Fans crowd the lobby, and many of the 450 who've turned out today--both male and female--are dressed like the man himself, with the curly, greasy hair and large glasses, both in the general spirit and in preparation for the much-hyped lookalike contest. And while many attendees seem to know one another from chat rooms, newsgroups and other conventions like "Dementia," which highlights the "Dr. Demento" show, there are a fair number of regular-looking folks.

"A lot of people treat 'Weird' Al Yankovic as something you listen to when you don't want to listen to Carrot Top," says New York writer, rare-record collector and "Weird" Al enthusiast Chuck Miller. "'Weird' Al fans aren't just the Star Trek and Dungeons and Dragons people, we've got a cross-section here."

But what do they do for two days? There's performances by "Dr. Demento" regulars, a lip-synching contest and an auction: This year "Al's closet" is for sale, and it's no joke--previous Alcons fetched $600 for a bag of his dryer lint (split up amongst five fawning women), and $400 for a wisdom tooth, which a young lady proceeded to wear around her neck in a locket. And yes, Al and his drummer, John "Bermuda" Schwarz, do arrive late Saturday for questions and general hob-nobbing.

"It's a great place to socialize," says Kristin "Cornflake" Kerouac (Jack's grand-niece). "We're a real outgoing bunch. I'm helping to organize 'Dementia 2003,' where they'll be a lot of the same faces."

Also by Rick Rucker

NONFICTION REVIEW
Blunt emerges with the lush, textured memoir, "Breaking Clean," which renders this experience with a dash of feminism. A third-generation rancher, Blunt was born into a grimy house without electricity, nonexistent plumbing and predictably grizzled, strong-willed parents.
(2002-04-18)

WAITING FOR J.D.
Along with Holden Caulfield in "The Catcher in the Rye," Salinger's major contribution to the literary imagination is Salinger himself. "There are references to Salinger everywhere. Look at 'Magnolia' or the Kevin Smith movies," says Chris Kubica, editor of "Letters to J.D. Salinger," released this week by University of Wisconsin Press.
(2002-04-18)

OBJECT LESSONS
While many artists work to create art that lasts, as Todd Slaughter preps his new exhibit, it seems a good portion of his efforts will simply... dissolve.
(2002-04-04)

THE N-BOMB
We've just heard a flurry of anecdotes and interpretations revolving around "the N word" and its various usages, ranging from murderous to encouraging. When Randall Kennedy, professor of law at Harvard and author of the new book "Nigger: The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word," finally opens his lecture to questions, a young black scholar immediately stands. Reading a pre-drafted speech, he delivers a vitriolic denunciation.
(2002-02-21)

NONFICTION REVIEW
(2002-02-14)