BREAKING NEWS!!! E-mail Etiquette Update

After struggling with this issue for several weeks I have decided that from now on, I will add an exclamation point after "Thanks" in all future e-mail correspondence. It seems to convey more sincerity than a "Thanks" sans the exclamatory punctuation. I would like to apologize to anyone who may have received what they perceived to be a less-than-enthusiastic "Thanks" from me in the past. What I really meant was "Thanks!"

NOTE: A more formal "Thank you" will still be punctuated with a period, as in: "Thank you for your time." Emoticons are still off the table... for now ;)

Thanks!

One Word Horoscopes

ARIES

March 21-April 19

One Word Horoscope: Attack.

Visit Bizarro Zodiac! 

Nuclear Poo!

Thanks Julie N.

Weasel Throws a Haymaker

This looks like something you might choreograph for a movie scene where someone is in a fight under water in a dream. Does that make sense?

Featured Artist: Mike Lenkowski

Arcrylic on canvas. See more @ mikelenkowski.com

Zine Reviews: Saytown Review/Birdnerd/Jones-Malzburger-Jones split

BIRD NERD/JONES MALTZ-BURGER COMIX #1
SAYTOWN REVIEW #2 & 3
Got three zines from Texas in the mail. From San Antonio, comes two issues of Saytown Review. This digest-sized literary zine features poetry (jo reyes boitel, Illabaster Fernandez Green, The Great N.I.S. and Julian Flores, Lisa Del Bosque, John Rob, Roxy Guevara), short nonfiction stories (Robert Bottelo), paintings (Jazmin Martinez, George Garza, Diana Rocha), photos (Stephanie Salazar), interviews (artist Jacinto Guevara) and comics by Robert Birdnerd, Chris Navarro and Alfonso Mata. The third zine comes in the form of the Birdnerd Comix/Jones Maltz-Burger Comix split between Robert Birdnerd and Alfonso Mata. Both artists contribute journal strips that briefly describe everyday life in San Antonio. Mockingbird attacks appear to be quite common. $3PPD. c/o Robert Botello, PO Box 460303, San Antonio, TX 78246-0303.

The Real Minutemen

I hate people, man, and I don't care!

Genius or Madman?

The world continues to get a whole lot creepier.

Zine Review: Bipedal, By Pedal! #2

BIPEDAL, BY PEDAL! #2
Joe Biel (Cantankerous Titles)

Thanks to the Freedom of Information Act, zinemaker, Joe Biel, was able to obtain Portland Police documents detailing that department's efforts to monitor and contain (and eventually help end) Portland's Critical Mass movement. While some of the documents are merely bureaucratic interoffice memos, it's an interesting glimpse into the inner workings of the police. The charge leveled at the cops in this instance is that of spying—the department used undercover officers to infiltrate rally planning meetings to gather information on these supposed "Anarchist" cyclists. While that certainly seems like overkill, it is apparently entirely legal. While this zine highlights the heavy handedness of the police department's overreaction, there's the implication (which is more than implied but alleged in the accompanying press sheet) that Portland Critical Mass was "brutally torn down" by the PPD. This would seem to suggest that the Portland Police Department is something akin to the KGB or the Stasi or their contemporaries in modern day dictatorships. Maybe this is a result of what's going on in the world in 2011, but I personally was not persuaded that the police actions rose to the level of brutality. I'm sure Libyans would love these sorts of problems, but I don't live in Libya and I don't live in Portland and I've got my own CPD to watch out for. It should be mentioned that some of the documents featured in this zine are presented in Mad Lib form in an effort to get people to start reading by having a little fun with the subject, but overall I found that less interesting than the actual memos themselves.—Chris Auman

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Zine Review: Rad Dad #18

RAD DAD #18
Tomas Moniz (Microcosm)

This issue is my first introduction to Tomás Moniz's Rad Dad zine. Rad Dad represents the perpective of parents who are also anarchists trying to find a balance between those two things. RD#18 is the 'Sex & Love' issue and features short bits from various like-minded contributers who share their parenting stories. Tomas tells of his own efforts in talking to his kids about sex when he discovers that his son had downloaded hardcore pornography to his (Tomas') computer. Dani Burlison shares her aborted plan to bribe her daughter to not kiss a boy until she is eighteen. There are several contributors who share their experiences with open and polyamorous relationships as well as an interview with Chris White, Director of Education at the National Institute of Human Sexuality (SF State University). I've never read a parenting guide quite like this, in fact, I've never read a parenting guide (I'm not a parent), but this one definitely speaks to a very specific audience about a very universal topic—Chris Auman

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The Adventures of Jim Bob & Pencilneck NEW CHAPTER!!!

