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Jennifer Hurst's avatar

Sanjiv, you find the edges of the edges. And this place is a microcosm of the USofA now.

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Sanjiv Bhattacharya's avatar

Thanks Jennifer, I love a microcosm story, especially this one because - spoiler alert - the hippie prevailed!

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Jennifer Hurst's avatar

Val is amazing.

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Maureen Sullivan's avatar

Thanks, Sanjiv. You are such a fair and generous writer of the outlanders in our world. Grace is offered to everyone in your stories.

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Sanjiv Bhattacharya's avatar

Appreciate this very much Maureen, one of the nicest things that's been said about my writing. Thank you.

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Jared Mazzaschi's avatar

Nice series Sanjiv.

I read that Milch book and I mentioned some of my take-aways from it to a friend of mine who worked for Milch in his NYPD heyday. My friend was uncharacteristically uncharitable in his response. I don’t remember what he said exactly other than he wouldn’t believe a word that came out of Milch’s mouth.

This particular guy is usually super generous about everybody too (he’s worked with tons of interesting people). Not Milch though. He couldn’t find a kind word.

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Sanjiv Bhattacharya's avatar

Thanks Jared. I'm interested to hear the Milch gossip (maybe in private tho...). To be fair, he does sound like a difficult person from that memoir, incredibly headstrong and particular. Every memoir is myth-making and has an element of ego attached, but you could really feel it in this one.

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Hilary Hattenbach's avatar

Wow! Incredible reporting and moving writing, Sanj. Val is quite an inspiration, such tenacity and spirit. I was gripped! You should submit this for a journalism award.

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Sanjiv Bhattacharya's avatar

Haha, journalism award! I don't know about that. But appreciate your kind comments as always. I've always thought subcultures refract the wider world in one way or another, and this was such a crystalline example. Val's courage is inspirational for sure. She stood up to the bully. Republicans take note.

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Gay johnny's avatar

You must be dumber then a box of rocks. When Val says "I tell people your better off killing them with a hammer because a gun shows premeditation." Did that not raise a red flag? How about when she says she will smear the waste on the next body that shows up in the slabs? Nothing? No red flag ? We'll you did not do your homework. You are irresponsible and dangerous to the people of the slabs. You know nothing and frankly should be sued for liable. Where is thr other point of view. You slandered people with no regard to truth or honesty instead you took the statements from a judge ordered liar. A woman who's own daughter testified against her. You need to pull the artical and apologize for your blatant incompetence. Shame on you.

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Sanjiv Bhattacharya's avatar

Many efforts were made to contact the people on the other side of the argument - I tried on May 28, May 29, through FB and by calling, and through Beryl from the Oasis. But there was no response. So their identities were changed. Court records were searched and local Sheriffs were contacted. There were multiple sources for the story that I wrote, it wasn't just Val. So no, I will not be pulling the article. Everyone is free to ignore a reporter when he asks for an interview, but you don't get to complain afterwards that no one asked for your perspective. In the meantime, please take your insults elsewhere.

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