Breast Expansion Archive Forum

Announcements => Community Health & Memorial Notices => Topic started by: JustMeMike on May 26, 2006, 05:58:56 AM

Title: Doggo/Axolotl/Al-The-Editor- R & D - AoV - Passed away 6/16/06 :(
Post by: JustMeMike on May 26, 2006, 05:58:56 AM
The following was posted by doggo aka Al-The-Editor yesterday in a thread in the Off-Topic Forum:

 
Quote:

 I've been in hospital for five days, after a complete loss of appetite. I'd eaten almost nothing for the previous ten days. They put me on a drip and took lots of bloods, then let me out today. I'm eating again but I feel totally knackered.

Trouble is, that's not the real trouble. I'm suffering excruciating pain in the hips so can hardly walk, and was expecting to go into hospital as an emergency so they could find out what it is and see if it is treatable. I suspect it's not; not completely. They may just patch me up and ship me out to make do as well as possible. It's bad, people. A week confined to bed has done no good at all for the stiffness and pain so until I get some treatment, it may simply be a struggle for the medics to find an effective and very powerful painkiller.

I've met some brave and very ill people this week, and some whingers, too. And some wonderful nurses to help me laugh.

--------------------
doggo - the original doggo. There'll never be another
 




Al and I have been partners in producing the AoV column in R & D since Nov of 1997. And he produced R & D for a bit more than two years before that on his own.

Thats a long stretch, and over the years I've come to realize what a terrific guy he is. We had intended a longish Intro page and announcement from Al nearly two weeks ago, but Al wasnt able to get it done. He's been through a very rough patch, and now you know why the May issue hasn't been put up on the R & D site for your enjoyment.

I know all of his fans and readers will want to send along their best wishes for his recovery.

I've been in touch with him by phone but not while he's been  laid up in the hospital. Now that he's home, I'll resume our conversations.

Best wishes mate -

JustMeMike
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: landrat on May 26, 2006, 07:14:22 AM
Consider this my get well-soon-card for Al. He will be in my thoughts and I hope the doctors do their best to help him - the right medicine can make all the difference, and hopefully he'll make a full recovery.

Get well Al-the-Editor! I look forward to you getting back to what you enjoy.

Thank you,
landrat
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: pedonbio on May 26, 2006, 11:34:34 AM
Yes, Al is the center of a large cyber-community, and we all wish for his quick and complete recovery. There aren't enough of us geezers around who remember when "vintage chicks" were just "chicks".
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: MunchWolf on May 27, 2006, 12:49:21 AM
Quote:

Yes, Al is the center of a large cyber-community, and we all wish for his quick and complete recovery. There aren't enough of us geezers around who remember when "vintage chicks" were just "chicks".




Damn .. I didn't realize doggo was Al ... he is one of the biggest founders of the BE movement .. and one of the few people left who predate me ... I hope he gets better ...

-Munch "he still needs to get off my lawn " Wolf
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Carter on May 27, 2006, 03:59:07 AM
Doggo... Al....  

How did that get by me?

Get well soon Doggo!!
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: pedonbio on May 27, 2006, 11:21:04 AM
Quote:

Doggo... Al....  

How did that get by me?

Get well soon Doggo!!




Figuring it out took a bit of thought: Remember St Catherine's School? Remember "some kind of dog"? Note when "doggo" wasn't posting usually coincided with the times Flying Rabbits was doing a shoot? Things written by doggo were related to issues on R&D? Those, and some odd bits of info doggo posted about times and places and thoughts.

If Munch spent a few minutes doing cyber-detective work, he would know who I am in rl and where I live as well. But Munch is far too adult to waste his time doing that.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: southy on May 27, 2006, 11:39:46 AM

Get well Al........Aov is,and always has been,one of the best features of the BEA.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: MunchWolf on May 27, 2006, 12:32:05 PM
Quote:

If Munch spent a few minutes doing cyber-detective work, he would know who I am in rl and where I live as well. But Munch is far too adult to waste his time doing that.




Don't worry .. I'll keep your identity a secret ....



-Munch "See, I've obfuscated this picture of you so that no one will know who you are" Wolf
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: ZoD on May 28, 2006, 02:36:27 AM
Get well Doggo.  
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: pedonbio on May 28, 2006, 01:29:19 PM
Thank you, Munch. You're close: All of the geekiness, none of the money!
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: rtpoe on May 29, 2006, 07:04:37 PM
May all your nurses have huge breasts. Especially the female ones!

rtpoe
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: sheber on May 31, 2006, 01:11:15 PM
Al, I have always appreciated your wry wit, even at my expense! Don't make me start missing you yet.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Juliekat on May 31, 2006, 01:57:47 PM
Feel better soon, Al.

*big hugs*

JK
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Wren on May 31, 2006, 04:45:00 PM
Ack!  I don't check this forum often and just noticed this thread.  I hope they fix you up soon, Al!  If you need new hips maybe Miss Gruntworthy can loan you some, 'cause she's got hips to spare!  Shameful...Shameful...

Wren
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: notty on May 31, 2006, 06:23:20 PM
Who is this Al person?  I thought doggo was a typing, pancake-making dog?  

Anyway, where do I send the 'care package?'
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: TheZookie007 on May 31, 2006, 11:05:43 PM
What we need to do is organize some of the models from PinupFiles and Busty.pl to go over to the hospital and deliver some TLC in person. My old mate Al/doggo deserves no less.

But, damn, coming over to the BEA Forum nowadays is a frightening experience. I saw this thread at the top of the list and I was like "Ohmigod, don't tell me that Al is dead!" You all have to give me a minute or two to let my blood pressure come back down to normal...phew!
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Palomine on June 01, 2006, 05:08:14 PM
 Best wishes for a fast and thorough recovery Al.  
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: prinz on June 01, 2006, 08:51:31 PM
Hope Al is on the mend and out and about in the boat soonest... thanks for letting us know Mike..
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: trukbutz on June 04, 2006, 09:12:25 AM
We all hope you get well soon, Al.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Chimera on June 04, 2006, 01:48:09 PM
Get better!  The BE gods command it!
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: on June 05, 2006, 06:33:17 AM
Hello Everyone,

I've spoken to Al this afternoon. Unfortunately he is still extremely unwell - there was a temporary respite from the illness and loss of appetite but these have returned. And there is still the awful hip pain.

Hopefully a fresh round of anti-biotics will sort the first two out for good this time, and Al hopes to have a date for a hip operation very soon.

In the meantime apologies to fans of R&D and Flying Rabbits, which I'm sure most of you know he is the webmaster of.

In his absence I have begun putting up some occasional new content on the FRV Yahoo Group where it can be seen by all.

Then hopefully Al will have his op and be back with us, fighting fit, as soon as possible!

Cheers,

Brian
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: pedonbio on June 05, 2006, 07:42:36 PM
Thanks for the update.

I just have to say something. I've only known Al for a few years, but he has always been generous with his time and insights. For some reason the industrial porn business attracts a lot of people who lack some of the basic building blocks of a decent personality; no one could ever say that of Al.
And I deeply, deeply hope that Al is wrong about his own prognosis.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: TheHerald on June 05, 2006, 10:26:58 PM
Let me speak on everyone's behalf when I say that, "updates to R&D and Flying Rabbits are less important than Al/ Doggo's recovery". Take whatever time you need to get well, first, Al!

..and I'll admit that I wasn't aware of the connection, either.  
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: TheZookie007 on June 07, 2006, 02:12:41 AM
Quote:

Let me speak on everyone's behalf when I say that, "updates to R&D and Flying Rabbits are less important than Al/ Doggo's recovery". Take whatever time you need to get well, first, Al!


Hear, hear!

"Industrial porn"? What, does that involve a lot of pneumatic drills and Caterpillar tractors?
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: PregNut on June 07, 2006, 04:18:56 PM
Get well soon, doggo/Al. We'll keep the pancakes (and syrup) warm.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: pedonbio on June 07, 2006, 06:11:14 PM
Quote:


"Industrial porn"? What, does that involve a lot of pneumatic drills and Caterpillar tractors?




I use the term in contrast to "homebrew" porn.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Heres_Buffie on June 07, 2006, 09:08:49 PM
Kisses to Doggo!  Please get well soon soon soon!
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: TheZookie007 on June 07, 2006, 11:08:37 PM
Quote:

Quote:


"Industrial porn"? What, does that involve a lot of pneumatic drills and Caterpillar tractors?




I use the term in contrast to "homebrew" porn.


"Homebrew porn"? What, does that involve whiskey stills and little brown jugs?

being silly today, don't mind me
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: JustMeMike on June 09, 2006, 05:06:40 PM
I spoke with Al today Friday June 9th -

Currently he's waiting for an available bed in the hospital which is filled to the seams. Without a bed for him, he cannot be admitted.

His surgical procedure is on hold, and meanwhile he's lost much of his mobility. He sounded quite weak, and tired from  just going to answer the phone.

Please keep your messages and good wishes coming so he can have some good cheer.  

From New Yoprk, this is...
JustMeMike
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: pedonbio on June 09, 2006, 05:21:08 PM
Al, we need you. This place is turning into a library without you!
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: HamsterGal on June 09, 2006, 09:03:53 PM
Send doggo some love from NJ for me, JMM! We all miss him.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Blake Isaac Gordon on June 10, 2006, 10:07:22 AM

One thing that's kinda bothering me. I know (at least recently) that Al lives somewhere in England... I thought they had better health care out there than in the states...

I've had back surgery myself and from what I've heard so far of Al's symptoms, back trouble might be one of the problems... But is he actually suffering from some sort of bacterial infection as well?

Please forgive my ignorance, but from what I’ve pieced together, from most of these post (to me) seems that Al could be suffering needlessly…

Please tell me that I wrong.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: TheZookie007 on June 11, 2006, 05:06:20 AM
I hope it doesn't hurt when he laughs. Otherwise, he could be in for a tough time.