Written by Bif LeBeau in the late 1980s before his mysterious disappearance, The Adventures of Jim Bob & Pencilneck chronicles the lives of two American kids from their austere beginnings in Cheesetown to the tragic crime that sets them on a cross-country flight and a journey of self-discovery.

Read
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
NEW Chapter 5

Is it Wrong?

Yes, yes it is.

One Word Horoscopes

PISCES

February 19-March 20

One Word Horoscope: Surrender.
 
Visit Bizarro Zodiac! 

 © 2011 Chris Auman

MUGGSY McMURPHY'S ROCK PICKS

Rain and snow? How awesome is that? It's like peanut butter and jelly. March is always a real treat around here. Speaking of here, here are some rock shows that I certainly will not be attending this week. Enjoy!

MONDAY 3/7
Menomena, Absolutely Not
@ Empty Bottle
1035 N. Western Ave.
773-276-3600/866-468-3401

Menomena. Free. Absolutely yes.

TUESDAY 3/8
The Ex, Follows, Ken Vandermark, Zerfu Demissie
@ Lincoln Hall
2424 N. Lincoln Ave.
773-525-2501

25 albums in 30 years? That's Netherlandish! Come on Ex, you're gonna hafta do better than that if you want to impress Muggsy McMurphy. What, you never heard of The Woodrows?

WEDNESDAY 3/9
The Life Champions, Dun Bin Had, Dickfinger, No Two Waynes
@ Pancho's
2200 N. California
773-772-7811

Welcome to the 1st Annual Horrible Band Name Festival!

THURSDAY 3/10
Adicts, Juicehead, Modern Day Rippers, Curtains
@ Reggies Rock Club
2109 S. State St.
312-949-0121/866-468-3401

The Adicts were kind of ahead of their time as far a picking a band name you could Google.

FRIDAY 3/11
Hüsker Düdes, Econoline, SST DJs Bobby Burg & Matt Holland
@ The Hideout
1354 W. Wabansia Ave.
773-227-4433

Ok, you know how I said that I wasn't actually going to be attending any of these shows this week. Well, I might [MIGHT!] be going to this one... and getting pretty drunk.

SATURDAY 3/12
Outer Minds, Chaperone!, Joan of Arc, Mickey, Radar Eyes, Tiger Bones, Skull Orchard, Paul Cary, Rabble Rabble, Waco Brothers, Kids These Days
@ The Hideout
1354 W. Wabansia Ave.
773-227-4433

Hey! It's The All-Day Hideout SXSW Sendoff Party with a whole fuck load of great bands!

SUNDAY 3/13
Ice Cube @ The Mid 306 N. Halsted
312-265-3990

No way! That guy from Are We There Yet can rap too?

Just Bee Cause

Old Hardcore Dudes

© 2011 Chris Auman

Comics Review: Ten Thousand Things to Do

TEN THOUSAND THINGS TO DO
Jesse Reklaw (microcosm)

TTTTD is the year-long, illustrated journal of artist, Jesse Reklaw. Originally appearing as a series of mini-comics, the diary details (in four panel comic form) Jesse's daily life living and working as an artist in Portland, Oregon. Self-doubt, bouts of depression and booze, creative spurts, good times with friends, playing music and also mundane everyday activities all get recorded, sometimes with the help of guest artists. Jesse tracks his sleep schedule, as well as his coffee and alcohol consumption which he is then able to use as a tool to gauge his mood and behavior which is useful for a little self diagonosis. (Read more about that in our interview with Jesse.) TTTTD is an ambitious project and an interesting glimpse into the creative life—Chris Auman

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