As if they weren’t self-absorbed already.

I spend a lot of my free time in the office browsing through the sections in amazon.com ( otherwise we workssss, preciousss *hack, cough* ), you know, generally drooling over the books, the graphic novels, soundtrack cds, DVDs – all the kind of things you find in places other than where I am. And then I had the nice idea of creating this Wishlist. Sometime later, I ended up forgetting my amazon password, so I had to recreate the List from scratch. Just so that it doesn’t happen again, I have put it on my Lj.

Criteria for making it into the Wishlist? Nothing too particular. There are a lot of Comic books, some books about comics, some books about the creators who make those comics. Some CDs – all soundtracks, some DVDs – all anime. One gadget. ( Something everybody on earth should own ) There are some things that should not be here, because I have found them already, and should have ticked them off the list, but who am I to interfere with my laziness? Only 74 items? That’s because these are more like pointers for me. Most of them (at least the comics) are first-parters of epic sagas, and instead of buying the Trades, I would very much want to own the original 32-page amekomi-form they were published in. Reading them on a computer screen is fine for my immediate needs, but I foresee that with time, a major chunk of my monetary assets will be spent on tracking down these tomes. Nuff said.

Personal Comments added to every entry. I think I am going to enjoy reading them in the future, especially after I have managed to get the item in question.

Entries that have been coloured in are ones that I have already gotten. The ones in coloured this way are with me, either in mp3-cbr-divX format, and I am still waiting to “get” them, if you know what I mean. Yippee de do yay!

1. Dork Covenant: The Collected Dork Tower (Dork Tower) by John Kovalic
Price: $15.95

A very recent addition to the list. Chako ( god bless the chap!) had given me 5 cds chockful of comics, and one of the Dork Tower books was included in it. It’s Hilarious!!!

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2. Alias (Alias, Book 1) by Brian Michael Bendis
Price: $13.99
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3. Total Sell Out by Brian Michael Bendis
Price: $10.47

I read Bendis for the first time in Gotham comics’ reprints of Ultimate Spiderman. His dialogues are unmatcheable, IMHO. I especially love the MJ-Peter conversations in USM, with almost static panels, the words carrying the scene forward. As always, would love to read all his works. Navs has already got me Jinx and Goldfish, and someday he’ll get them to India.

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4. Music for a Darkened Theatre, Vol. 1 by Danny Elfman
Price: $10.99

I first heard Danny Elfman the same time as I watched Tim Burton’s Batman, sometime in the spring of my boyhood ( did i just say “boyhood”?? YAAAAAH! ) Then The Batman Adventures, and all of the other Burton movies, Mission Impossible, Spiderman – and believe me, ALL of them stuck in my mind. I would love to spend time in a darkened theater listening to Danny Elfman’s music. Probably I’ll be a gibbering wreck by the time the cd gets over, but still….
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5. Be Not Nobody by Vanessa Carlton
Price: $11.99

I saw a video of her’s on MTV, her playing the piano and singing “A Thousand Miles”. First thing that struck me was – “Beautiful piano-playing”, and the second thing was “Oh, man. This sounds like Rahman.” I haven’t found the cd anywhere in India.
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6. Alan Moore: Portrait of an Extraordinary Gentleman by Gary Spencer Millidge
Price: $10.49

Only thing I can say is – More Moore.
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7. 300 by Frank Miller
Price: $21.00

I read it in cd format this weekend, and let me tell you, history has never seemed more real to me. Agreed, it’s Americanized at times. Agreed, it’s over-dramatized, to an extent. But the rush of blood that it induces is….undescribable. I would like to own this. Please God.

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8. Marvels by Kurt Busiek
Price: $34.95

One word. Alex Ross. This would make a nice companion to Kingdom Come. I remember drooling over the page ads appearing in other Marvel comics when this was about to be released.
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9. Mai the Psychic Girl Perfect Collection. (Viz Graphic Novel) by Kazuya Kudo
Price: $13.97

Mai was the first manga I read. It was published by Eclipse/Viz, and I read issue 6/chapter 11 ( or something thereabouts ) I was fifteen, and this was the most stunning example of black-and-white art in comics I had seen until then. This led me to make a lot of pen-and-ink sketches.
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10. Manga! Manga!: The World of Japanese Comics by Frederik L. Schodt
Price: $17.50

Information, especially of the Manga kind, is heartily welcome. I think I actually found this book in Bombay last year, but it was priced too high, and I didn’t have a credit card then.
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11. First Shot, Last Call (100 Bullets, Book 1) by Brian Azzarello
Price: $9.95

Supposedly one of the greatest crime comics ever. I read issue 2 online, and yes, it is good. Waiting for more….
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12. The Art of the Matrix by Spencer Lemm(editor) et al.
Price: $50.