Hang in there, man. We need you.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Cel on June 11, 2006, 05:50:32 AM
How did I miss this thread for so long ?

That's f'ed up ... be well dude and come back quick. :-)
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: homevintner on June 11, 2006, 10:04:30 AM
Warm wishes and a stack of pancakes for a speedy recovery.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: joenny on June 11, 2006, 05:22:25 PM
best wishes from germany to doggo!
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: on June 13, 2006, 01:22:31 PM
Spoke to Al again briefly this afternoon.

Unfortunately he sounded worse than ever. There is no strength in his voice and we could only have a very short conversation.

He is due to go in for an operation on his hip on Friday and hopes his other illness will not delay that.

If he goes in as planned, I have little idea of how long it will be before he's back with us. It is unlikely that his recovery will be very quick.

In the meantime, thanks very much for all your messages of goodwill. They are a big comfort to him.

Will keep you informed when I know more.

Regards,

brianm
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: pedonbio on June 13, 2006, 05:52:42 PM
He is always in our thoughts.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: ilovelinsey on June 14, 2006, 01:29:59 PM
Don't know how I missed this thread until now.  Please forward my regards to Al/Doggo and my hope that his operation Friday is successful and that he is up and about soon.  He has always been one of the shining stars of this forum.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: on June 15, 2006, 07:47:28 AM
Sadly, it appears that Al will not be well enough to have his operation tomorrow.

After taking a turn for the worse he was taken into hospital again yesterday on another matter and is undergoing treatment for this before anyone can think of working on his hip.

It's very sad that anyone should have to undergo so many ailments and suffering at the same time.

I hope that they keep him in longer this time and set him on a path to a proper recovery, rather than letting him out to relapse again as happened last time. :-(

Thanks very much again for all your messages of kindness. Al won't be able to get to a PC for a while but I will try and make sure your messages reach him.

Regards,

brianm
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: HamsterGal on June 15, 2006, 08:52:40 AM
Oh, no!!! That's too much all at once. I hope everything else clears up quickly enough, so he can have that worked on.... this is such lousy luck.

Wishing our doggo the speediest of recoveries, and hopefully he'll have some cute nurses to hang out with while he's in there...
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: TheZookie007 on June 15, 2006, 12:01:19 PM
Maybe the English team's fortunes will have a positive effect on his health...

Thanks brian, for keeping us up to date on his condition.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: on June 18, 2006, 01:10:48 PM
I can't tell you how sad I am to have to write and tell you that Al passed away Friday evening.

Yes, he was unwell. Yes he had a bad hip, and the infection. But never for a moment did I realize things would get as bad as this.

I've just made some very difficult phone calls and despite repeating the news over and over I still can't believe its true.

My heart goes out to his family - he leaves behind a son and daughter - and to everyone else who's heart he has touched.

For myself, I am really going to miss him...
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Blake Isaac Gordon on June 18, 2006, 02:01:41 PM
Damn- That's some sad news...

I cannot form the words...
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: ilovelinsey on June 18, 2006, 03:08:47 PM
I regret never meeting Al.  We exchanged a number of pms and he was always helpful and respectful.  To all who did know him I am sure this is a truly sad day.  For those of us who only knew Al through the various forums and websites, he will be missed.  He is in our thoughts and prayers.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: G_I_John on June 18, 2006, 04:10:40 PM
Ah shit

No, no, no, no, NO!

*wipes away tear*

Sorry, this is just so tragic, so much suffering

I'm a huge fan of the R & D editorial... it won't be the same without him

God Bless Al/Doggo
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: HamsterGal on June 18, 2006, 04:18:30 PM
brian - thanks for giving us the news... I know it's not easy when the news is bad.

My heart goes out to his family - he was a good guy, with a great sense of humor. He will be missed by his online friends. I may never eat pancakes again...
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: JustMeMike on June 18, 2006, 05:15:53 PM
It is about 730 PM on Sunday here in New York. I spent a leisurely day watching the US Open Golf tournament and taking a lap or two around the pool as the day was bright and sunny.

I just received the email from Brian M of Flying Rabbits. I never thought that when I last spoke to Al only some days ago it would be the last time.

This news is heartbreaking for me. Al and I have been partners for so long despite living on opposite sides of the pond, as he would put it.

He was a great guy to work with. After dozens and dozens of columns, he would still ask permission to make some editorial changes to sort out some of my more mangled grammatical constructs.

Though I traveled to many exotic lands, and sampled many delectable cuisines, and partied with some sensational women in Asia...the real pleasure was being able to share some of this via my column...

and all of that was because working with Al was such a joy.
I wrote the words and grabbed the vidcaps from the videos...but it was Al's magic that made it work.

I did nearly 100 columns with him - and the last one (in April) was as exciting as the first one - each column that you read was designed and built by Al - I just provided the content...

Al and I came a long way together. But our travels together are at end. His final journey begins and I will miss the guy desperately. My heartfelt condolences are offered to his family and friends. Godspeed Al...

From New York, this is
JustMeMike
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: solvegas on June 18, 2006, 05:20:52 PM
This is terrible news. I do not know if he believed in God but if he did I hope he's in heaven. A great loss to his family and to our community. I simply don't have the words....
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: on June 18, 2006, 05:48:55 PM
I've had an email from Diana The (prohibited V) and she has asked me to post this on her behalf:-

'I first met Al on the internet about ten years ago, when I was running a story-server. When I set up (prohibited L), his "Some sort of Dog" stories were among the first that I wanted to publish, and likewise R&D and the archive of that.

Al was a very good writer; his outrageous and elaborate plots were always funny yet erotic. His command of the language was superb, and he is one of the few authors that could make me laugh out loud. Who could forget his St Cat's stories, which were surely his masterwork, written in the style of the classic Bunty or Judy girls-school stories "The Four Marys".

You could almost hear Joyce Grenfell relating them. Jolly Hockeysticks.

But St Cats wasn't his only ouvre. I was involved, slighly, in the VAST project, and I've seen other projects around the web that bore the stamp of the man we knew as "Some sort of dog".

He also wrote under the name Axolotl, and possibly others, but for me, he'll always be "Some sort of dog". I never did find out where that name came from, but I knew that if I ever asked him, he'd invent some phony and outrageous reason, and I'd have to decide whether that was true or not. Because he was a great prankster. I know that, because I helped him in a couple of his jokes.

I'm sad that he won't be with us any longer, and we won't see any more of his absurd and delightful inventions (I think the wheelbarrow was his original idea). But we should know that he's gone on to bigger, bigger and, well, even bigger things, and is right now starting his new career at St Cats in some implausible and outrageous role, perhaps as the milkman, or maybe repairing wheelbarrows that have broken under the weight.

--
Diana the (prohibited V)
http://www.(prohibited V).com
Vir durus bene vinci'
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: The Warlock on June 18, 2006, 07:07:30 PM
Fuck!  Goddamit.

Thanks for everything, Al.  
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: prinz on June 18, 2006, 08:05:24 PM
He will be sorely missed by all.. godspeed
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Shara on June 18, 2006, 08:11:03 PM
  is the only thing I can emote here  
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Chimera on June 18, 2006, 08:11:20 PM
*pours some wine on the floor*
(insert complaining and grieving here)
I'm glad I got a chance to talk to ya dude!
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: CarlTL on June 18, 2006, 08:14:16 PM
Not much to say that hasn't been already said....
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Zatoichi on June 18, 2006, 08:51:53 PM
I don't have the words...

Namu amida butsu, Al.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: MunchWolf on June 18, 2006, 09:07:07 PM
That man was a legend

-Munch "   " Wolf
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: H_man on June 18, 2006, 10:00:26 PM
This is terrible news indeed. My condolences to his family. I first began corresponding with Al back in the days when he took over the editorship of R & D. It was distributed on a mailing list back then. (Anybody remember back that far?) I used to peruse every issue, annotate it, and then send it back for comment. Al always responded in a kind and thoughtful way and our discussions were quite invigorating. Eventually, he convinced me to contribute to R & D. Yes, I'm "Our Man H", I used to review tittie magazines for R & D. Recently I came across one of my old columns in a google search and was amazed at the insight and quality of the review. Which, now more than ever, I'm convinced came straight from Al. The bad parts were all me.

The world is going to have fewer improbably busty schoolgirls around now. Damn, I'm going to miss him. Godspeed, Al.

-H
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: JH_ on June 19, 2006, 02:37:42 AM
That's very sad news. Thanks for letting us know.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: TheZookie007 on June 19, 2006, 03:25:51 AM
My sweet Lord.

What can I say...what can I really say to such news?

I of course remember the beginnings of the whole R&D phenomenon. I was not there at the creation, of course, but I well remember the first time I ever came across the text-based version of the newsletter. And then the glory days began, when it was hosted in HTML format at both Wren's Spot and (prohibited L). It was then that I started a correspondence with the editor of the newsletter. That would be Al.

Al aka Axolotl aka Some Sort of Dog aka Road Dog aka doggo (damn, he had more aliases than Sydney Bristow or Prince) and I started writing letters back and forth, via the magic of the Internet, connecting us, he in England, and I traipsing through west and central Africa. That was quite a time. He had this mischievious way and attitude about him that was infectious. He would match me pun for pun, he would follow through on my more harebrained schemes, he would set me right about many misconceptions I would have about the true origins of certain models, and he would do it all with unfailing good humor. As you may imagine, back in the day, Internet access was neither inexpensive nor easy to come by in deepest darkest Africa, and I tallied quite a large phone bill while keeping up my correspondence with him. But he made it entirely worth my while. And it was with joy that I finally got myself my own machine, so that I would not need to be accosted by freelance preachers as I tried to enjoy the latest edition of R&D down at one cybercafé or another.

