Making Stuff and Doing Things

A Collection of DIY Guides to Doing Just About Everything
This is a review that I should have posted up here months ago, but never got around to it. Surely you have heard about this book by now. It was put together by Kyle Bravo who runs Hot Iron Press (which very unfortunately was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina) and put out by Microcosm Publishing. It was several years in the making, and it seemed at times like it was even pretty close to being shelved, so I'm really glad it finally came out. This a 240 page book which just like its subtitle suggests: gives instruction on doing just about anything you can think of all by yourself. Rather than list everything that this book can teach you (which would take up way too much space), I'll just list a few of the chapter headings: self-education, self-publishing and producing, arts & crafts, clothing, outdoor survival, gardening, food & drink, travel, health & body, pet care, transportation, etc. There really is something for everyone in here, plus everything is explained really well and there are lots of pictures and diagrams to help you out. I made my first screenprint with the help of this book, and it turned out great.
While several of the entries were written by Kyle, tons of other people donated stuff to this book as well, and everyone receives credit for their contributions. I was even able to help out by contributing something that was in one of my past zines (even though it wasn't something that I actually wrote).
Normally, I would say order this directly from Kyle, but I'm not sure if he has a permanant address right now due to being misplaced by the hurricane. Either way, you can still order it from Microcosm Publishing, which is definitely worthy of your business. The cost is $10 plus shipping.
Stay in touch for more reviews...

I went and got myself all edumacated.

This semester of school is officially over for me. Wahoo!! Now, I have nearly a month off for Christmas (Ha! I said 'Christmas') break. I'm working on a new issue of Elephant Mess that I hope to have done within the next coupla weeks, plus I want to work on the book I am writing as much as I can....and if I have time, I'll start working on the next issue of The Juniper. I'll definitely get some new reviews posted up here real soon as well. Meanwhile, Elephant Mess and The Juniper are being distro-ed by a brand new distro (it just opened this month) called Sweet Pea Zine Distro coming to you live and direct from the state of Washington, so check it out...and order some zines. Give the girl some business.
Keep checking back cuz there are more posts coming right up.

Oh! December!

So it's been over a month since I've posted anything. Even longer than that since I posted a review of anything, although I have several things that I've been meaning to review. I told you that school was going to hog me all to itself and not give you a piece. I can't believe it's already December. It's snowing like a madman out there. I'm serious, it's really coming down. It's been years since I've seen so much snow. I actually kind of like it, but at the same time I'm already ready for it to be spring. I've got big gardening plans and such.
Anyway, I'm not going to keep you for too long. I'll post a new review on here real soon. Seasons Greetings.
Oh, and don't forget: Buy Nothing This Christmas!

The Onion is so funny...

CIA Realizes It's Been Using Black Highlighters All These Years
November 30, 2005 Issue 41•48
LANGLEY, VA—A report released Tuesday by the CIA's Office of the Inspector General revealed that the CIA has mistakenly obscured hundreds of thousands of pages of critical intelligence information with black highlighters.
According to the report, sections of the documents— "almost invariably the most crucial passages"—are marred by an indelible black ink that renders the lines impossible to read, due to a top-secret highlighting policy that began at the agency's inception in 1947.
CIA Director Porter Goss has ordered further internal investigation.
"Why did it go on for this long, and this far?" said Goss in a press conference called shortly after the report's release. "I'm as frustrated as anyone. You can't read a single thing that's been highlighted. Had I been there to advise [former CIA director] Allen Dulles, I would have suggested the traditional yellow color—or pink."
Goss added: "There was probably some really, really important information in these documents."
When asked by a reporter if the black ink was meant to intentionally obscure, Goss countered, "Good God, why?"
Goss lamented the fact that the public will probably never know the particulars of such historic events as the Cold War, the civil-rights movement, or the growth of the international drug trade.
"I'm sure the CIA played major roles in all these things," Goss said. "But now we'll never know for sure."
In addition to clouding the historical record, the use of the black highlighters, also known as "permanent markers," may have encumbered or even prevented critical operations. CIA scholar Matthew Franks was forced to abandon work on a book about the Bay Of Pigs invasion after declassified documents proved nearly impossible to read.
"With all the highlighting in the documents I unearthed in the National Archives, it's really no wonder that the invasion failed," Franks said. "I don't see how the field operatives and commandos were expected to decipher their orders."
The inspector general's report cited in particular the damage black highlighting did to documents concerning the assassination of John F. Kennedy, thousands of pages of which "are completely highlighted, from top to bottom margin."
"It is unclear exactly why CIA bureaucrats sometimes chose to emphasize entire documents," the report read. "Perhaps the documents were extremely important in every detail, or the agents, not unlike college freshmen, were overwhelmed by the reading material and got a little carried away."
Also unclear is why black highlighters were chosen in the first place. Some blame it on the closed, elite culture of the CIA itself. A former CIA officer speaking on the condition of anonymity said highlighting documents with black pens was a common and universal practice.
"It seemed counterintuitive, but the higher-ups didn't know what they were doing," the ex-officer said. "I was once ordered to feed documents into a copying machine in order to make backups of some very important top-secret records, but it turned out to be some sort of device that cut the paper to shreds."