The books section of Cinema Paradiso has a slighly worn-looking copy of this book. I have browsed through it, and I can go into raptures about Steve Skroce and Geoff Darrow’s artwork. I won’t.
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13. Testament: The Life and Art of Frank Frazetta by Arnie Fenner (Editor), Cathy Fenner (Editor), Frank Frazetta

The best thing about Frazetta’s artwork is that you can find them on paperback novels in Hyderabad. There have been a lot of books ( like some copies of Flashman and Doc Savage) that I bought twice just because there was a Frazetta cover I liked. Boris Vallejo does stunning work too, but I like Frazetta better.
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14. H.R. Giger’s Necronomicon by H. R. Giger

When I was a college-kid, I found a four-poster collection of Giger’s artwork for 250 rupees at Walden. Unfortunately, the state of permanent pennilessness I was in then prevented me from buying it. The next time I went there, it was sold. I haven’t been able to get over the trauma yet.
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15. Frank Kelly Freas: The Art of Science Fiction by Frank Kelly Freas

Freas’s work first came to me through an anniversary issue of Mad Magazine. He was one of the early cover artists, and the samples I saw on that page was enough to make me a Believer. He’s a great artist. Check out his water-droplets sometime.
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16. The Authority:Under New Management by Warren Ellis.
Price: $17.95

One heck of a ride.

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17. X-Force: New Beginnings by Peter Milligan, Mike Allred
Price: $14.95

Both of these, X-Force and Authority, and a title somewhere below – Planetary, are part of the “Superheroes I have never read but want-to try” category. I like the kind of reviews they have been getting. ( yes, much as I form opinions by myself, I read reviews – others’ opinions too. Thanks. )
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18. The Ronin (Usagi Yojimbo, Book 1) by Stan Sakai

IF you ever read Groo the Wanderer ( and I strongly suggest everyone should! ) and you don’t wonder about the guy who does the lettering, with all the fancy fonts that are in harmony with Aragones’ tremendous artwork, well, you are obviously lacking in something called “aesthetic inclination”. ( pardon my snootiness, but I am like that wonly.) I have read a very short Usagi Yojimbo story, in Critters# 13. I want to read more.
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19. Endless Nights (The Sandman, Book 11) by Neil Gaiman
Price: $17.47
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20. Dustcovers: The Collected Sandman Covers 1989-1996 by Neil Gaiman
Price: $17.47

OK, so the covers of Sandman look awesome when I see their scanned Jpeg images. I think of how they will look inside a book, with glossy paper. Oooh, mummy, yummy!!!!
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21. Signal to Noise by Neil Gaiman
Price: $14.95
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22. The Neil Gaiman Audio Collection CD by Neil Gaiman
Price: $11.16

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23. Midnight Days by Neil Gaiman
Price: $12.57
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24. Murder Mysteries by P. Craig Russell
Price: $11.16

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25. Two Plays for Voices CD by Neil Gaiman
Price: $16.07

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26. The Day I Swapped My Dad for 2 Goldfish by Neil Gaiman
Price: $10.49

I lust after everything Neil Gaimanish. Ever since reading Ramadan ( Sandman #50 ), I also lust after everything P Craig Russellish collaboratish with Neil Gaimanish.

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27. Akira Volume 1 by Katsuhiro Otomo.
Price:$19.57

I have always wondered about Otomo-san. Probably because all articles I have read about manga and anime say “Katsuhiro Otomo” and “Akira” with the reverence generally reserved for God. After reading Domu, I realised how true they were.

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28. The Mammoth Book of Dracula: Vampire Tales for the New Millennium by Stephen Jones
Price: $8.76

Stephen turns up everywhere. He has editted almost every sci-fi/fantasy/horror anthology I know. That’s beside the point. Vampires fascinate me. I have read Dracula fourteen times. I own TONNES of vampire fiction. I want this book.
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29. Man of Two Worlds: My Life in Science Fiction and Comics by Julius Schwartz
Price: $14.00

Isn’t this guy astounding? He was Ray Bradbury’s agent. He was at the helm of the Silver Age of DC Comics. He got Alfred Bester to write the Green Lantern song, goddamnit! And now he’s dead, before I even got to meet him. Life sucks.
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30. A Thousand Ships : Age of Bronze, Volume One by Eric Shanower
Price: $29.95

An online version of the first issue of this comic is available. Simply put, this is a comic-book retelling of the events in the Illiad. Remember, I said “simply put”.
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31. Sandman Companion by Hy Bender
Price: $10.47