He encouraged me to try and put down on paper some of my own ideas for big-bust or BE fiction, but I must confess, as I did to him, that trying to follow in the footsteps of such prolific writers as himself or Plato Voltaire or Richard O Steele was daunting indeed. He never stopped trying to make do it though. With his encouragement, I started trying to contribute to R&D in the form of a (very short-lived) "fashion" column. Yeah, T's Tips, that was my work. (I know you all blinked and so you all missed it. Oh well. It wasn't for want of trying on Al's part.) But for the most part, I chickened out of doing even more. What could my own meager scribbling do to compare with such magnum opuses as the very best of the St. Cats' series, "The Fred Experiment", "Something In The Water" or "Dr. Hooters (UK)"?

I still have the binder containing the printouts of all the mail that was slung across the continents between the two of us, and now I shall cherish it even more.

This world has some crazy things in it, but of all the crazy things, here's the craziest: that I could count a man, one who I have never in my life seen with my own two eyes, whose hand I never had the chance to shake, and whose voice I never once heard the sound of, I could and can count him among the greatest, truest, most generous friends I ever had. And only because of the Internet. This world is crazy, it truly is.

I offer my heartfelt and deepest condolences to the two chi!dren he left behind, as well as to his (ex-)wife. They may never come here to read these words, but I shall say that Al was a giant, a true giant, among all the people here in our far-flung international community.

And in the tradition that I learned from my friends in the African continent, I hereby leave my seat, and shall go outside on this late night, bottle of spirit in hand, and I shall pay homage and respect to the memory of my dear friend Al.

(pouring my libation to him)

Rest in the bosom of Corinne Meadowlark, old friend. You are missed, deeply missed. Sundays will never be quite the same without you.

(P.S.: I had always wanted to know who "Our Man H" was, or what had happened to him. Now I know.)
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: pedonbio on June 19, 2006, 04:15:00 AM
We all came to know Al in different ways. I was trying to track down a guy who had known Roberta Pedon in her heyday; someone passed an email from me along to Al, and he responded with sage insight and kind words. His advice was always sound and, when I followed it, productive.

Over the years we talked about a lot of things, including the coincidence of both being born the same year as the atomic bomb. I feel a large empty space.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Hentaibee on June 19, 2006, 06:35:25 AM
Al was one of the best boobmen I have come to know ever since I discovered the internet and more specifically the BE scene. He will be missed.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Pacman on June 19, 2006, 10:39:13 AM
This is one of those times where I have to come out of hiding.

As someone who tried to do a webzine back in the day, it was a Al's format that I followed, and doing what I did made me realize how amazing the streak R&D had of rolling for as long as they did was...

I at one point considered him a competitor, hell I didn't always like his opinions and such... but he did a lot for this community and those of us who have been around for a while surely understand this.

He will dearly missed.

God bless his family and close friends.

-Pac
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Palomine on June 19, 2006, 11:57:24 AM
 My most sincere condolences to his family and friends.  
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: gonZo on June 19, 2006, 12:15:06 PM
I was also a competitor of Al's, and had nothing but respect for his wit, talent, creativity, commitment, and tirelessness.  He was an elder statesman of the BE community, and will not be forgotten.  

My sympathies to everyone who cared for him,
_
gonZo
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: b3 on June 19, 2006, 01:17:43 PM
May he get the angels he deserves.

He will be missed
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Plato Voltaire on June 19, 2006, 03:49:18 PM
For the best BE author ever Al deserves five out of five times five. Al helped in editing and grammar checked several of my early stories. His wordsmithing skills and character language will be sorely missed. I hope that the story I'm writing to dedicate him will be worthy enough.

Plato Voltaire
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV - Passed away 6/16/06 :(
Post by: Imaginos on June 19, 2006, 04:50:50 PM
SIGH, it's always the good ones who leave us

Al will be sorely missed. I didn't know him well but the few e-mail exchanges we had were great.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV - Passed away 6/16/06 :(
Post by: Shara on June 19, 2006, 06:25:34 PM
We'll miss you, hope ur in pancakeheaven doggo

(on a sidenote: Imaginos posted!)
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV - Passed away 6/16/06 :(
Post by: rtpoe on June 19, 2006, 07:15:35 PM
May big-breasted angels bring you all the pancakes you could possibly want.

rtpoe
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV - Passed away 6/16/06 :(
Post by: collared_cherri on June 19, 2006, 07:16:09 PM
Doggo?  But now who's going to put sand in my pancakes?  





He was one of my fave people here.  And I didn't even know that he was ill.  I'd noticed he wasn't coming on so much a little while ago and it gave me less of a reason to log in.  So I didn't.  Nobody made my time here more pleasant than he did.  

My upmost condolences to his family.  RIP mate *kiss*.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV - Passed away 6/16/06 :(
Post by: Tesseract on June 19, 2006, 07:18:50 PM
Rest well, we will miss you.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV - Passed away 6/16/06 :(
Post by: notty on June 19, 2006, 10:26:09 PM
He drove the bus.  He made the pancakes.  He laughed at my Celine Dion jokes.  This was a great man.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV - Passed away 6/16/06 :(
Post by: Angelus on June 19, 2006, 10:47:54 PM
He was a great writer.  The entire community will miss him.  

My condolences.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV - Passed away 6/16/06 :(
Post by: MaxBigfoot on June 19, 2006, 11:26:43 PM
Shit.  I am very sad.  Goodbye doggo, it was great seeing you.  
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV - Passed away 6/16/06 :(
Post by: crajosto on June 20, 2006, 01:39:01 AM
Damn we have lost the best - I still have the hard copy printouts of the first 20 or so R&D's I will go back and re-read them in sorrow & joy
R.I.P
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Cutter on June 20, 2006, 02:54:19 AM
May the Goddess welcome him to her large, soft, warm bossom.

*punches hole in wall*
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: notty on June 20, 2006, 03:30:08 AM
Quote:

doggo - the original doggo. There'll never be another



Truer words were never written.

I miss my friend.  *le cry*
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: smiley on June 20, 2006, 05:32:22 AM
Doggo/Al <--> Axolotl. Man, I never realised. Never told him how much the St Cats stories made me laugh.  

He's free of the pain and reunited with the dog he loved so much. One less prince on earth, but one more saint in heaven.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV - Passed away 6/16/06 :(
Post by: Prophet_Tenebrae on June 20, 2006, 06:03:05 AM
One of the most prolific writers in BEdom (if not THE most) and the editor of the only webzine that managed to survive the test of time. Quite an achievement.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Wren on June 20, 2006, 04:59:13 PM
Al was a unique talent and a good friend.  There was a time when we corresponded every day.  I deeply regret not keeping in touch with him more often.  Now I'll never have the chance.  I'm so very sorry, Al.  You were the best of us.

Wren
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: JSfdd on June 20, 2006, 05:13:35 PM
Right, he was the best. I got in contact with this great guy back in 2001, Al was one of the first supporters of the Farang Ding Dong adventure. He helped me a lot, we exchanged many emails and I even was about to meet him in person, now I regret I never did. I didn't know much about him, he once told me about his daughter, he liked to watch cricket games and he loved the Isles of Scilly. I always loved his British humour, his witty, ironic style without being offending or vain – he could laugh about himself, even when his situation got worse. I remember when the first thread about his health problems appeared last year, with some comments like an anticipated eulogy, he told me when he saw it "I thought I must have died". It was back in 2003 when I offered him a job at FDD, Al confirmed and everything was fixed, but just then he got ill and received the cancer diagnosis. He didn't want to believe it and probably didn't expect to die, but told me he doesn't know if he will be able to do the job in the future... I know he had a very bad time, and he also had to wait for months for his first operation, maybe too long. Later, I was happy to see him back on the track with his doggo-postings and his own flyingrabbits website, so I hoped everything was ok. And now, within such a short time…his last postings are just 3 weeks old, and it's hard to believe he will never come back. This is for me the second time a member of the BE-community I knew more closely passed away (remember r2d2) - but now I think the BEA lost it's greatest mind.

JS
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Dingus on June 20, 2006, 06:16:03 PM
Christ our eternal King and God;
You have destroyed death and the devil by Your Cross and have restored man to life by Your Resurrection;
Give rest, Lord, to the soul of Your servant Al, who has fallen asleep, in Your Kingdom, where there is no pain, sorrow or suffering.
In Your goodness and love for all men, pardon all the sins he has committed in thought, word or deed, for there is no man or woman who lives and sins not,
You only are without sin.

For You are the Resurrection, the Life, and Repose of Your servant Al, departed this life,
O Christ our God; and to You do we send up glory with Your Eternal Father and Your All-holy, Good and Life-creating Spirit; both now and forever and to the ages of ages.

Amen

------------------------------------------------------------
Or maybe the Lakota say it better;

GrandMother East:
From you comes the sun which brings life to us all; I ask that you have the sun shine on my friends here, and bring a new life to them -- a life without the pain and sadness of the world; and to their families, bring your sun for they also need your light for their lives.
GrandFather South:
You bring the storms from the south which brings the rains to nourish us and our crops. Be gentle when you fall on my friends; and as the rain touches them, let it wash away the pain and sadness that they carry with them.
GrandMother West:
You take the sun from us and cradle it in your arms, then you bring darkness onto us so that we may **82**. When you bring the darkness to my friends here, do so without the nightmares that we have had for so long. Let your stars and moon shine on my friends in a gentle manner; and as they look at the stars, they remember that those stars are the spirits of my friends shining on them and those friends are at peace.
GrandFather North:
You are the Warrior, you have ridden alongside my friends here into battle, you have also felt their love and caring when you were wounded or lonely; ride alongside of them, for now they are in this the hardest battle for their life, the battle for inner peace. Now is the time for you to care for them.
GrandFather Sky:
May your songs of the winds and clouds sweep the pain and sadness out of my friends' hearts; as they hear those songs, let them know the spirits who are with those songs are at peace.
GrandMother Earth:
I have asked all the other GrandFathers and GrandMothers to help my friends rid themselves of the troubles that weigh so heavy on their hearts. This way, the weight they carry will be less; and they will walk more softly on you.

