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Stephen P. Ryder
Board Administrator Username: Admin
Post Number: 3031 Registered: 10-1997
| Posted on Monday, March 29, 2004 - 10:01 pm: | |
Goodnight and Thank You: A Farewell and a Plea Christopher-Michael DiGrazia Since October of 2001, I have had the pleasure of editing Ripper Notes, the premier American journal devoted to serious scholarship concerning the Whitechapel Murders. During the magazine’s existence, ably helmed at first by Christopher T. George, we have had the cream of Ripper authors as interviewees and contributors, we have reviewed some of the best new books on the case and we have featured articles that have challenged received opinion, ignited controversy and set a standard for future writers. It is a record of which I am proud. At the same time, my tenure as editor since October 2001 has seen me pass more than a decade studying, researching and writing about the bloody deeds of Saucy Jack. I have had the distinct honour of collaborating with two of the finest modern Ripperologists, Dave Yost and Alex Chisholm, in the book The News From Whitechapel, and I am gratified that in my review of the legend surrounding the Lusk Kidney I have been able to contribute in some small way to the scholarship of the murders. But these past three years have also seen times where I have been concerned about the contents of RN; while many of our issues have been surfeited with riches, at times I felt our pages were thin of material and not the best our Loyal Readership deserved. My peripheral involvement with certain differences of opinion also occasionally found its way to our pages; this has been a disappointment to me, as I have always wished for RN to be an ‘honest broker’ in Ripperology, standing as an independent journal. And while it may not appear that the production of a 30-40-odd page quarterly journal would be unduly taxing, I have increasingly found the labour of RN to be a millstone rather than the joy it used to be. Such an attitude is neither healthy for my frame of mind, nor fair to our subscribers. The new issue of RN will appear this week. It will also, after much deliberation, be my last full issue as editor. Therefore, Stephen Ryder has graciously allowed me this forum to offer the magazine, gratis, to anyone who is seriously interested in continuing it. I will be happy to discuss the venture through e-mail at rn.editor@verizon.net, and encourage anyone who has enjoyed RN to get in touch with me. Our subscribers are some of the best-known and best-read people in Ripperology who are unfailingly generous with their time and material; I am sure they would be happy to help a new editor through his or her first steps. Once a decision has been made – whether it is to fold RN completely, continue it with a new editor or, perhaps, to fold it into another magazine – I will post it here. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Until that time, and a final farewell, let me simply thank you for your attention, kindness and support. It has been greatly appreciated. Cordially, Christopher-Michael DiGrazia Editor, Ripper Notes
Stephen P. Ryder, Editor Casebook: Jack the Ripper |
Christopher T George
Chief Inspector Username: Chrisg
Post Number: 698 Registered: 2-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 - 8:50 am: | |
Hi, Christopher-Michael Well this is indeed sad news that Ripper Notes might have to fold now that you are relinquishing the editorship. I certainly hope that will not be the case. As we have noted in the pages of Ripperologist, "RN" as we like to call it has gone from strength to strength with your good self at the helm, both production-wise and in terms of the material published. I certainly hope some solution can be reached and that a new Editor can be found for this valuable publication. Meanwhile, CM, thanks for all you have done for the Ripper community in publishing the magazine for the past three years. All the best Chris George North American Editor Ripperologist http://www.ripperologist.info
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Christopher T George
Chief Inspector Username: Chrisg
Post Number: 699 Registered: 2-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 - 9:16 am: | |
P.S. We would be remiss if we did not mention that preceding me as editor of Ripper Notes for the beginning two issues before I took the helm for a year (late 1999 to 2000), Sam Gafford was the first editor of the magazine when it began. Chris (Message edited by ChrisG on March 30, 2004) (Message edited by ChrisG on March 30, 2004) |
AP Wolf
Chief Inspector Username: Apwolf
Post Number: 982 Registered: 2-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 - 12:50 pm: | |
Having never read a single copy of any Ripper journal or magazine - apart from that stapled together photo-copied thing in the early days, and I was then but young and impressionable - I personally feel that it is about time that a woman took over the helm of such a difficult ship as this. It is really not good enough anymore that it is men who sit in sole judgement over the cruel murder of women; and I do strongly feel that the feminine influence on such ventures to be fundamental at this particular time in history. Make no mistake, I offer not myself for glad slaughter as I fit into no comfortable gender, but I should like to see someone of a female persuasion making their mark. It is about time.