By the way, I also lust after things vaguely Gaimanish.
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32. Dracula: A Symphony in Moonlight & Nightmares by Jon J. Muth
Price: $45.00

In 1995 ( or was it 96? )Rishi bought this issue of a Marvel newsletter which had a list of all Marvel graphic novels published until 1989. I read about this book there. I saw the promos of this book there. I had seen JJ Muth’s artwork in Moonshadow. I remember shivering with anticipation, reading about the book. Aaaaah. Those were the days.
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33. Cowboy Bebop – The Perfect Sessions (Limited Edition Complete Series Boxed Set) by Cowboy Bebop
Price: $179.98

Muhuhuhuhahahahaha. I think I am getting it this Saturday, courtesy of harish_an.
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34. The Castle of Cagliostro by Hayao Miyazaki
Price: $26.96

Bought. Seen. Excellent.
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35. The Anime Encyclopedia: A Guide to Japanese Animation Since 1917 by Jonathan Clements
Price: $17.47

Seen my new user-icon? *tee hee*
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36. O Sister! The Women’s Bluegrass Collection by Various Artists
Price: $14.99
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37. Down from the Mountain (The “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” Concert) by D.A. Pennebaker
Price: $12.99
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38. Down from the Mountain: Live Concert Performances by the Artists & Musicians of O Brother, Where Art Thou? by Various Artists
Price: $13.99

This was a movie I loved, and this is also the only movie I know whose soundtrack album has all the songs in order on the Soundtrack cd. These are companion cds to the original Soundtrack which, incidentally, I possess.
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39. Heavy Liquid by Paul Pope
Price: $29.95

Again, I’ve heard a lot about this book, and I’ve heard a lot about Paul Pope. Funny, no?
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40. Crumb by Terry Zwigoff
Price: $25.16

Got this courtesy al_lude.
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41. R.Crumb Coffee Table Art Book by R. Crumb
Price: $40.00

I learnt about Robert Crumb and his Zap comix at about the same time I read about Sandman and Philip K Dick and The Who. I won a couple of Robert Crumb comics last year at an eBay auction – they are still stuck in the US.
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42. Battle Royale by Koushun Takami
Price: $11.17

I want to read this because I want to see the movie, and I want to see the movie because of Chiaki Kuriyama. Hmm, no, actually, I just want to read it because it’s supposed to be very violent.

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43. Understanding Comics by Scott Mccloud
Price: $16.07
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44. Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth by Chris Ware
Price:$20.97

Got this from (surprise!) MR Book stall in early 2005. The hardcover, for pretty cheap. Amazing design.
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45. Ghastly Terror!: The Horrible Story of the Horror Comics by Stephen Sennitt.

Personally, I think that one of the reasons why comics aren’t an “acceptable” medium even now is because of the whole brouahaha over EC comics, Seduction of the Innocent, and the Comics Code Authority. I want to know all about it.

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46. Hell House by Richard Matheson
Price: $13.95
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47. Richard Matheson: Collected Stories by Richard Matheson, Stanley Wiater
Price: $16.95

If you read Stephen King, you ought to know at least who Richard Matheson ( and his peer Shirley Jackson ) is. His books are not available anywhere in bookstores. I found an oooold copy of I Am Legend for five rupees at a Roadside bookstall. I wish I were that lucky nowadays.
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48. Johnny The Homicidal Maniac : Director’s Cut by Jhonen Vasquez
Price: $19.95

I don’t know how anyone can not buy anything that says “drawn by Jhonen Vasquez” after seeing his artwork. Whoof!
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49. Preacher: Gone to Texas by Garth Ennis.
Price: $14.95

I love this guy. I loved his Demon, I loved his Hitman, I love whatever I read of Punisher. I want to own ALL the sixty-plus issues of Preacher someday. The way he makes violence so laughable is …scary.
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50. Transmetropolitan:Back on the Street by Warren Ellis
Price: $7.95

When people tell me he is good, I don’t need to agree blindly. I can go to his journal mistersleepless, and I can find out for myself. Warren Ellis, you are god.

bought this off ebay. the complete series.
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51. Lone Wolf and Cub 1: The Assasin’s Road by Kazuo Koike, Goseki Kojima
Price: $9.95

Technically, I own the forty-five issues published by First Comics. Then I found out that the stories were incomplete, and that Dark Horse comics is publishing a HUGE collection of Lone Wolf and Cub books. I needsss them, preciousss.
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52. Blood of a Thousand (Blade of the Immortal, Book 1) by Hiroaki Samura
Price: $8.25