GrandMother Earth, from your womb all spirits have come when they return to you; cradle them gently in your arms and allow them to join their friends in the skies. If they want to hurry themselves to you, tell them you are not ready; and they must wait, for now they can pass on peace to others.

May the Great Spirit watch over you, and may you be at peace.
   

------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV - Passed away 6/16/06 :(
Post by: 3deroticer on June 20, 2006, 06:29:46 PM
It’s been really weird. After a heated passionate discussion and bantering of name calling, comes a peace after a storm. I had thought that maybe there was a choice of showing consideration for being different. Nope! Stretcher dies, well then at least the others are calmer: Nope! Doggo dies.

Stretcher was such an extreme lefty and Doggo on the extreme righty. So hopefully they met each other in Heaven and checking up on Angela Devi. I am saddened of the way Doggo suffer in the end. Sounds to me that they put off the surgery hoping that he get stronger for it. I don’t fathom what was on his mind in his last days. By reading the message that everyone wrote I would think that nobody could have foreseen his seriousness of his condition. If anyone goes 3 days without food get help immediately.

They were both on my shit toward the end of their life, but I would gladly have another day of raucous debate if it meant one more day of piss and vinegar in the spirit of kicking ass. I will miss their energy and spirits and they were too young to go. I don’t think the pancakes joke could uplift me; they never did before, but definitely not soon.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV - Passed away 6/16/06 :(
Post by: beachboy on June 20, 2006, 08:36:48 PM
doggo was indeed a cornerstone and a pillar of the BE community.  We shall all be the more solemn for his passing.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV - Passed away 6/16/06 :(
Post by: Sadistyk on June 20, 2006, 09:31:47 PM
 


  Legend
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV - Passed away 6/16/06 :(
Post by: Joe Average on June 20, 2006, 09:54:03 PM
Like Wren, Al and I exchanged e-mails nearly every day.  He was my mentor in the big-boob fiction field, and our discussions took in that and so much more.  I have lost a friend I never met.

I feel privileged to have known him and to have benefited from his expertise, experience, wit, and taste.  There are things I learned from Al about writing that I will remember and use my entire life.

You know he was Some Sort of Dog and Axolotl.  You may not know he was Barrowclough, Kittywinkle, and one half of Hugh Japparatus.

The last item refers to the most fun Al and I had together on the web.  We were talking about the old Deja News classic  "A Growing Boy" by bigguy, and how it was too bad the author never continued the story.  I don't know how we arrived at it, but we decided to write a continuation ourselves, under the nick "Hugh Japparatus", which only the dry Brit wit of Al could have come up with.  We'd alternate.  I'd write a scene and send it to Al, then he'd write one and send it to me.  It was a slow process, being transcontinental and all.  "A Growing Boy--The Continuation" was posted on Chili's Annex. The next chapter "A Growing Boy, Continued--A Growing Girl" can be seen now on Liam's Chest Talk site, along with the first sequel.

There are parts of this story where it is evident neither Al nor I knew where we were going.  But it didn't matter.  It was such fun!  By the time we managed to finish the second one, to me we had blended almost seamlessly.  When I read that story over, there were parts I was sure I had written that I could tell came from Al, and there were parts he thought he must have composed that it turned out were mine.

It was fun.  I'm glad I knew him.  And I will miss him.

Thanks for listening.

Joe Average
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV - Passed away 6/16/06 :(
Post by: Sauerkraut on June 20, 2006, 10:13:25 PM
 I do not post often, and I have been unable to contribute much to this community, but I understand and cherish the massive contributions that Al has made for us here and for everyone. The few stories that I have submitted were nowhere near the quality of his own, as Al/Doggo/Axalotl and his other aliases had a true talent. He did what he did not simply for himself and, I can see, he was always willing to contribute his precious time to the community, what little he sadly had left. It is horrible to hear his death involved such suffering, as he assuredly did not deserve such.

 I never met him, nor talked to him, only reading what he's contributed and I regret that I never took the time to at least speak to such a great man. His loss is great, and his contributions were many. He will be sorely missed.

 My condolences.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Lightfoot on June 21, 2006, 12:50:19 AM
Wow.  I never expected it was this serious.  It seems almost unbelievable.

Al was a legend.  Not even considering his many popular, well-written stories, he managed to successfully run the only related webzine to last more than a year or two.  R&D has been around longer than most of us even realize, even back to when it was just an email newsletter.

I don't think even three or four people could even try to replace all of the time, skill, creativity, and energy he put into all of his projects.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV - Passed away 6/16/06 :(
Post by: TheZookie007 on June 21, 2006, 02:23:44 AM
Quote:

You know he was Some Sort of Dog and Axolotl.  You may not know he was Barrowclough, Kittywinkle, and one half of Hugh Japparatus.


I suspected that he was also "Barrowclough", but I had no idea that he was also part of the team behind "Japparatus". (I hope his chain of Swiss bank accounts isn't as tangled as his list of BE noms de plume ) The Growing Boy series as archived on ChestTalk is definitely one of my favorites...I re-read it every time I go to that site. Good work, Joe! You are also another one of the big guns of BE fiction and I admire and enjoy your work immensely. (I never read the original "A Growing Boy" by bigguy, nor the "A Growing Boy--The Continuation" story on Chili's, nor have I read any stories by "Kittywinkle". I shall have to, now.)

Dingus, that was a beautiful tribute. Thank you, and thanks also to Plato Voltaire (I'm glad to hear that you are writing again!) and JS of Farang Ding Dong fame, for coming here and paying their respects, as well as you, Pacman. Gosh, this thread is like one great big cyber-wake.

Shall any dare to take up the mantle of maintaining R&D, or to keep the Flying Rabbits site up now?
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: on June 21, 2006, 07:27:03 AM
Hello Everyone,

Thank you all for the kind words regarding Al.

I just thought I'd give you all a brief update.

I will be meeting up with members of Al's family tomorrow and will take them a print out of this thread, along with a few photos I have of Al from some of our working holidays.

So if you want to add anything else - keep it clean!  

Cheers!

brianm
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: collared_cherri on June 21, 2006, 09:01:49 AM
As is the nature of this medium, you never really get to know anyone.  Until this thread, I didn't even know his real name.  He never knew mine.  But "doggo" was my friend.  A good friend.  He made me laugh.  He brightened my world.  His charm and wit were admired by many.  He was humble and never boasted about his achievements, of which there are many.  Many more than I was aware of.  

Those insignificant few who didn't understand him, don't understand what it is to be a decent human being.  doggo was a decent bloke.  He laughed at my jokes - even the bad ones. He made fun of me.  He made fun of himself.  He made fun of many people.  But there was never any malice in him.  He didn't laugh AT you, he laughed WITH you.  

Wherever you are now mate, I hope your pancake-making skills improve.  Try not to get too much sand in them.  Chicks don't dig that.  Maybe you should try stirring the batter with your tail instead.  That'll impress them for sure.

I'll miss the jokes we shared.  I'll miss the antics we got up to.  I'll miss you doggo.



Your comrade in arms
cherri x
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: LeahJayne on June 21, 2006, 09:18:42 AM
al aka doggo aka julie aka poodle aka pudge! (so many pet names!) he will be dearly missed, he had the best sence of humour, one of the funniest guys ive ever met/worked with, im just glad i got to meet him at all.

Bye Al...how the hell are you going to photoshop me from up there!?!?!  
Leah Jayne xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<3
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: andrat2000 on June 21, 2006, 11:18:46 AM
No! This can't be true.
I always did hope for new St. Cat's stories. I did realize in the past that the majority of BE stories I liked most were not from different authors, but one and the same.
The St. Cat's stories were the first one that I found on (prohibited L) when using the concept of search engines like Fireball or Altavista the first time.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: MixMaster on June 21, 2006, 12:10:59 PM
Man...Strecher, now Al. These are indeed dark times  . Look on the bright side though, some angels are about to make a dude really, really happy  
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: BillN on June 21, 2006, 02:42:10 PM
Words fail me.  
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Carter on June 21, 2006, 03:48:00 PM
I've been putting off posting to this thread for a few days now. There's just something so final about posting here... having to admit to myself that he's gone.

I've known Al since the old days, back in 1996, before Research and Development even got started. Over the years we've exchanged more emails than I can count discussing more topics than I'd care remember. He always knew how to make me laugh.

Goodbye Al. I miss you.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: on June 21, 2006, 04:23:13 PM
Al and I first started corresponding early in 1999. I mailed him as editor of R&D and asked him to forward my congratulations to Some Sort Of Dog on his excellent St Cats stories.

“He won't believe me,” he replied with a   “It's me...”

And so our friendship was born.

I knew Al for seven years and yet I’m still finding out new things about him even now. It turns out that he was almost every favourite author I’ve read. If I hear that Terry Pratchett passed away last Friday I should not be at all surprised.

It was Al who encouraged me to write my first piece for this community - an account of a photoshoot I had with Linsey Dawn McKenzie which Al hosted on R&D back in 2001.

I wrote it and Al then very politely told me what a hash I’d made of it and made me do it again! He was quite right, of course, and I learned a lot from the experience.

Al continued to encourage my fledgling writing. When I wrote my first Hilda Humper story he said it reminded him of something Joe Average might have wrote. I beamed with pride at that.  

And it was Al who inducted me into Flying Rabbits - switching from amateur to professional photographer and from zero-rated to amateur sound engineer and spare cameraman.

