Comix

Is it me or does there seem to be LOADS of bookish girl cartoonists on the internet these days.

This seems to be the WINNING EQUASION:

Female PLUS Cats PLUS literary references DIVIDED BY awkward situations MULTIPLIED BY Tumblr = joy to the world.

Artists I think win are:
"Comiques" by Anne Emond




"Hark, A Vagrant" by Kate Beaton



"Kate or Die" by Kate, I presume




"Cat Vs Human" by um ... A human, I guess ...




Yep, that's it.

SM

RIP my magazines #3: Articles

I'm throwing out my old magazines / giving them to school kids! Some of these are over ten years old and have a lot of PERSONAL VALUE so I'm cutting out the best bits to form a scrap-book. Here are the highlights:


'The Art of Rap' by 'Hip Hop Historian' Henry Louis Gates Jr. About HJG's then new book anthology of rap lyrics. I studied this guy at university - very helpful with my dissertation. I was also attracted to THE PICTURE accompanying the article: hundreds of illustrated floating heads of hip-hop from Cab Calloway to Lupe Fiasco. Yep.


'Mycology 101: The Vice Guide to Really Fascinating Mushrooms' by David Fischer. Informative article about delicious, deadly and hallucinogenic mushrooms. Article accompanied by a fashion photo shoot of models looking for mushrooms.


'Secret Societies, Ancient Sects and Cryptic Cults' by Anon. I love Thrasher Magazine. This article on various conspiracy theories is kind of thrown next to some skate photos with not connection or explanation. The writer, a man after my own heart, clearly states that he got all his information off the internet and writing is often punctuated with phrases like:"It is often said (by lunatics)", making a not-all-that-serious work. Article covers Freemasons, Illuminati, CIA and New World Order. Strangely, I've been reading 'The Valley of Fear' by Arthur Conan Doyle in which the Freemasons pay a bit part, so I found a reread of this article quite interesting.


'Not in Our Name' by Ian Winwood. Remember the antiwar protests in twothousandandsomething? Part article, part interview with alt.metal band System of a Down, this is KERRANG Magazine being a bit political. Looking back on it now, it all seems very dramatic, much like the more recent riots all over the coutnry are being made out to be at the moment...


'Gorey and Me' by Johnny Ryan. Sort article about the relationship between Vice cartoonist Ryan and AMAZING writter and illustrator Edward Gorey. Humorous descriptions of EG's cat-scratched legs, interesting facts - which of the Three Stooges is EG's favourite? (the one with the bangs) - and a touching ending, describing a very real final encounted watching television before Gorey's death.


'I was a Drum Leader for Boardrum 77' by Kid Millions. This sounds like an amazing experience: 77 drummers under the Brookyn Bridge arranged in a kind of spiral, all playing together, conducted by the band Boredoms. A bit artsy-fartsy, perhaps, but what a great musical event. One of the drummers tries to describe it.

RIP my magazines #2 Interviews

I'm throwing out my old magazines / giving them to school kids! Some of these are over ten years old and have a lot of PERSONAL VALUE so I'm cutting out the best bits to form a scrap-book. Here are the highlights:

Interviews:

Artists

Winston Smith - Legendary photomontage-master. Designed album covers for 'punk lowlifes' (his quote) Dead Kennedeys and Green Day. (Document Skateboarding Magazine)

Ray Sierra - Designer of overly-large gangster t-shirts with ghettoized cartoon characters on them. (Vice Magazine)


Music - From Thrasher Skateboard Magazine - See my TUMBLR for music videos...

Citizen Fish - 3 of the 4 members of Subhumans in punk rock / ska band.

Hieroglyrics - independent hip hop collective including Del Tha Dunky Homosapien who raved about starting their new label.

Misc.
Jason Lee - EARL from 'My Name is Earl', who can't skate during the filming process because he might do himself a mischeif: kinda figured.

R.I.P. my Old Magazines #1 How To ...

I'm throwing out my old magazines / giving them to school kids! Some of these are over ten years old and have a lot of PERSONAL VALUE so I'm cutting out the best bits to form a scrap-book. Here are the highlights:

1.) Toy Machine Advert 'How to Be Punk' (Skateboard Magazine, 2002)
Apart from the educating me on the DOs and DON'Ts of PUNK CULTURE, I remember making a stencil of one of the icons (a urinating turtle with a mohawk) - I was into Banksy at the time - and my friend used this in his art project.

