Dear Tom: An album is in the works for 2013. Circus Devils has recently become fascinated with new technology. The band also keeps in mind that whenever artists of the past have become enamored with new technology and have gone through a crisis of identity in the context of an ever-changing world, their creative output has always been of the highest caliber. Think of Neil Young's TRANS.

Dear Tom: As of summer, 2012, the movie I RAZOR is being whipped into shape and should be finished for October viewing for the donor community. Be advised that NO members of circus devils appear in the movie. As to how it's turning out, I would say it's almost as good as Christmas on Walton's Mountain. To see a preview, visit youtube and search for "I Razor movie trailer."

Dear Dan: In the original version of "Double Vission," diarrhea was a central part of the song's unfolding drama. When we played the album for a test audience, they laughed uproariously during the section of "Double Vission" when the protagonist suffers from his affliction. This was NOT the effect we were after, so the change was made in favor of vomiting. I would go as far as to say that the puking in "Double Vission" was as necessary as puking is in any situation where the body rejects food. Haven't you found that to be true?

With regard to the term "epic," if by that you mean "long and drawn out," it's not likely that another album of that sort will be made.

Dear Fatbottom: You seem surprised by the reaction of strangers to your remarks. I suggest you start with "Hi." Nobody wants to hear about that box. No matter if it’s sitting there in plain sight.

Dear Chris: if you don't want to be disillusioned about what you call the magic, then please cover your eyes as you read the following description. Circus Devils has two distinct factories, so to speak. Both factories are in Ohio. Factory North produces the music, and Factory South injects the vocal melody and lyrics. These factories operate without knowing what the other is up to. To put it another way, the right hand knows not what the left hand is doing. For circus devils, this is the way things must be. This is what makes the creation of the albums exciting for the band. In terms of the process, the music comes first. Sometimes Bob informs the music writing process when he has a particular concept prepared before work begins on the album. More often however, a large (usually very large) collection of instrumental pieces are written first, and then auditioned to Bob, who then makes his selections.

The mystery involved is part of the excitement of making the records. The result is indeed magical to those of us involved directly with the process. We are glad that you have also found it to be magical. Some view this songwriting process as somehow less "authentic" than the conventional manner of writing. Say that to Rodgers and Hammerstein.

Dear Gringito-San: Any reason to go to New Zealand is a good one. But playing live has proven too risky for Circus Devils, in any context. From police balls to monasteries, it's always been the same story. Hospital bills have far surpassed performance earnings.

Dear Ruth: Pardon the inattention as of late. Ladyfolk have a way of making men believe that when we go to our basements and carry on with our hobbies, whether it be ham radio operating, or music recording, or tinkering with models... we are somehow involved in activities less important than "real life." This kind of thinking will never stop men from doing what they must do.

Dear Fats: The end of time is not a cinematic event. It is a slow leeching of our humanity over a period of decades, culminating in the rise of a programmed human race indistinguishable from the technology we have created. 2012 is the pivot year, where those on the path of darkness fall to one side, and those on the path of light fall to the other. Now is the time Fats to make your decision about which path you wish to take. Here is a simple quiz to help you determine on which path you feel most at home:

Question #1) Does the idea of going on a picnic or reading classic literature, or building something with your hands seem taxing and pointless when you consider the alternative (staring at screens, indulging your selfish appetites, or passively being entertained)?

Question #2) Do you enjoy staring at screens all day, the way you are doing right now?

Question #3) Do you smugly take the side of skeptics whenever something unexplained or mysterious is brought up?

Question #4) When confronted with an apple and a cupcake, do you immediately go for the cupcake?

If you answered YES to any or all of these questions, then there is little doubt which path you are on.

Dear Ian: Never thank anyone in advance. That's a rule that even Canadians should follow. Now, do you like Circus Devils or don't you? Your remarks are conflicting on this matter. Or has your Canadian imperative for politeness overruled all other considerations, including making sense?

Dear Andre: Yes. Everything that is real is also unreal, by virtue of its reality. On the other hand, purely unreal things can never be real. Nothing can be purely real unless time is removed as a factor in its examination. And as far as I know, no one has discovered a way to extract time from existence in any way, shape or form. We are stuck with time, so we are forced to confront the inherent unreality of all things which are real today, but were not real yesterday, and will not be real tomorrow.
The act of speaking about a thing and calling it unreal affirms its reality. Let's stretch out this idea. To be unreal is the starting point of all real things, including the universe in the whole. Nothing is the starting point of something. To say that something is real is an affirmation in the face of eternal unreality. Unreality and nothingness can be seen as a cosmic negation and a horror in the light of a transitory human life and human creative endeavors. On the other hand, taking a less grim view, unreality can also be seen as an immense empty canvas upon which absolutely everything has been painted.

Cast your mind back into primordial time, to the very beginning of all that has ever existed. If you stretch your imagination that far, you will come to realize that Nothingness has allowed for Something. Nothingness, as the foundation for all that has ever been or ever will be, could easily have prevailed, and remained true to its own absolute supremacy for all eternity. But instead, nothingness yielded and passively gave way for something to exist. We don't know how or why this came to pass, but here we are.

We participate in the eternal life of humanity by proceeding from nothingness. We find ourselves here, a mystery within a mystery. So we take our small stake in reality a step further by making things ourselves. Being creative is how we struggle against the nothingness that underlies our existence, and at the same time, this is how we affirm and celebrate the nothingness back to which all things go.

Dear Mr. White Male: Okay. That's not so bad.

Dear Mr. Boh: Slamming what? A brew? A basketball? A finger in the car door? A face on the table? We mostly think these are good things, but you need to be more specific.

Dear Mr. Braga: A splendid idea. Todd is the drummer. Any guitar player will do.

Dear Neal: never do this yourself. Your stomach will regret the decision.

Dear Freeman: Being a dick for justice is a sign of your nobility and integrity. Continue to stand your ground against parasitic, penny-pinching freeloading, miserly music consumers like your friend. Unpopular acts like circus devils need fans like you. As to your generous evaluation of Sgt DISCO, our humble thanks.

Dear John: Which woman? How old is she? Did she have a happy childhood? Was her relationship to her father distant or damaged? Has she dabbled in same sex activity? Does she have a poor self-image? Does she exhibit spiritual leanings, or is she a common, everyday drone? Your answers will depend on the individual woman in question. Women are not like men (ie: predictable).

Without detailed knowledge, your best bet is to perform a generic seduction. We advise that you leave this delicate work to a professional, but if your budget is tight, do the following: Write a discreet note to this woman and make her understand that she is ravishingly beautiful and that you think of her night and day, and dream of nothing but cuddling with her long into the night. Statistically speaking, this message will likely hit the target in a sampling of women over the age of 30. However, for younger women, or women over 30 with an athletic build, you simply have no chance. All you can do is wait and hope that somehow you will catch her eye. Otherwise, we suggest you do the sensible thing and hook up with that nice girl you routinely overlook who actually enjoys your company. Good luck John!