Al always accused me of never listening to a word he said. That was half true. I wish I’d paid more attention to him when I had the chance. There is so much more I could have learned. But then I always thought I would have much longer with him...

It was through Flying Rabbits that I met so many wonderful people - models like Lorna Morgan, Michelle Monaghan & Leah Jayne, and behind the scenes Martin Solo, Mark, John, Faye and, of course, Al himself.

And it gave me an excuse to spend much more time with two models I already knew - Kerry Marie and the very special Lisa Anne.

Working with Al was never really work. Working with Al meant getting the job done but having enormous fun at the same time; and the memories I have of our trips to Amsterdam, Ibiza and Poitiers are amongst the happiest of my life.

What can you say about someone who has given you so much?

And perhaps it is only now that he’s gone that it is possible to grasp just how much he did give us - his fabulous stories, R&D, his contributions to this forum, his continued correspondence with so many of us and, when we created Flying Rabbits, he was adamant that it should contain a lot of free content (Much of it through yet another nom de plume - Everard Twinches).

The last time I saw Al was at Easter. Lisa Anne and I were in the neighbourhood so we arranged to meet him for dinner. It was a great evening and I am so grateful to have had that last opportunity to be with him.

And finally...  

Al loved his cricket.

He’s now in that great cricket pavilion in the sky, dressed in his whites, having just come in from his turn to bat. There is a bowl of Marks & Spencers grapes on the table beside him, alongside what you thought was a cricket ball, but which is actually a dark Terry’s Chocolate Orange.

He’s watching as we continue to play the great game with the occasional nod or shake of his head.

And then he’d lean over, read what I just wrote and say. “What a load of sentimental old nonsense, Murphy!”

But he’d be smiling when he said it.  

God bless you Al!
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: BarnacleBill on June 21, 2006, 04:53:31 PM
In realizing all he had done for this community, I'm reminded of a quote used to describe God...  "God is like Light in that we don't see Him, but by Him we see all else".

Such could be said of Al/doggo in relation to this genre and this most excellent community of friends.

I had no idea Al-the-Editor was doggo, who was also "some sort of dog".  One of the funniest posters, best webzine authors/maintainers, and best writers in the genre, all rolled up into one man?

Apparently so, and he will be missed, as the desert misses the rain.

In any community, it is a sad and tragic thing for a person to be unfairly and prematurely taken from his peers in the middle of his career, but it a more profound kind of loss for a person who helped build the gathering place to have to take that final journey....  

God Bless you, al/doggo
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: JustMeMike on June 21, 2006, 06:43:07 PM
While Al's passing is sad, reading all of these messages is uplifting and encouraging. It appears that Al was a partner, a muse, a confidant, a **94** buddy, a teacher, and a guiding spirit to so many of us.

I am amazed at how he was able to touch so many of you on a personal level. It appears that there were an infinity of Al's, doggo's, some-sort-of-dog's and so many aliases and alter-egos. He was a modern man for all seasons.

Back a few years ago, when Flying Rabbits released their first big-bust video with Chaz, Lorna Morgan, and Kerry-Marie as the featured performers, I ran a full length interview with the video's director - a chap named Pete Small. Do you recall the piece? Pete was at once - abrasive, friendly, and filled with the insiders view of the making of the movie. It was aterrific piece.

I can now tell you that Al was Pete Small. He directed, he wrote script, he managed the equipment, and more than likely he lugged the cameras, lights, and other gear on and off  the lorry.

He'd tell me about driving Kerry-Marie home after a photo-shoot. Just a guy dropping off a co-worker after a long day at the office. He be matter of fact and proud of the fact that he had shared the time with her and even prouder that he was a friend to her.

Back in early April, just after we published the April 2006 issue of AoV, I started to make some plans about what I wanted to do with the June issue of AoV, which would be the 100th issue. He applied the brakes by saying -- "Ah let's not talk about anniversary issues. There's a finality about such a round number.

Of course I had no idea. I surmised this was just a numerical superstition. I had no idea that this was Al telling me not to plan too far into the future. We now know with a certainity that Al knew his days were numbered.

When May arrived and Al advised me that he was having issues walking, sitting at the computer for long stretches, and he wasnt sure he could get the May issue up on schedule. He suggested that I send him only the Intro, and he would see how it went.    

Well he didnt have much strength left at all, and May never got done. I took to calling him on the phone often. It was then he confided that he was not able to eat, and was getting dangerously weak.

He went into the hospital on or about the 19th of May. A week later he was home and that was when he wrote his last post about being quite ill. His words were, "People, its very bad". I think that post was May 26th...

He came home, strengthened, I supposed, but not really. When we talked on June 11 he was almost gone but still home. He sounded weak, and scared. His daughter got him into a hospital a few days later, and by the 16th he was gone.

Al was a widower as his wife had died some years back. His children are all grown and have their own families. If you recall in one of his posts he was asked about his name, 'Doggo ' and the image of the cute pooch that was Doggo's avatar. He said Doggo was that dog's name, and there would never be another Doggo.

Prophetic words indeed. There will never ever be another Doggo, Al-The-Editor, some-sort-of-dog...or even a Pete Small. The girls of St. Cat's will never get a day older.
We are so fortunate to have had Al come into our lives. And wherever he is now, I'm sure he will bring the same good cheer there as he has done here.  

JMM
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: CarlTL on June 21, 2006, 07:28:58 PM
Amen
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: 3deroticer on June 21, 2006, 09:43:39 PM
wow! I am in tears just reading that. He truly gave all he had to the end. I didn't get the chance to know him that well, but thanks to all who knew him thanks for sharing your experiences with him and what it means to miss him. I am very touch by this all. I walk away thinking about how courageous he was to the end knowing the end was near.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: LurkingWolfen on June 22, 2006, 01:02:16 AM
Quote:

 It's bad, people.


When I first read those words from doggo it made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.


I feel fortunate to have had the pleasure of getting to know doggo from his posts here.

He posts were always kind and considerate. Cheerful and upbeat.

His mischievous sense of humour practically radiated from the screen.


My sincerest condolences to his family and friends.




I will miss you, my canid friend.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: geffo1 on June 24, 2006, 07:52:06 AM
Oh Jeez.....Ive only just read this thread. Id noticed Doggo was absent, but I didnt bother to read this thread.

Im gutted..
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: MasterDragonfly on June 24, 2006, 10:23:20 PM
I've been meaning to post for a few days now.

I'd noticed this thread previously, but as the title "Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV" didn't hit any buttons at the time, I gave it a miss.

It wasn't until this past Monday, after getting settled in after my first day onsite at a client in another city that I decided to check in here.  First time in a couple days.  I noticed the title had been changed to include "Passed away 6/16/06 " and wondered whether that had always been there (and how could I have overlooked that, etc).  On cracking open the thread, it didn't take long for the penny to drop.

I was stunned, but I was also exhausted.  I didn't want to post some gibberish in case I ended up regretting it later.

Instead, I immediately let cherri know (I know her time here has been less frequent of late).

I thought I'd be able to feel more rested/lucid before long, but it wasn't until I'd made it back home again and had a good **82** in my own bed, cherri by my side again, that I can say I've cleared away all (most?) of the cobwebs.  And maybe a seasoned professional might say I'm in denial.

I can't say I have anything profoundly deep to say here, and I certainly didn't know even a fraction of what other activities doggo was involved in.  To my knowledge, he was just a wildly clever guy whose posts I really enjoyed, and someone who dabbled in something he called Flying Rabbits, without ever really knowing what that was all about.  He certainly kept cherri amused, and that's aces in my book.  

I find it hard to imagine what it would have been like to have Al as a friend and neighbour.  It would very likely have brightened up the daily grind.  

As I consider myself to be more spiritual than religious in nature, I have no doubt that Al is catching up with family and checking in on loved ones, at the very least.  He may even be conjuring up more stories, just because he can.  Like no other.

Cheers, mate.  You've made a difference in many lives.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Dick_Woods on June 25, 2006, 05:21:09 AM
Jane and I wanted to pay our respects...

Our best to freinds and family...
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Zorro on June 25, 2006, 07:18:42 AM
I too wish to offer my condolences to Al's friends and family.

Today is the first time I read this thread and I now feel pretty bad because I didn't learn until today who Doggo was.  

He is and will be missed by all.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: DJPFC on June 25, 2006, 10:11:55 AM
I was thinking to myself this morning "Man, I haven't seen a post from Doggo in a while" because he ALWAYS chimes in with some great stuff whenever a post about Lorna is brought up.  I had also just posted a new thread about Lorna  before the weekend and was thinking "surely Doggo with have some good stuff to say" and was surprised to see that he hadn't posted to it yet...

and then I looked up at the top of the thread board.  I am un-freakin-believably stunned.  I don't even know what to say.  He was not that old and this came on very suddenly.  He was SUCH a nice man and had so much passion for his work and for contributing to the BEA here.  I'm just so heartbroken and sad.  I always had great correspondence with him and he always made me smile.  Such a terrible, terrible loss  

The one thing that has not been mentioned in here is -- what exactly happened?  There's been mention of an "infection" but I don't know what that means and I'm having a hard time understanding how a man of his age who was perfectly healthy (at least I thought) just a couple short months ago and all of a sudden he can't eat or walk or anything.   Like I said, he was not that old.  What could possibly have done this?

I'm so sad.  My deepest, heartfelt condolences to everyone who loved him and was his friend.  
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: smiley on June 25, 2006, 10:31:42 AM
From what I've read here and in the OT area I think it was cancer that took Al.
BrianM and Doggo himself only talked about 'an infection', but one of Notty's posts mentions him talking about a hip-op and planned radiotherapy treatments. Sounds like leukemia.

