Written by Fred Patten, and published on the LASFS Rex Rotary, March 10, 1966. Intended for Apa L, Seventy-Third Distribution, LASFS Meeting no. 1491, March 10, 1966. Address: 1825 Greenfield Avenue, Los Angeles, California, 90025. Phone: GRanite 3-6321.

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Having run fresh out of articles of fannish interest for the nonce (unless you're interested in an editorial on Why the Government Should Feature Comic-Strip Characters On Our Paper Money as an Inducement to Teach Children to Be of a Saving Nature From an Early Age), and not having undergone any thrilling experiences this past weekend about which to write a report, please pardon me if I go directly into that department yclpt:

-- BEING COMMENTS UPON LAST WEEK'S DISTRIBUTION

Jim Schumacher -- Well, we've certainly got enough coverage of the first ValSFA meeting in this Dist'n. It looks as though the ValSFA will prove to be a valuable organization, if only to give 4 or 5 of us something to talk about in Apa L. ## Thanks, I think I already know as much about THE BEST OF FANDOM as I want to. Just as long as Dwain and I have our relative spheres of influence agreed upon in advance, which I believe we already do.

Bruce Pelz -- And if it had been a boy, would you have named him Einar? ## Now that you mention it, I don't know of any Detective-fiction fandom fanzines, either. But I still think it seems a shame not to get this to the mystery fans somehow, because they'd be its most appreciative audience. At the least, Tony Boucher should get a copy. ## I don't think any of the regional conventions could be called competition to the WorldCon, or to each other, really; that's one reason they're each held on different dates. (And why the WesterCon, which has always been a substitute Con for West Coasters Who Can't Make the Big One, is merged with the WorldCon when it comes to the West Coast.) Though I suppose there is always some minor competition on the level of collecting auction material, and the like. But I'm entirely happy at the prospect of WesterCon becoming so popular that fans will want to travel across the country to get to it; and if it should become a de facto American Convention in those years that the WorldCon is out of the U.S., why, great! ## Agreed, the sound from the "Batman" show is worthless, unless you're assembling a collection of televisions most idiotic dialog. (And "Batman" is more banal than zany, anyway.) But, as far as the video goes, I can think of about a half-dozen scenes per program that I'd like to have a glossy color still of. (Particularly a good portrait shot of Burgess Meredith as the Penguin.) I presume you've seen the cover of the current issue of LIFE, featuring the Batman looking as though he's on LSD?

Johnny Chambers -- Welcome to the group, and don't forget to send your $1 in for your LASFS membership. And could we faunch for some covers from you, pretty please? It's great getting another artist into Apa L. ## You remind me: what has happened to Feiffer's "Hostileman", anyhow? It's been almost a year since the last one. ## For spy-stuff in paperback, I highly recommend Modesty Blaise, by Peter O'Donnell, just out in a 60¢ edition (and worth the extra dime) from Fawcett "Crest". Don't be put off by the lousy cover illustration or blurbs. Or if you like weird old stuff, try "The Phantom Detective" series by Robert Wallace, from Regency at 60¢ each. There are at least ten so far (The Daggers of Kali, Tycoon of Crime, Yellow Shadows of Death, etc.), all starring the Phantom Detective (usually just called the Phantom), a master of disguise who goes around fighting crime à la the Shadow. The period fits, too, because the two I've got were originally copyrighted 1938 & 1940, by Standard Magazines, Inc., and they read like it, despite a pathetic attempt to update 'em. (A reference or two to Peking in the yellow peril novel, although it's still obvious that they're really talking about the Dirty Japs.) Recommended if you like period pieces, which I do. Just who/what is Robert Hart Davis, anyhow; is one man turning out all that UNCLE stuff? ## As I mentioned earlier, the Collectors Book Store is actually charging much less for its old comics than the prices cited in the newspaper article. What happened was that they got a reporter who "knew" that old comics are worth $100 each, and they had to be willing to cite similar prices for their stuff before he'd consider the story worth news space.

Andy Porter -- How about an Apa L cover from you sometime?

Barry Gold -- Congratulations on having the good sense to finally drop the "Kali Brandagama" name. It did nothing but make you look ridiculous, and you're better off without it. ## Has the O*CW set a date for its elections yet?

Mike Klassen -- Getting high-handed is unfortunately the only way to get anybody to pay attention to you; try being polite and they either ignore you or figure you can't really mean it since you're not jumping up and down and screaming at them.

Ted White -- A very good start to your trip report; I hope the other installments follow soon. Hmm, let's see if I can find any comment hooks. ## One of the many reasons I regretted not getting to the LonCon was that I'd been looking forward to seeing how adept I am at handling British currency. I've been collecting foreign coins for most of my life, but I've never had any real practical experience in using other than U.S. money, and though I understand the 12d - 1/-, 10/- - £1 system in theory, I want to see how well I can operate with it under fire. ## I've been annoying the local big foreign exchange office here in L.A. by having them go into their "tip packs" to get foreign currency for my collection. I'm more interested in the paper currency than in coins, though unfortunately, I seem to be in a decided minority; most numismatic shops refuse to handle other than U.S. paper currency (or possibly some of the junk 1923 German inflationary Notgeld, and the World War II Japanese "Mickey Mouse" money for the Philippine Islands) because there's no market for it. That leaves only the foreign exchange offices, and naturally most of their stock is in used bills, and not crisp, uncirculated collectors-condition notes. About the only exceptions are the contents of the "tip packs", so I've been burrowing through them. I've got the British 10/-, £1, and £5 notes that way, which leaves only the £10 as far as the British Isles (well, excluding Eire) is concerned. (One nice thing about collecting British currency is that it's readily convertible back into U.S. money if you need it; almost like having the money in the bank, except for not drawing interest. There aren't very many currencies you can trust that far.) Incidentally, it seems hard to believe that Britain doesn't make any paper money in denominations higher than the £10 note, but that's what I've heard, and Ron Ellik can't remember ever seeing anything larger. Did you ever see anything bigger? ## One of the things I was planning to bring with me to England was a stack of Kennedy half dollars, which I understand are selling for better than £1 each over there. I hear that a lot of American tourists abroad these days are asked if they have any Kennedy halves with them, which the locals want as mementoes; did you ever get touched for any?