Peter Bergman

Peter BergmanAs a founding member of the legendary comedy group, The Firesign Theatre and as the creator and host of Radio Free Oz (both the radio and online incarnations, ) Peter Bergman had been one of our culture's most insightful (and funny) pundits and political observers. Sadly, Bergman passed away as this collection was being readied for production. It was intended to be the first in a collection of essays, skits and comedic vignettes culled from his RadioFreeOz.com podcasts. Although the show could no longer continue, Bergman's commentaries in regard to the 2010 mid-terms and their immediate aftermath have proven to be not only cogent assesments of that era's political climate but now serve as a ghostly signpost to where we have found ourselves heading today. Ah, Peter Bergman, ever The Wizard. David OssmanPoet, writer, director, actor and cofounder of The Firesign Theatre and occasional RFOz co-host, David Ossman, adds his warm and soulful verse as well as his hilarious characterizations and social commentary to this collection. Mr. Ossman currently resides with his lovely wife, Judith, on Whidbey Island in the Great Pacific Northwest. Phil FountainBetter known as the House Illustrator and Cartoonist for Radio Free Oz, Philip (a/k/a Hal O'Dali, ) was responsible for the finest graphic elements found on any web-based audio program in the known universe. He also did the drawings found in "Trolling The Woe." He is currently holed-up in the shadow of Mount Shasta in Northern California with his wife, Christine, assorted grandchildren and their dogs.

Phil Proctor, co-founder of the legendary, surrealist comedy group, the thrice Grammy-nominated Firesign Theatre, in cahoots with Peter Bergman, Phil Austin and David Ossman, helped to create the most revolutionary comedy recordings ever made. Over a 50-year career, starting in the '60s and ending with them all in their 70s, they predicted reality TV, hackers, computer viruses, virtual reality, the fall of the Soviet Union, 9/11 and much more still to come. But during a breather in the Firesign career, Phil joined up with Pete to launch Proctor & Bergman on a crazy ride that took them on the road through the hip back pockets of the U. S. including Hawaii and even Canada with their own brand of surreal silliness, resulting in radio series, three records: TV or Not TV, Give Us a Break and What This Country Needs, and films including the cult hit J-Men Forever, and the topic of this story: Americathon. It started as Gothamathon, a cabaret skit that soon evolved into The Americathon, hosted by Bergman as the manic Jerry Jerry, and me as everyone else, designed to raise money to pay off the national debt. When Director Neal Israel, on the road to promote his hit, Tunnelvision (in which I have a fun role), caught our act in Boston - well, you'll have to buy the book to learn "the rest of the story." I'm sure you'll enjoy it, and only wish that Peter was still here to relive these crazy daze. I dedicate this book to him.

Phil Proctor, co-founder of the legendary, surrealist comedy group, the thrice Grammy-nominated Firesign Theatre, in cahoots with Peter Bergman, Phil Austin and David Ossman, helped to create the most revolutionary comedy recordings ever made. Over a 50-year career, starting in the '60s and ending with them all in their 70s, they predicted reality TV, hackers, computer viruses, virtual reality, the fall of the Soviet Union, 9/11 and much more still to come. But during a breather in the Firesign career, Phil joined up with Pete to launch Proctor & Bergman on a crazy ride that took them on the road through the hip back pockets of the U. S. including Hawaii and even Canada with their own brand of surreal silliness, resulting in radio series, three records: TV or Not TV, Give Us a Break and What This Country Needs, and films including the cult hit J-Men Forever, and the topic of this story: Americathon. It started as Gothamathon, a cabaret skit that soon evolved into The Americathon, hosted by Bergman as the manic Jerry Jerry, and me as everyone else, designed to raise money to pay off the national debt. When Director Neal Israel, on the road to promote his hit, Tunnelvision (in which I have a fun role), caught our act in Boston - well, you'll have to buy the book to learn "the rest of the story." I'm sure you'll enjoy it, and only wish that Peter was still here to relive these crazy daze. I dedicate this book to him.

Jan Töves nya bok, hans fjärde egna titel, är radikalt olik hans tidigare böcker. I distinkta, renodlade bilder visar han i Silent Landscape hur människans hand påverkar naturlandskapet och framtvingar förändringar, resulterande i en annan ordning än den ursprungliga. Det är en många gånger skrämmande verklighet som blottläggs, människans framfart är tvingande när ekonomiska intressen driver på. När vi ser bilderna förstår vi sammanhang och konsekvenser. Ett centralt tema i Silent Landscape är förhållandet mellan yttre och inre landskap. Det yttre landskapet är det vi lever i och det inre landskapet är det vi bär med oss. Det yttre landskapet har ett starkt inflytande på vårt välbefinnande, lite tillspetsat är det på lång sikt en fråga om liv eller död. Påtagligt i Silent Landscape är bristen på synligt liv. Två surfare tar sig in mot land i bokens början, två barn springer ut mot vattnet i bokens slut, ett par ensamma starar kurar på ett tak. Landskap i tystnad men också landskap som tystats. Öppna landskap som behagar ögat ses parallellt med vad som tagits i anspråk för snabbväxande energiskog i räta rader, grustäkter och instängslad mark. Vägar, broar och fabriker har anlagts. Allt måste få plats. Vi befinner oss i ett tillstånd mellan dröm och verklighet, som Jan Töve uttrycker det. Men inte utan inslag av hopp för Jan Töve vore inte den han är om han inte också visar hur vild natur utvecklas på sina egna villkor när den lämnas ifred, som i de sex bilder (sid 96-107) som utgör bokens epilog: Jag finner ibland små oaser av natur som tycks ha återerövrat sitt ursprung i skuggan av människan. Områden som på nytt förvaltar det förflutna i sina rum. "Alla bra landskapsfotografier är mer än bara vackra objekt; de säger någonting. De lämnar en kommentar om samhället eller en större fråga", skriver Jamie Dormer-Durling, författare till en av bokens två artiklar. Det stämmer väl med vad Jan Töve visar i Silent Landscape. Han som 1996 debuterade med den kritikerhyllade titeln Speglingar med finstämd naturlyrik i text och bild håller nu fram en titel stämd i annan tonart, en samtida rapportbok som manar till återhållsamhet i det kompromisslösa utnyttjandet av naturens resurser. Landskapsekologen Peter Bergman skriver om kopplingen mellan yttre och inre landskap: "Bara för att vi kan påverka, samt i stor skala helt omdana, de yttre landskapen så kommer vi aldrig kunna frigöra oss från deras makt över oss. Det finns en stark koppling mellan dessa yttre landskap och våra inre, mentala. ... Tänk bara på den inre frid vi känner när vi slår oss ned vid en havsstrand eller vandrar utmed en porlande bäck. Det finns vetenskapliga belägg för att tio minuters stilla njutande av vågor som sakta slår mot en strand är minst lika effektiva för att sänka ett för högt blodtryck som den bästa nutida medicin". Åke Sidvall