(Mods: if this isn't the appropriate place for this observation please delete.)
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: DJPFC on June 25, 2006, 10:42:59 AM
thanks for the input.  It would just be nice to know -- makes for a proper obit, I think, and I don't believe it's inappropriate (at least in my opinion).
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: JSfdd on June 25, 2006, 10:47:11 AM
I hope I don't tell anything too private and personal, but Al had been ill for nearly 3 years. As mentioned before, we planned to work together and we've already set up a contract, when Al suddenly cancelled the project end of 2003. He said he got ill, but it took a couple of months until he told me the truth about his prostate cancer. He said he didn't want to tell anyone "as it only embarrasses people and they start getting all solemn and sincere." And he was afraid "to fail after a very short time because my circumstances have changed so much in such a short time."

Once I asked him what he thinks about his future and he replied "there is a future, but it's just not quite as long as I thought it might have been."

This was back in March/April 2004.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: DJPFC on June 25, 2006, 11:05:59 AM
I don't think that's too personal -- it puts context on things and makes it easier to cope with, I think.  It just scary to hear when someone dies suddenly and unexpectedly and you start to wonder "what could have happened" because sudden, unexpected deaths don't usually occur.  I guess it wasn't so sudden.

I had no idea he had been ill.  Obviously, he lived his life as fully as he could despite the illness and that's a great, commendable thing.  I'm not surprised by that in the least from him.

Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: solvegas on June 25, 2006, 10:01:45 PM
Now that I know how he died I have more respect for him. With that hilarious and sometimes silly pancake thread I never guessed he had been under such duress. He had a serious condition yet he never burdened us nor did he feel self-pity for himself. That, in my opinion, takes a lot of courage and shows admirable character. We lost a fine man.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: homevintner on June 25, 2006, 10:24:22 PM
I haven't been in the forums for almost two weeks, so I only just found out today. I'm floored. My deepest condolences to his friends and family. He was a great man who will be greatly missed.


Home"a moment of silence"vintner
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: 3deroticer on June 26, 2006, 10:04:28 AM
Quote:

Now that I know how he died I have more respect for him. With that hilarious and sometimes silly pancake thread I never guessed he had been under such duress. He had a serious condition yet he never burdened us nor did he feel self-pity for himself. That, in my opinion, takes a lot of courage and shows admirable character. We lost a fine man.



Had I known I could have altered those silly pancake thread discussion with him. I would have been embarass maybe to engage him in a debate. I don't know but I might of. So I do admire his courage going on about with his life as usual.

He would make light of my passion during these discussion, but now I think I am understanding his POV as he took a different angle and turning my passion into silly pancakes. perhaps he was trying to remind me that "life is short" but did so with tremendous courage. He never told me that HIS life was short and moved on. Some of you saw him at his best, while I saw him at our worst and he still came out shining in the end. I think that side was worth mentioning  as it really shows his courage. It's easy to be nice, but to be nice while under fire??? Well.......Doggo did it!

He said that both of his parents were liberals, and yet he didn't agree with them. He allowed me to voice my thoughts, even at odds with his own and yet doing so showed compassion and still more courage. I am floored by that and I see that and even though he is not here to engage in another discussion of life, I am still hearing him Shouting "life is too short" enjoy the pancakes!

As I am hearing what you all experience of him. I think there is a peice of him still living among those who got to know him, because I still hear him speaking. Everytime I see another post of your experience of Doggo, I thank you for the gift you bring!
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: on June 26, 2006, 11:09:17 AM
Hello All,

Just passing on a message from Al's daughter:-

"Hello, Al’s daughter here, Jo. Al/Doggo etc will hereafter be referred to as Dad.

Thank you all so much for your words. Some made me laugh and some made me cry. Unfortunately I have not inherited his writing talent and my thoughts may be disjointed so please bear with me.

I have learnt more about my Dad in the last week than I did throughout his life. We had a childlike relationship which avoided serious conversation and embarrassing issues, we did not discuss anything even vaguely rude and swearing was taboo. However he did once make a list of nearly 100 words for “pissed”. (I may be exaggerating but I was quite young). Life was based around jokes and silly words and names. My nicknames from Dad varied from Ho, Hoanne and my least favourite, Rattus-Rattus, why??!!??

Anyway, finding out what he has been doing for the last 10? years came initially as a shock followed by amusement. I didn’t realize he had been writing so much, traveling so much, filming so much!! or become so involved in forums, etc. He was very straight laced but now I know not when it came to boobs. I have not read any of his work and don’t know that I want to (definitely not yet anyway)

He also loved cricket. In his day he was 1st XI captain and would open the batting, score 100 not out and then bowl out the opposition too. As the youngsters came on he moved to umpiring but always, and still does have his kit in the car, just in case. His last game was 2 years ago, just about the oldest player I knew, and still got a ridiculous amount of wickets. I was immensely proud.

With regards to his illness, I wasn’t aware of the seriousness. Maybe having already lost my Mum to cancer he wanted to spare my brother and I the pain and hope he recovered so he didn’t let on. About 2 years ago he had an operation but I only know now it was cancer, obviously this came back. Knowing the outcome was inevitable I am now only thankful his pain is over but it came as a massive shock. I visited every day to do what I could and my ignorance meant these visits were easy for both of us. I then saw him off in an ambulance on Wednesday. He had terrible jaundice but still I had no inkling. My intention was to visit on Saturday but Friday evening I had 2 phone calls, the first to tell me how bad he was and may only have a few days and the second 4 hours later to say he had passed away. I am thankful I didn’t have to visit on Saturday knowing it would be to say goodbye.

He leaves his son, Tim, myself (and partner Richard), a fellow cricketer and West Ham fan! and our 2 children.

I loved him so much; I wish we had more hugs. Writing this has helped and may or may not help those who read it.

He was indeed a legend in everything he did.

With much love, Jo

PS.
(My thanks to Brian for the CD containing all the pictures etc)"
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: on June 26, 2006, 12:36:42 PM
"He was indeed a legend in everything he did."

I think that describes Al perfectly!  
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Martin_Solo on June 27, 2006, 02:45:03 AM
I couldn't agree with that more!  

http://www.flyingrabbits.tv
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: notty on June 29, 2006, 02:24:29 AM
A fascinating character, was Al.  Thank you, Jo, for sharing a bit more about him.  It tickles me to know that the quintessential boob man was a picture of propriety out in the world.  But I expected nothing less from my most complicated of friends.  Boobs, cricket, pancakes: the three points of a slice of the good life.

This video of 'Pete Small' and the ladies, can it be got?
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: smiley on June 29, 2006, 10:50:18 AM
http://www.flyingrabbits.tv/story.htm and related pages might be a good place to start. Watch out for an appearance by infamously bad Dutch(?) actor Bob de Bilder.  
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: richardosteele on June 30, 2006, 08:20:53 PM
Al dead? How could a man so full of life be dead? I only recently learned that Al was seriously ill. I sent him an e-mail but it was not answered–an ominous sign! Last February I was going to be not too far from his corner of England and asked if I could visit. I would really have enjoyed seeing Al in person. He said no; his health simply was not up to it.  I thought at the time that his unwillingness might have been on account of a desire to protect his anonymity; it may well have been that but perhaps it was more his illness that made him **86** to meet me face-to-face. Now, of course, it's all academic; any meeting will have to await a meeting on that farther shore.  May we both have a bevy of Richard O. Steele-type girls to keep us company!

I first “met” Al when he reviewed one of my early stories in R&D. As he later admitted, he was baiting me in the review to contact him. I did, and thus began some five or six years of collaboration and friendship. In his first e-mails and reviews he made some critical comments about my stories that, when I pondered them, turned out to make perfect sense. I suggested that I might rework them in light of those suggestions. and Al offered to edit and format them.

The process was amazingly painstaking; I can’t imagine that  novels put out by major New York or London publishers are so well edited. In the course of reworking a story, and subsequently in creating new ones, Al and I would trade hundreds of e-mails. I would send Al a more or less completed story and then we would slowly and carefully work through it paragraph by paragraph. The process took months. Other times, I would start a story and, when a substantial portion was done, ship it off to Al for his initial reaction. Then, we would edit and write and edit until the work was done. That, too, would take months.

At the end of this process, Al would format the entire package–a task at which I am hopeless. Then, we would proof read–and proof read–and proof read some more. That process took weeks, sometimes months. Every read-through would uncover yet more errors to correct, ideas to incorporate, or revisions to make. I know we never got them all–even today when I reread a story I often catch something that had slipped by –but I dare say that the quality of the  final product was very high. Al’s standards were very high indeed. So are mine. I think that made us soulmates in that regard. We were, you’d better believe, on the same wave length even though my stories and his are quite different in style and content.

As this discussion suggests, Al’s attention to detail was amazing; we might trade dozens of e-mails to get a single page or even a solitary paragraph right.  A simple disagreement over a plot twist could take dozens of e-mails to resolve. Al would, as this suggests, make hundreds of suggestions per story, of which I would accept most but by no means all--I was still the author and he was the editor.  Yet he was an editor whom it was very important to please. Sometimes I would get weary–perhaps Al would, too–but I would persevere because I knew that the end product would justify the enormous amount of time and effort we both invested in the process.

While so engaged, we got to know each other and became friends. I got to learn a little about Al: That he lived north of London in the general direction of Oxford; that he had been divorced to the mother of his two children; that she had later died; that he loved cricket; that his religious upbringing was nonconformist and chapel but that he had left all that behind; that he was deeply conservative in his political and social views; that he had never been to the U.S.A.; that he enjoyed working with the big-bosomed video stars for whom, it seems, he was a father figure. Al's interest in big boobs, it seemed to me, was entirely second hand as opposed to hands-on!