A guy who needs to kill a Thousand people to free himself from a curse? I want, I need, I breathe heavily.
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53. Queen and Country:Operation Broken Ground by Greg Rucka, Steve Rolson, Warren Ellis
Price: $13.25

I am reading Rucka’s Shooting at Midnight right now, and it’s good. Batman:No Man’s Land was good too. And now, readers say this is his best work ever. Who am I to disagree?
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54. Fables:Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham.
Price: $9.95

Adult versions of fairy tales and nursery rhymes? The Big Bad Wolf a private eye? Snow White and Rose Red and Prince Charming? Bring it on!
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55. Hellboy: Seed of Destruction by Mike Mignola (Illustrator), John Byrne, Mark Chiarello, Dave Stewart, Matthew Hollingsworth
Price: $17.95

I hope the movie fucks up, so that back-issue prices don’t escalate. I hate myself.
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56. Josie and the Pussycats: Original Soundtrack by Various artistes.
Price:$13.98

The movie was a great satire on pop music and the Boy band phenomenon. The songs were great!
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57. Passion: Music For The Last Temptation Of Christ by Peter Gabriel
Price: $18.98

This was one of the first non-ARR cassettes I bought in my life. That too because ARR mentioned it in a couple of his interviews. One of the most brilliant World Music albums I have heard. Buggers at Planet M say that it’s not imported anymore. Pah!
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58. The Crow: Original Motion Picture Score by Graeme Revell
Price: $14.99

Graeme Revell uses Middle-eastern instruments, heavy metal tracks, and dark Industrial music to give the movie a musical embellishment unmatched in its execution. I am getting too flowery in my praises here, but that’s because I have the DVD, and I have listened to the background music dozens of times.
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59. Planetary: All Over the World by Warren Ellis.
Price: $14.95
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60. Trä by Hedningarna
Price: $10.99

One of those random bands I want to hear before I die. Icelandic. I liked Bjork a lot.

picked this up from secondspin.com, mar 2005.
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61. Apple 30 GB iPod (M8948LL/A, April 2003 Version) by Apple Computer
Price: $442.99

In my opinion, a Perfect World will have no boundaries, no war, comics everywhere, and an iPod in every pocket. I suspect if you do put an iPod in every pocket, wars will cease and boundaries will disappear. Don’t know about the comics, though.
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62. Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind, Perfect Collection, Box Set by Hayao Miyazaki
Price: $48.97

Look at my userpic. Again.
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63. The Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal by Daniel Bukszpan
Price: $13.97

Encyclopaedias on my shelf make me look very knowledgeable. Oh. But I already am knowledgeable. But I want this anyway.
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64. Akira (Special Edition) DVD by Katsuhiro Ôtomo
Price: $35.98

Refer to my previous comment about Katsuhiro Otomo.
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65. Ghost in the Shell: the Graphic Novel by Masamune Shirow
Price: $17.47
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66. Ghost in the Shell DVD by Mamoru Oshii
Price: $25.49

I have the graphic novel on CD, have read the introduction. Soon, very soon, I will have the movie too. And the world shall tremble, and ….*sigh*
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67. Bone, Vol. 1: Out from Boneville by Jeff Smith
Price: $10.36

I have waxed eloquent about Bone before. I have read some of the Bone trades, and I have some of the early comics. Would be great if I could read all of them at one go.

Note: Jan 2005. I read all of them at one go. Bought the complete Bone collection from Amazon.
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68. The Complete Far Side by Gary Larson
Price: $94.50

This guy, ladies and gentlemen, is God. I tell you, he is God. No, really, he is God. That’s the answer to how he thinks up all those wonderful Far Side ‘toons. Seriously.
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69. Mythology: The DC Comics Art of Alex Ross by Alex Ross
Price: $24.50

Before I die, I want to see an Alex Ross rendition of the Mahabharata. Am I asking for too much?
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70. Comics: Between the Panels by Steve Duin
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71. Comics: Comix & Graphic Novels by Roger Sabin
Price: $20.97

More books on comics. I found the Sabin book in Bangalore, for 1250 Rs. in January 2005.
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72. Cages by Dave McKean
Price: $35.00

Universally acclaimed ( by those fortunate souls of the Universe lucky enough to have read this ) as the Greatest thing ever in comics. I can see this on Fabmall, but I am not sure whether the version I get is the one I want.
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73. Cerebus, Volume 1 by Dave Sim
Price: $17.50

I read Cerebus when he made a guest appearance in one of the early Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics. He was one bad-ass parody of Conan the Barbarian, and later, when I actually read about Dave Sim and Gerhard creating a 300-issue epic, I was amazed. I want to see how it was done.

Well, that is that. So now you know what you can give me when I want a Present. Hee hee.