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Christopher T George
Chief Inspector Username: Chrisg
Post Number: 702 Registered: 2-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 - 2:05 pm: | |
Hi, AP I am sure we will take you as Editor of a Ripper mag in either capacity you choose, male or female or in between. Seriously, of course, a female editor of a Ripper publication would be welcome. It all depends on who steps up to the plate. All the best Chris |
Bullwinkle
Unregistered guest
| Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 - 4:04 pm: | |
The person who gets to be the new Editor should maybe consider interviewing me, when my 'A?R' material appears. I'm sure there will be numerous questions on the part of the public, which would stimulate readership. B. Winkle
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Monty
Chief Inspector Username: Monty
Post Number: 961 Registered: 3-2003
| Posted on Thursday, April 01, 2004 - 11:01 am: | |
Dave, Monty bows at the feet of the Great Master. One who I feel will one day join ED and Graz in legendary status. Monty PS Its nice to have someone else think what you're thinking isnt it ? Our little group has always been and always will until the end... |
Monty
Chief Inspector Username: Monty
Post Number: 963 Registered: 3-2003
| Posted on Thursday, April 01, 2004 - 11:19 am: | |
....Hold on...rewind.... ....does this mean that A?R will finally be unleashed ?? Monty Our little group has always been and always will until the end... |
Monty
Chief Inspector Username: Monty
Post Number: 964 Registered: 3-2003
| Posted on Thursday, April 01, 2004 - 11:21 am: | |
AP, I second Chris Ts suggestion that you take over. Decision made... ...Congratulations Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms Wolf...you have the job. Monty PS Respect to CMD.
Our little group has always been and always will until the end... |
AP Wolf
Chief Inspector Username: Apwolf
Post Number: 990 Registered: 2-2003
| Posted on Thursday, April 01, 2004 - 12:56 pm: | |
Yeah sure you can imagine me arriving for an editorial meeting with bottle of brandy in hand, tartan mini-skirt, fish net tights, and a team of dubious Swiss doctors in tow, attempting to adjust my hormones with injections of lamb's blood...'Jack the Ripper!' they would scream and bolt for the door. I was an editor. I was a journalist. I was once even a Jack the Ripper author... I think. These days I'm just me. I had to laugh last week when I saw myself described on E-bay as 'one of the foremost experts on the Jack the Ripper case'. I was so overcome with false pride and brandy that I bid on me own book. No way was I paying a hundred quid for it though. What planet these people think I fell off? I got a warehouse full of 'em. Respect is respect. |
Scott Nelson
Detective Sergeant Username: Snelson
Post Number: 62 Registered: 2-2003
| Posted on Friday, April 02, 2004 - 12:03 am: | |
Please consider it A.P. I would support you (as an editorial assistant). You're far too great a writing talent to pass up an opportunity like this. BTW, you never answered a question addressed to you earlier. Are you also known as Barbara Michaels, the author of Egyptian books (novels?) If you are of Russian ancestry, what's your last name? Just curious. |
B.
Unregistered guest
| Posted on Thursday, April 01, 2004 - 8:20 pm: | |
"One who I feel will one day join ED and Graz in legendary status." >>I have no plans to be permanently banned from this website. B. |
Eduardo Zinna
Sergeant Username: Eduardo
Post Number: 44 Registered: 3-2003
| Posted on Friday, April 02, 2004 - 8:20 am: | |
Dear Christopher-Michael, I wish to record my appreciation for your tenure as Editor of Ripper Notes and my sincere sorrow that you may be considering the possibility of stepping down from that well-deserved position. I use the word "considering" advisedly, as I hope that you may still change your mind and remain at the helm of possibly the second best magazine devoted to the Whitechapel Murders (I had to phrase this last remark in exactly that way, didn't I?) I believe you are a tad harsh on yourself and that neither your position as an honest broker of Ripperology nor the contents of Ripper Notes can in any way be faulted. So, give it another thought, OK? Would your life be more rewarding or fulfilling without Ripper Notes? Ours certainly wouldn't. All the best, Eduardo Zinna |
Monty
Chief Inspector Username: Monty
Post Number: 969 Registered: 3-2003
| Posted on Friday, April 02, 2004 - 10:59 am: | |
David, AP Bullwinkle, Nor would I want you to be. It would be a duller place without you. AP, Im imagining it......Im imagining it !! Monty
Our little group has always been and always will until the end... |
AP Wolf
Chief Inspector Username: Apwolf
Post Number: 993 Registered: 2-2003
| Posted on Friday, April 02, 2004 - 12:05 pm: | |
Scott, you say the nicest things. I fear that I am far too radical, jocular and outspoken to occupy any position with an implication of seriousness. I must have missed that question? Yes, I do have an interest in Egyptology, and have published volumes on the subject, but they are not novels… the novels I have produced are books best left in the gutter as that is where they came from. They are terrible. No, I have no Russian ancestry, but I once had a great-uncle who was called Stalin if that helps. My mother is Irish and my dear old dad was an East-End cockney, gawd bless him!