I did try to draw Al out on a personal level even more. Though some hidden code in my Word formatting, he had discovered my real name.  I sent him pictures of me and my family. I told him where I lived and what I did for a living. Part of my motivation was to angle for something in return. The larger reason, though, was simply to share my life with Al because he had become such a friend. Still, Al remained very, even intensely, private; I had to settle for snippets of information, usually passed along as a detail appurtenant to some larger point he was making. Certainly, I never learned HIS real name!  Oh, well–the relationship was a deeply satisfying and rewarding one notwithstanding, even though it was always on Al’s terms.

I do not know the extent of Al’s education–i.e., whether he went to University or not–but I do know this: Al was a highly educated and erudite man. The range of his knowledge as it was expressed in the editing process and otherwise was astonishing. The fellow was a veritable Renaissance man.

In reading this thread, I am overwhelmed to learn just how many friends Al had.  The fellow had such a gift for it! This should be no surprise, though. Al was interested in other people–and that is, after all, the fount of friendship. He was modest; he was patient; he was giving; he was witty; he was thoughtful; he was intelligent–all in all, he CARED about people! Why wouldn’t such a fellow have a huge number of friends? According to the old adage, the best way to have friends is to be a friend. Al certainly passed that test with flying colours!

For a time, several years ago, my marriage was seriously on the rocks. It happened during the editing process of one of my stories, and I shared it with Al.  Al was so concerned. He sent me e-mail after e-mail to bolster my spirits. He did not offer advice, exactly, but simply a show of deep concern. It was what I needed–not how to fix things but simply a demonstration of sympathy. When I did not write back for an unseemly amount of time, he wrote back in almost fearful terms, afraid I might, in light of the despair I had expressed to him, have harmed myself, as the saying does. When I got that e-mail I looked inward and realized that the breakup of my marriage might well have had that effect! I still recall the relief that Al so palpably expressed in the e-mail response to my resumption of contact

As it happened, things are much, much better now between my wife and me. Essentially, I concentrated on romancing and wooing her all over again. It’s working. .I knew what I had and I knew what I wanted to keep. Al was privy to these developments and cheered me on.  What matrimonial bliss I now enjoy–and the real promise of more–has Al’s fingerprints on it.

I’m at a loss in terms of my writing to know how to go on. I have not written anything in our peculiar genre for some time. I had thought of contacting Al recently to crank up the process once again.  Now, I don’t know. Working with Al as editor, advisor and friend was so integral a part of the creative process that I simply have no present taste for going it alone. Who knows? It may be that my body of work in this genre may stand as it now exists as the result of a fortuitous but temporary collaboration that is not to be repeated.

Al, you’ll never know how much you are missed!  I hope, though, that before you died, you realized just how much you were appreciated. And loved. You were a remarkable person who lived a life that was amazingly full and rewarding. It’s hard to imagine the BE world without you. Hell, It’s hard to image the world–period!–without you.  Goodbye, Al! And thanks for everything!

Richard O. Steele
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: DruulEmpire on July 03, 2006, 04:47:53 AM
I tend to pass on the "sticky" threads -- last time I contributed, I think it was to one with the magical name "Zasha" -- but when I noticed that Mr. Steele had posted I had to peek in, and I am stunned to try to catch up with the legacy of this fellow known to me only vaguely as Doggo.

I tend to do this, to miss out on cool people.  I took it for granted that my cousin out on the West Coast would live forever, then a drugged driver mowed him down.  Seeing his book collection, I realized he and I could have talked more.  Likewise, anyone who works so extensively with ROS, even if only for that alone, deserves respect.

I read this at an odd time, because now I get to wondering  how high the stakes can be raised around here, if something could be generated on the order of an Eros Comix graphic novel or one of Richard Corben's own works.  Something like that will be much harder without the likes of Al, but it will not be impossible either.  After all, he showed us what can be done.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: PeterBE on July 08, 2006, 07:00:04 AM
Very sorry to hear of Some Sort of Dog's passing.  He and I met when this new Internet thing first started.  I hadn't corresponded with him recently.  Now, of course, I regret that.  

Al was a great force in our community.  I will miss him and his superlative work.

Jo, from my perspective, your Dad was great.  I am sorry for your loss.

Peter BE
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: spid on July 08, 2006, 01:42:37 PM
Al spent so many hours reading the works of Al from the website to the stories I've lost count.  He will be missed.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Blax12 on July 11, 2006, 04:05:08 AM
  I pay my respect.

Blax12
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Adrian_Burns on July 11, 2006, 01:35:52 PM
I don't know how to do this, but I feel it has to be done, so please bear with me.  The origins of my connection with Al were similar to ROS, but they started a little bit earlier.  I refused to get a computer; felt I didn't need one, I had WebTV for the 'Net, a standalone word processor and a CD player for music.  But then I encountered the prolificness of Al.
Via my WebTV, I stumbled on an early incarnation of the BEA...the popup days (remember those?) and discovered a font of BE stories.  For a guy like me who often valued the stories of BE and large breasts over "real world" pictorials this was akin to Heaven on Earth.  I read classics like "Dr. Hooters" and "Sadira", of course, but then there was one series of stories(a rarity in a genre known for far too many uncompleted stories) that stood out from the rest.  It was St. Cat's.
I read the beginnings of this group of English schoolgirls with ridiculous sounding names, chemical concotions that never seemed to do what they were suppose to do and Al's pure brilliance and unashamed English take on the genre and wanted more.  I was a Feen for this stuff!  But my WebTV wasn't.  Al's stories were too long.  I would get to the good part (okay, the gooder part)only to encounter a "Too Long To Continue" (paraphrasing) message.  I had to read these stories as the author intended it, so I bought a computer.  
Did you get that?  I LOVED this man's work so much that I took a sizable chunk of change (for me anyway)just so I could see, to paraphrase Paul Harvey, "The rest of his stories".  And, to me, it was worth the expense.
So, I read Al's works and those of other early BE writers, clicked on some banners and got inspired. Actually, it was more a spirit of indebtedness that started my BE writing. Reading all these GREAT stories, I felt like I owed these writers something.  Money would've been nice, of course, but I did just buy that computer!  
And giving feedback?  Well, when was the last time you thanked your favorite BE artist/author? Ditto.
So, I tried my hand at the genre.  I blended Michael Jackson(pre-[censored] molester trials), the Midas touch, BE, of course and wrote a little ditty I called "The Gloved One". It got a few favorable e-mail responses which Al later told me was rare.  But, more importantly to me, it also got a good review from R&D.  I mean, Al was giving guys 1/2 exclamation points, so you better believed I had my Sally Fields at the Oscars moment.  "He liked me, he really liked me".
I was stoked.  So stoked that I apparently went a tad bit insane and decided to write a BE horror story.  Uh, who here likes blood and guts with their BE?  Didn't think so.
But I was insane remember.  I had worked hard on "Carrie-The BE Version", even harder that I did on "The Gloved One" and just knew that I would get an even higher rating from Al.  I didn't and had to find out why; thus I wrote to Al and pretty much demanded that he justify not seeing the masterwork that I had bequeathed on the BE scene.
That started my e-mail relationship with Al.
Quick note: R2D2, another legend in our little community who died before his time, wrote to me respectfully about the violence of "Carrie" and his displeasure with it.  I wrote back, of course, and encountered another beautiful soul that I otherwise wouldn't have...so who knows, maybe a little blood and guts mixed with BE isn't so bad.  In moderation, of course!  
My e-mail relationship with Al was unique.  I bounced ideas off him (being more of an idea man than writer).  "Keeping Up With The Joneses", for example, one of his Axo stories was based off an idea of mine(just read the first page).  My story, "Aunt's Advice" inspired Axo's "Fred Experiment".  His "Emma and Dee-Dee From Upstairs" inspired my story, "The Magic Touch".  His Christmas editions of R&D compelled a couple of seasonal tales from me. And his prolificness, God that man was prolific, inspired my story "A Little Motivation". But that was the public side of our relationship if you will. Behind the scenes, I did something that I called "commenting".  Al would send me installments of his works in progress and I would basically comment on what I liked, disliked, wanted more of, etc.  It was heaven. Getting Al's work before anyone else and knowing that I was playing a hand in shaping it.  I've done similar things on occasions with ROS, Joe Average and Hunter S. Creek, but never to the degree with Al's work.
But he was so DAMNED prolific.  As much as I loved his work, I just couldn't keep up with the commenting.  I would start off exchanging one e-mail with Al.  Then he would write another section of the story, which would create another e-mail.  And eventually, I would be bouncing back about five or six e-mails with Al.  And these weren't short e-mails.  All the meticulous stuff that ROS got from Al, I tried to include in my commenting.  No, off the cuff monosyllabic responses from me.  I wrote detailed, lengthy responses but with none of Al's speed in thought and writing.  Sometimes a single e-mail might take an hour of my time and I had six of them to respond to.  I remember being a security guard at an all boy's school with a computer, taking Al's e-mails to work just so I would have time to respond to his prolificness.  And that was the problem, commenting was turning into a job.  But I so wanted to read Al's work, but I couldn't handle the commenting.  I was torn.  I sucked it up for awhile.  You want to play, Adrian (read the stories), then you have to pay (in time, thought and energy by commenting).  But the time demand was just too much.  So, I did a ploy that I repeated several times over our relationship.  I told Al that due to personal reasons that I had to drop off the 'Net.  I hated lying to the man.  He was my friend and mentor, but I didn't know what else to do.  How could I tell him that one of the things I liked the most about him--his prolific writing--was taking up too much of my time and energy?  I tried everything I could to slow him down but writing came so easy for him that no matter how I approached the commenting I eventually got overwhelmed.
I noticed without my commenting that Al didn't publish as many stories as he used to.  Barrowclough and his sister (or vice-versa) went on the back burner.  Axo's output slowed and soon it was all down to those last Cat's stories.  The whole BE writing scene seemed to slow without Al's massive contributions.  I blamed myself, but c'mon, my commenting wasn't that important.  Was it?
Eventually, I returned to the 'Net (even though I never left).  I avoided asking Al about any new stories (partly out of shame from lying to him but also because I didn't want to start the snowball of commenting rolling).
AND THIS WAS ALL I HAD BACKUPPED.
I had posted more words from my heart and they got deleted.  I can't remember what all I wrote and trying to recapture what I was feeling...it just makes me furious. Al KNOWS and for me that's enough.
I'm sorry.
Adrian Burns
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: TheZookie007 on July 16, 2006, 01:49:22 AM
The cyberwake continues...

