Gazoo Calling

[mythteller]

I got a call from a reporter from the Gazoo (the local paper) who wanted to do a piece on how Witches are Gathering in Montreal (cue spooky music).

After clicking a few links, the reporter found a site called Meetup.com. It's a service that allows people to organize get-togethers based on any type of community common-ground. She found one for Witches in Montreal and figured that there were witches meeting on a regular basis somewhere.

Personally, I've never used the Meetup.com service, so if there were any Meetups, I never went to them. But by an odd coincidence, I just recently organized a Pagan Brunch and I was planning on using the Meetup.com service to publicize it.

So the reporter will probably be coming by to interview some folks or she might submit an article in time to publicize the Brunch itself. I'm starting to wonder if the diner I picked is going to be big enough to hold everyone who might show up.

The reporter did a bit of an impromptu interview over the phone and one particular question made me laugh. She asked me if I held down a full-time job, as if being active in the Pagan Community meant I didn't work. That would be liked saying "So... Are you a full-time Jew, or do you have a part-time job?"

Oy veh!

Comments

[toughlovemuse.livejournal.com]

*sighs* Witches are Gathering? I have to credit the reporter for looking for story ideas in innovative places, but surely the gazette has done enough articles on the community that a gathering isn't really news.

Actually, I remember hearing that when meetup.com started they had an ad up saying "If you want to co-ordinate this group, contact ..." and an e-mail address. Someone in the community contacted them and said "I'd like to co-ordinate this." and when she met with the person he couldn't believe she was actually a Witch. A *real* witch? Like, casts spells and stuff? Really? I mean, no, REALLY?

I think it turned out that he was someone meetup.com had appointed as co-ordinator for a bunch of groups, and so he was the head of the Wicca group without having the slightest clue what it even was. Hilarious!

[jdhobbes.livejournal.com]

I found it odd that she didn't even know about the article in the Gazette for Yule, but I guess she's just looking for ideas to write about.

Heh... I wonder who the community person was that contacted the Meetup.com person. I was asked to take control of this group a while back, but my brainpan was already filled to capacity.

[toughlovemuse.livejournal.com]

I honestly don't remember who told me the story and who in the community it was that went to the meeting. Possibly it was Meri who volunteered, that's what I seem to remember but I know I didn't get the story from her, and I really don't remember who it could have been that told me. Monica? Kerin? No idea.

[silly-imp.livejournal.com]

Yes, it was Meri who met up with the multi-group Meet-up coordinator. She met up with him just prior to the Samhain ball two years ago. He was totally blown away by the fact that she was a real witch, but then came along to check out the Witch's ball! Meri didn't take on coordinating the meet-ups after that. A girl called Nadine did. But she quit after Meet-up started chargning a membership fee or something and she would ahve been responsible for collecting the money and sending it off to meet-up (?!). I'm not sure anyone is coordinating in Montreal now.

[silly-imp.livejournal.com]

Was she a reporter employed by the Gazette or a freelancer with a story idea that she wanted to pitch to the Gazette?

[jdhobbes.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure actually. She says she pitched it to her editor and he said he was interested, so that might mean that she works there. Does it make a difference?

[talyesin.livejournal.com]

Yes well, you know those lazy, shiftless pagans, always looking for a handout, getting out of REAL work like what honest God-fearin' folks do.

*sigh* Is it just me, or was it easier back in the day when pagans had to hide?

[jdhobbes.livejournal.com]

The Gazoo is not the paper's real name. It's the pet name that Montrealers give the Montreal Gazette. It's a daily, mainstream, like-the-Ottawa-citizen type of newspaper.

[asherahs.livejournal.com]

Oy indeed! Good gracious, there's a lot of ignorance going around. (And I've heard that the meds. that treat it are developing resistance.) ;)

Aussie Kids Love You Don't Know Jack

[(Anonymous)]

Dear Hobbes,

Sarah here. I'm posting to ya from the land down under! I've made here in one piece and I just wanted to write and thank you again for making the book "You Don't Know Jack". You have no idea how many times this precious little thing has given my suddenly empty day with the kids something fun to do. Its great for everything and I can't wait for you to publish the next piece of work. Its late here and I'm just wiped and being lazy and hence why I didn't just e-mail this to you. But then again, I figuered there's nothing wrong with a little extra publicity right? A lot of the Aussie kids are disapointed that they can only get the book in Canada but they love it when I tell them a story from it. Again, thank you sooooooo much for this awesome little teaching tool.
Sincerely,
Sarah Breton

Re: Aussie Kids Love You Don't Know Jack

[jdhobbes.livejournal.com]

I don't know if you're going to see this reply, but thanks so much for letting me know that! I'm pleased.

Can you send me an email anyways? Maybe we can work something else out... (jdhobbes@yahoo.ca)