was the end of tennis.

  179. david erlewine

      i cried when kevin curran lost to becker. that was the end of tennis.

  180. david erlewine

      i like when he shoots the fishermen.

  181. david erlewine

      i like when he shoots the fishermen.

  182. pr

      I cry watching tennis with some regularity. Right now, Nadal just went up a break against Verdasco and I love Nadal, but I also really really really love Verdasco and he’s the underdog here and- it’s just so emotional. Also it’s a Mallorcan Catalan- Nadal- against a Madrileno. And, well, I don’t know. I just want Verdasco to win. But he very much most likley won’t. Sigh Sigh Sigh.

      Someday, I’m moving to Madrid. I’ll be old and shit but still. A tiny apartment in one of the outskirting nabes. That and a house on Zakynthos for the summers. I’m working on it.

  183. Matthew Simmons

      Not Tao. A myspace friend. I thought it was a clever accident, too.

  184. Matthew Simmons

      Not Tao. A myspace friend. I thought it was a clever accident, too.

  185. Matthew Simmons

      Time

  186. Matthew Simmons

      to

  187. Matthew Simmons

      Time

  188. Matthew Simmons

      to

  189. Matthew Simmons

      delete? One more comment, Blake.

  190. Matthew Simmons

      delete? One more comment, Blake.

  191. pr

      MWAAAA!

  192. chelsea martin

      holy shit

  193. chelsea martin

      holy shit

  194. Aaron

      cue the explosion

  195. Aaron

      cue the explosion

  196. SKULL EATER

      i’m going to eat the skulls of your shit-spelling students, bar (“bare”).

  197. SKULL EATER

      i’m going to eat the skulls of your shit-spelling students, bar (“bare”).

  198. barry

      fvfdbgb
      dvefbebrbrtb vgr
      fbfbvr btrgbrb fbrbrbr
      vfeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeevfrbyhyebgw

  199. barry

      fvfdbgb
      dvefbebrbrtb vgr
      fbfbvr btrgbrb fbrbrbr
      vfeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeevfrbyhyebgw

  200. SKULL EATER

      i used to love watching philipousis and sampras play. not. they wouldn’t have rallies more than three hits. boo. that killed tennis. i still think about that pat cash match, where he ran into the stands to hug his dad. or what about the jimmy connors patrick mcenroe rally? holy shit.

  201. SKULL EATER

      i used to love watching philipousis and sampras play. not. they wouldn’t have rallies more than three hits. boo. that killed tennis. i still think about that pat cash match, where he ran into the stands to hug his dad. or what about the jimmy connors patrick mcenroe rally? holy shit.

  202. Nathan (Nate) Tyree

      win

  203. Nathan (Nate) Tyree

      win

  204. pr

      fillapussis. that dude got distracted by the ladies. Shame. Sampras had a great career. Connors, McEnroe- all good. But MAN- the playesr now? Nadal? Tennis has never been better.
      Right now, Juan Monaco is coming out to play Fernando Gonzalez. Argentina v. Chile. These guys HATE each other. Gonzo will win, which is the second shame of the night (yes, Versdasco lost, waaah…).
      But the great thing is it is two uncircumsized dudes, battling away, with their uncircumsized penises. Gonzo is hot, but Chileans are such fucktards. Argentines? Yes, they are a bit proud, but they are not- I repeat NOT- Chileans. Phew.

  205. Ken Baumann

      Daddy.

  206. Ken Baumann

      Daddy.

  207. sam pink

      chelsea, congratulations. blake will be mailing you the “100 Club” jacket pretty soon i bet.

  208. sam pink

      chelsea, congratulations. blake will be mailing you the “100 Club” jacket pretty soon i bet.

  209. david erlewine

      fillapussis.

      fuck, that’s funny.

  210. david erlewine

      fillapussis.

      fuck, that’s funny.

  211. brandon

      sam enter my contest

  212. brandon

      sam enter my contest

  213. sam pink

      i have never been able to actually send money using paypal. i have been pursuing the correction of this and yet, to date have found no such correction (the paypal people send polite emails though, for real). i can mail you a book to give away as part of the prize. although i’m having self-esteem issues right now and i feel like i am a shithead for acting like that would make more people want to do the contest more. i keep thinking sports exclamations and then “i’m a shithead” after them. like “touchdown, i’m a shithead.” or, a new one, “from downtown, i’m a shithead.” don’t let people hurt your feelings brandon. people are always trying to hurt feelings.

  214. sam pink

      i have never been able to actually send money using paypal. i have been pursuing the correction of this and yet, to date have found no such correction (the paypal people send polite emails though, for real). i can mail you a book to give away as part of the prize. although i’m having self-esteem issues right now and i feel like i am a shithead for acting like that would make more people want to do the contest more. i keep thinking sports exclamations and then “i’m a shithead” after them. like “touchdown, i’m a shithead.” or, a new one, “from downtown, i’m a shithead.” don’t let people hurt your feelings brandon. people are always trying to hurt feelings.

  215. matthewsavoca

      mutha fuckah

  216. matthewsavoca

      mutha fuckah

  217. Lydia Davis

      I guess I just don’t understand the love ya’ll feel toward this little ear-biter.

  218. Lydia Davis

      I guess I just don’t understand the love ya’ll feel toward this little ear-biter.

  219. Lydia Davis

      Usually about two in the morning you end up taking advantage of yourself (Tom Waits)

  220. Lydia Davis

      Usually about two in the morning you end up taking advantage of yourself (Tom Waits)

  221. zachary german

      damn

  222. zachary german

      damn

  223. oat

      Luckily the contest turned out to be honest & good & true

  224. oat

      Luckily the contest turned out to be honest & good & true

  225. some poems have appeared on a new website called sevendollarstories « this is a blog

      […] was a lot of shit that happened during / before / after this competition. i was a part of all […]