Where Were You? 2009: Now available — for free!

Posted by Rob Walker on April 15, 2010
Posted Under: Obituaries,rw

FEATURING: Life, Death, More of the Same.

As some of you know, Where Were You? is a side project of mine that dates back many years: I note “where I was” when I learned of various notable deaths, and record any related thoughts. For the last few years, I have collected these entries into annual zines. For 2009, instead of printing and mailing physical zines, I’m making a year of entries available as a sort of e-zine.

Also, instead of charging a buck or two, I’m making it available for free.

I have had great help and encouragement on this enterprise from Mr. Harold Check. In fact, I can safely say that without his efforts, technical and otherwise, there is no way I would have collected this year’s entries in any public form.

We’ve used two fine ebook services to present WWY2009. The Scribd version includes some illustrations. The Feedbooks  version does not.

You don’t have to have a special e-reader device to make use of these services and get to this material — in fact, it’s easy to print it out if you like.

Early adopters are welcome.

Here is how to get Where Were You? 2009 — whether you use an ebook reader or not:

1. If you use a Kindle or an iPad (or probably any ebook reader, so far as I know): Download from Feedbooks, or Scribd.

2. If you use a reader app on your iPhone (such as the Kindle app or Stanza, a good free reader app that you can obtain here): Download from Feedbooks or Scribd. I assume most readers on most smartphones work easily with Feedbooks or Scribd documents, but let me know if you have trouble.

3. If (like me!) you don’t use any of that stuff, and you are happy to read it in the form of a PDF on your computer, or as a regular printout, Scribd is probably for you. Check out the “full-screen” book view for the complete retro zine experience. (And if you download it as a PDF, it seems this site will reorder the pages for booklet printing, should you wish to go that way: http://bookletcreator.com/.)

Thoughtful people have enjoyed past editions of WWY.

Also of course if you have questions or comments or run into problems with the above, your feedback is more than welcome.

I hope you’ll check out the 2009 edition — and help spread the word.

Thanks.

I printed mine out. You don’t have to.

Further diversion may be found at MKTG Tumblr, and the Consumed Facebook page.

Reader Comments

Thanks for making this available–I’ll be PDeffing too!

#1 
Written By Susan on April 15th, 2010 @ 5:52 pm

Memento Mori as Biography. What a cool idea.

To paraphrase Adam Carolla (who has very strong feelings on the subject): A few decades ago, if Carradine was found in the… state… in which he was found, the hotel staff would have laid him out on the bed, neatly folded his karate gi under his arms, and THEN notified the authorities. The official cause of death would have been announced in the media as “heart failure”.

It’s our modern lack of discretion that has forever tainted your ability to enjoy the graceful pummelings delivered by Kwai Chang Caine.

For shame, Nai Lert Park Hotel staff!

#2 
Written By Justin on April 15th, 2010 @ 8:42 pm

Rob: awesome. I think I got the last one of these you did as a zine. Was it 2007? I remember reading it in one sitting & really, really digging on it.

#3 
Written By Brian Oberkirch on April 19th, 2010 @ 4:15 pm
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