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Thomas C. Wescott
Sergeant Username: Tom_wescott
Post Number: 37 Registered: 4-2003
| Posted on Friday, April 02, 2004 - 11:18 pm: | |
Ripper Notes is/was the best Ripper mag ever. At least it was the most fun, most consistent in its Ripper-related content, and had two killer editors (both Chrises take a bow!). The idea of Ripper Notes continuing without CMD and, even worse, not at all, is pretty disturbing. That leaves only Ripperologist (which, I must say, has become a MUCH better magazine in the last year!) and Fillerana, which has become a joke (almost as bad a joke as AP's suggestion of RN's future editorship). If Ripperoo still exists, I don't know about it. RN has always been, and always will be, my personal fave. I hope it continues, and if it does, I will lend my full support, both as reader and contributor. Man, just as I get a new comp and come back to the Ripper front, the whole thing looks to be going to pot. Ripper Notes and CMD rule!!!! Yours truly, Tom Wescott |
Bullwinkle
Unregistered guest
| Posted on Friday, April 02, 2004 - 9:45 am: | |
AP and Scott sounds like a dynamite combination to me. AP's flair for the colorful and Scott's no-nonsense research on the case are a great dovetail. Bullwinkle
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Jennifer D. Pegg
Inspector Username: Jdpegg
Post Number: 255 Registered: 2-2003
| Posted on Saturday, April 03, 2004 - 2:50 pm: | |
If no one presently wants to take up the postition permanatly perhaps someone can take over temporaily (until someone suitable is found) who would not mind doing so for this part time basis (ie any of those mentioned) so as it can keep going. ???? Jennifer D. Pegg
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Lil Berdy
Unregistered guest
| Posted on Sunday, April 04, 2004 - 3:45 am: | |
Don't worry about RN. An arrangement to keep it going is no doubt in the works. News to this effect will most likely be appearing shortly. |
Jason Scott Mullins
Inspector Username: Crix0r
Post Number: 160 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Monday, April 05, 2004 - 11:17 am: | |
Hehehe, let me guess a "Lil Berdy" told cha so? Oh, and David: ">>I have no plans to be permanently banned from this website. B." Interesting... Not that it's up to you to begin with, but I would venture to say that there are many who would have no plans of permanently keeping you. crix0r |
Dan Norder
Detective Sergeant Username: Dannorder
Post Number: 97 Registered: 4-2004
| Posted on Saturday, May 15, 2004 - 5:26 am: | |
As has been mentioned elsewhere on these boards, I am taking over the editor position of Ripper Notes starting with the upcoming July issue. I plan to honor the proud tradition of the magazine as best I can by keeping the existing writers involved and bringing new ones into the family as well. Anyone reading this who wants to know more about how to go about submitting article ideas can feel free to email me (the name in the signature is now an email link). If you are interested in seeing what the current status of Ripper Notes is, you can take a look at our new site at www.RipperNotes.com for some sneak previews of what to expect in the next issue. It also has a page with updated subscription information, including new credit card payment links. I'd like to thank Chris for his trust and for all the great help he's already given. Hopefully I will not let him down, and with any luck he'll be contributing reviews and articles to the magazine for a long time.
Dan Norder, editor, Ripper Notes |
Stephen P. Ryder
Board Administrator Username: Admin
Post Number: 3098 Registered: 10-1997
| Posted on Saturday, May 15, 2004 - 10:55 am: | |
Hi Dan - Great web site! I'm sure you'll do CMD proud. I've updated your page at: http://www.casebook.org/ripper_media/book_reviews/periodicals/rippernotes.html ... to include all your new subscription information, and to officially switch the Editorship line from CMD to yourself. Best of luck with the upcoming July issue! Stephen Stephen P. Ryder, Exec. Editor Casebook: Jack the Ripper |
Thomas C. Wescott
Sergeant Username: Tom_wescott
Post Number: 47 Registered: 4-2003
| Posted on Saturday, May 15, 2004 - 11:26 pm: | |
Dan, I just checked out the new site. The cover and logo of the new issue is AWESOME. I hope everyone reading this messageboard will check it out and subscribe online. Yours truly, Tom Wescott |
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