Adrian Burns, Richard O Steele: thank you for contributions to this thread and to the world of BE fiction.

And a special word of appreciation to Jo, the daughter of our friend Al. I'm sure that learning about this sort of second, secret life that your dad had was a bit of a shock...I guess it could be worse: he could have been a bigamist or something. I am glad though that you were able to learn about his large online circle of admirers, correspondents, acquaintances, colleagues, and friends, all of whom were united in the pursuit of what might strike others as a rather odd hobby. And yet, through his writing, through his mentoring of other writers, through his video production, he touched the lives of people the world over. He was well-liked, and he will be missed. I hope that maybe one day, as odd as it may feel, you will get the chance to read one or two of his stories, and you will see your dad in a decidedly different light. But I know too well how the mourning process goes, so if you ever get around to it, you will do it when you are ready and not a day sooner. Stay well, and again, my deepest condolences to you, your brother, your partner, and your  [censored].
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Fret Pearson on July 19, 2006, 06:32:24 AM
I've been away, and have just returned to read this thread.  I can't believe the man is gone.

I infrequently corresponded with Al on and off over the course of nearly 10 years, I suppose.  He was probably the wittiest writer I've ever read.  He was also the filthiest-minded, but for all his perversion he was incredibly friendly.  No matter what he wrote - story (and goddam could he write a story), review, or email, the twinkle in his eye was always somewhere therein.  I loved that twinkle.

Fret
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: jayjay88 on July 20, 2006, 05:46:39 PM
Haven't been around much recently and this thread only just caught my attention.  Although I didn't know Al [and 'Doggo' completely escaped my
attention], it is moving reading all the above messages.

What greater thing can be said about someone than 'He was my friend' and 'He touched my life'...Al seems to have succeeded in abundance.  Being more of a visual person, the writing and storey side of the BEA has meant far less to  me, although I've always followed R & D and the reviews of 'Just Me Mike'.  

Isn't it amazing and crazy that this internet thing, still in its infancy, has the capacity of bringing people together in a meaningful way.  Demonstrating that 'time and place', backgrounds and origins, have little true meaning.  What counts is  the exchange of time and energy...and one's heart and mind.

Al's memory will live as long  as the BEA is alive...
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Arow on July 23, 2006, 07:28:46 PM
I am saddened to hear the bad news that AL has passed away. I knew him another forum and we became good friends on line. He was a good and great guy. I do miss and continue to miss him in many years to come. May God the Almighty gives Al rest in peace.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: AgentDee on July 24, 2006, 03:55:56 AM
Wait, he was also sam turiel the writer of Sadira aka In Sequence? Thats my all time fave BE story, that along with Blind Date by Steve Palmer (why else would I have a avatar of the main character 'Trish' over there on the left .)  I didn't know he was also Sam T dang, now I will REALLY miss him .
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Juliekat on July 24, 2006, 04:19:49 AM
Dee: I believe you are mistaken. To the best of my knowledge, Sam T and Al are two entirely different people.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: AgentDee on July 24, 2006, 04:29:19 AM
Quote:

Dee: I believe you are mistaken. To the best of my knowledge, Sam T and Al are two entirely different people.




Quote:

I read classics like "Dr. Hooters" and "Sadira", of course, but then there was one series of stories(a rarity in a genre known for far too many uncompleted stories) that stood out from the rest. It was St. Cat's.



from adrianburns post, I hope they are different people
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: MunchWolf on July 24, 2006, 11:47:06 AM

Quote:

I read classics like "Dr. Hooters" and "Sadira", of course, but then there was one series of stories(a rarity in a genre known for far too many uncompleted stories) that stood out from the rest. It was St. Cat's.



from adrianburns post, I hope they are different people




I think you are misreading Andrian's post.  He is mentioning liking classics, and lists two sagas, neither written by Al.  He then lists a saga that he especially liked that WAS written by Al.

I don't know what ever became of SamT.  I used to chat with hir (along with Julie) at the old Loft.  It has been many years, since I've spoken with hir or seen anything by hir.  Al was not hir.

-Munch "getting nostalgic .. sigh" Wolf
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV - Passed away 6/16/06 :(
Post by: AlpsLover on July 24, 2006, 12:25:46 PM
I'm SORRY for the delay  here but....
MAY AL rest in Peace!
I did speak with him on chat sometimes and... We don't need words, cause I don't want to appear patethic.
I just WANT that he is happy where he is now!

VERY Schocking news
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Carter on July 24, 2006, 05:14:31 PM
 
Quote:

Dee: I believe you are mistaken. To the best of my knowledge, Sam T and Al are two entirely different people.




VERY mistaken. Sam is from the good ol' U.S. of A.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: TheZookie007 on July 26, 2006, 11:19:33 AM
I corresponded with both of them, and Sam. Turiel and Al were indeed two different seperate people. But I wonder whatever happened to Sam. too...haven't heard from him in a loooooong while.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Lingster on August 25, 2006, 05:56:51 PM
Oh my God.  I don't check the BEArchive so much these days and just saw this for the first time.  It's terrible, terrible news, and such a shock.  He was hilariously witty and kind.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Springsteen10 on April 03, 2007, 07:55:19 PM
I've logged in here for the first time in a long time tonight.

Checked my PM's and saw loads of old ones from Doggo (he was very kind and helpful to me when I joined here) and wondered what he was up to. A search showed that he had not posted in ages; indeed, a sudden stop...

But never did I imagine this sad truth would be the case.

RIP, friend.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: notty on June 16, 2007, 11:54:13 PM
I can't believe it's been a year.  I still think of him quite a lot.  He was a very nice man.  He was the best of us.
Title: Re: Al-The-Editor - R & D - AoV
Post by: Martin_Solo on June 17, 2007, 09:39:58 AM
I still try to phone/Skype him now and then as he was always there with good advice and could answer any question.
I'm sure that he is now in that big St Cat's in heaven.
And yes, he was the best of us.  
Title: Re: Doggo/Axolotl/Al-The-Editor- R & D - AoV - Passed away 6/16/06 :(
Post by: pedonbio on June 30, 2009, 07:06:06 AM
I agree. A month ago I caught myself composing an email to him.
Title: Re: Doggo/Axolotl/Al-The-Editor- R & D - AoV - Passed away 6/16/06 :(
Post by: MaxBigfoot on July 30, 2009, 03:59:47 PM
It's hard to believe it's been over 3 years now.  It seems like just a few days ago I was reading his silly pancake oriented posts in Testing & Off-Topic...   :(
Title: Re: Doggo/Axolotl/Al-The-Editor- R & D - AoV - Passed away 6/16/06 :(
Post by: TheZookie007 on March 22, 2011, 08:23:05 AM
From the BraStop blog (http://www.brastopblog.com/what-bra-size-are-you):

Quote
A friend of mine told me she was wearing a 38D bra. I knew that wasn’t right so I measured her … she was a 32G! Can you believe that? The difference in her shape and posture was unbelievable, you can imagine the confidence boost it gave her too.

What I would like to see is Bra Measuring being taught in schools. I really think that if they starting teaching young girls how to measure themselves as they are growing, it would make such a difference. I’m sure you would agree. It can be quite a complicated thing to learn, but once you know how bra sizing works, you’ll know for life.

doggo's fiction come to life...
Title: Re: Doggo/Axolotl/Al-The-Editor- R & D - AoV - Passed away 6/16/06 :(
Post by: pedonbio on June 20, 2011, 05:36:01 PM
It has now been a bit over ten years since doggo joined (After the first Crash-a-polooza) and a bit over five years since he died.  :'(
Title: Re: Doggo/Axolotl/Al-The-Editor- R & D - AoV - Passed away 6/16/06 :(
Post by: Axof on January 09, 2018, 10:52:47 PM
Oh boy! It is 2018 and just today I learned that "some sort of dog" had passed away 12 years ago....

A few days ago I was thinking about what makes good story writing and then I remembered a decades ago reading and re-reading some BE stories that were written with such a flow and style, that I've got from usenet. I started searching, remembering a dog was involved in the authors name and after some time ended up in the bearchive archive by way of waybackmachine. Downloaded some files, started reading and it all came back. Not the aspect of BE, but the way the characters were written and the way they spoke with such a natural wit and humor. And the style that is light as a feather. I am now, as I was then amazed by the first class style of the writing and feel just the same as then: this is how a good story telling is done.
 
But who is this author? In a few hours of furious searching I learned that most of my favorite stories were written by the same author under different pseudonyms and that this author is dead and has been dead for more than a decade. I feel crushed. I missed telling him this by 12 years.

Well, to you doggo, the only one, I am going to pour a little of something strong and conteplate what i did in last 12 years.

Quote
"CAN you put this in the washing machine, Mum?"
    Mrs Smith turned pale. "What is it?"
    "Sian's T-shirt."
    "But it's covered in blood! The poor **09**. Where is she?"
    "In the bathroom, probably. But it's only tomato ketchup. If you scrape it off carefully, we can put it back in the bottle. That's the last there is."
    "You dirty little girls. You're a disgrace. What's she wearing now?"
    "I borrowed one of Zara's old tops out of the laundry. It nearly fits Sian. It's got some funny white stains all down the front, but Sian said it's okay. They look like cum. And Sian says they smelled like cum. They must have been cum."