Other 'How Tos' that I have saved from magazines include:
* How to Headbang (circular, figure of 8 and 'original') - Kingpin Magazine
* Make Ghetto Speakers from your Earphones (put them in empty glasses) - Kingpin Magazine
* How to pin a pair of handcuffs (with a hairpin) - Sleaze Magazine
* AND MY FAVOURITE - the method for a roast chicken dinner - Sleaze Magazine

Prayer

Dear Lord,

Praise

We are so grateful for the beautiful summer that is pleasing to all the senses – our personal, favourite sights, sounds, tastes, smells and feelings and how they spark off nostalgia – but also our spirits are lifted naturally by the sun’s rays and this is how you designed us to be! We are thankful for your glorious creation that speaks of your creativity, authority and generosity.
World

Yet as I speak and as we pray today, conflict is breaking out all over the world to deface your creation. The cycles of hatred and fear can seem never ending:
Syria, Mexico, Africa, China, Afghanistan and finally Tottenham: a community described as having its “heart torn out”. We pray for these communities that they would know your heart.

We thank you for the people of Norway who, rather than tearing themselves apart after the recent tragedy there, have banded together to comfort and support one another.
Mission

May our brothers and sisters around the world be replenished with heart, hope and Spirit.
Thank you for Gerster family, celebrating the encouragement of a positive church retreat in the Japanese Church in Switzerland that Hans-Ueli and Wendy Pastor.
We pray also for Andreas and Elisabeth, both undertaking summer training courses preparing for the future and that the whole family would have a refreshing and strengthening holiday.
Church

Finally, to bring before you anyone who is suffering in anyway – because of illness, stress, financial difficulties, bereavement, or any other reason – knowing that you are our rock in times of trouble.
And we bring forward anyone who is rejoicing today because of a birthday, wedding, anniversary, summer holiday, new job, promotion, new child, new house, or any other reason, knowing that you do all things for our good and that we may glorify you in our lives.
And that is what we live to do.

In your name,

Amen

Summer Reading

1. Nick Hornby - 'High Fidelity'
Why? On the hall table. Dad got it for Andrew, but he went travelling in Asia ...
Is is good? Yes. Lots of talk about music and girls and a not-totally-unlikeable narrator.
****

2. David Nicholls - 'One Day'
Why? A present from Sandra. Read it on the train to / from Cumbria.
Is is good? Friends in love. Not something that I'd jump to read but I enjoyed it for lots of reasons. A dishy female lead character, an annoying, selfish male lead, a bit of a twist and a rewarding ending. Good fun.
***

3. Ryu Murikami '69'
Why? Brousing in the library. Looking for the other Hukuri (?) Murikami.
Is is good? ANOTHER book about music, girls and growing up. A more likeable, yet still selfish narrator who organises a music festival with his friends. Also uses CAPS LOCK for emphasis which reminds me of a childhood favourite 'Molesworth' (Seale). I really liked this.
****

4. Douglas Coupland 'Generation X'
Why? Brousing in the library.
Is it good? It is seminal and I would recommend it to everyone. Storytelling is not dead! Some of these stories could be Twilight Zone or Dead Kennedeys' songs. Therefore I am a massive fan. However, there are bits that I don't like, such as the 'slang' definitions and the need to overintellectualize everything - just get on the tell the story! WOuld definitely recommend it though, in the same way that I'd recommend the Twilight Zone / Dead Kennedys ...
****

5. John Buchan 'The Thirty-Nine Steps'
Why? Library brousing. Talking about old films with my aunty; this is one of my dad's favourite films. Apparently the book is quite different so ...
Any good? Not about music or girls (no female characters at all) -- so a refreshing change! Great 1930s vocabulary and jaunty pace. Thrilling even.
***

6. Edgar Allen Poe 'Selected Tales'
Why? Library brousing from the CLASSICS SECTION.
Any good? Of course! Again, total departure from sex, drugs and roll 'n' roll, in favour for gothic houses, murder and 'phantasm'. Seriously, I've read three stories already ('Tell-Tale Heart' 'Fall of the House of Usher' and 'The Black Cat') and they are all fairly similar ... wonderfully written though!
****

Your Scene Sucks #2 -- Crustpunk

By far the smelliest of all the scenesters, the Crustpunk embodies the D.I.Y. punk ethos with his nihilistic attitude and “freegan” diet. Typically an extremely unkempt individual with patches and pins barely holding together his soiled wardrobe, the Crustie goes months on end without bathing, ensuring his unemployment.

When not attending politically radical protests and Food Not Bombs events, the Crustie can be found panhandling on city streets with his banjo and emaciated dog at his side. Despite being anti-corporation, the majority of his earnings goes towards beer. The Crustpunks are also anti-authority, anti-work, anti-government, anti-religion, anti-showers, but are somehow not anti-five-day-old-burrito in the Trader Joe's dumpster.

Even though he lives a nomadic lifestyle squatting in abandoned buildings and train-hopping, the Crustie never strays too far from home. Eventually he'll need to hit up mom and dad in the suburbs for more cash, so he can stay poor.

Famous Crusts:
Leftover Crack
Allstar F*ing Hipsters