Do the Climate Mash!!

I keep getting the most ridiculous comments on this blog from advertisers and the like. It's really annoying. No, I'm not interested in laser hair removal! Some one real please leave a comment so that I know that this is actually being read by someone other than a robot.

Here's a Halloween treat for you: It's not the Monster Mash anymore, it's the Climate Mash!

What do the Germans have to say about The Juniper?

The Juniper #3 and #4 were recently reviewed in a punk rock magazine from Germany called Trust. Here's what they had to say:
"As I'm reading these zines I'm humming an altered version of a Lagwagon tune, 'Hi, it's Dan, seemingly bored again' or else how else could he put out so many zines that still don't really sound the same? He remains hopelessly romantic when it comes to gardening(#3) and biking (#4) as his contribution to improving life (one's own but also life in general) on Earth. Apart from that some recipes (could it be you're a bit obsessed with the idea that people should eat more dandelions, Dan?) can also be found in these zines, but more importantly all articles are delivered by this genuinely optimistic (rarity, especially in zine-land) personality that is Dan Murphy."
Interesting. Not a bad review. And yes, I do want people to eat more dandelions...myself included. Thanks Alva.

Tomatillo Salsa

For the review/recommendation this week, I thought I would post an awesome recipe for Tomatillo Salsa. I had never eaten tomatillos before, so I wanted to try them. I found a recipe on gourmetsleuth.com for Salsa de Tomatillo con Aquacate (for those who don't know, aguacate means avacado). This recipe is really good, and it also felt great to make my own salsa and not just go buy some bottled salsa from a store. I'm serious, you should try this recipe...it's really easy. Zarela is the original source of the recipe, so go there.

Mailing List Is Lost & Elephant Mess Is Contraband

Okay so, I worked really hard on developing a Juniperbug Productions mailing list so that I would have a comprehensive list of all the people who have written to me in the past year or so, and so that these people would automatically receive copies of the Juniper whenever new issues are done, and I saved all of this info on a disc and not a computer because I don't own a computer, and now that I have a new issue of The Juniper out I went to upload my mailing list to print it off so that I could send a copy to each one of the nearly 200 people/distros/stores on the list, and wouldn't you know it - the disc had caught a virus and my mailing list is gone forever. (That was a long sentence.) Luckily I have an old list that I printed off a coupla months ago, plus I have most of the other addresses written down or stowed away some place else, but still I'm sure I'm probably missing a few and plus all the hardwork that went into putting that mailing list together is wasted. That sucks. I hate computers. Anyway, my point is that if you don't receive a copy of The Juniper #5 within the next three months (because it's going to take me at least that long to get around to sending them all out) and you think you were on the mailing list (because you definitely were if you've written to me within the past 6 months or so) then send me an email or something and let me know that I have forgotten about you, because I probably didn't really forget about you - I just lost your address.
In other news....I received a copy of Elephant Mess #15 in the mail yesterday stamped "return to sender." The awesome part is that it was also stamped "CONTRABAND." I had sent it to a female prisoner in Goochland, VA. I guess the inspectors there opened it up and decided that it was restricted material and was not allowed to enter the prison or be delivered to its intended recipient so they taped it back up, stamped it contraband and sent it back to me. Of all the things that could be considered contraband, I never figured that Elephant Mess had that grand potential. The Juniper maybe, but even that's pretty mild in content. Anyway, I was just trying to be nice and give an inmate who had written to me something to read, but I was thwarted by a higher power. Skunked again!

J5! (no, not Jurassic 5)

The Juniper issue #5 is done much sooner than you thought it would be. It's got stuff about greywater, living the slow life, bike power, science manipulated again, instructions on how to make seed bombs, a simple container garden plan and a recipe for pesto. As usual, it's available to all for a stamp. All you gotta do is send your 37cent stamp to this address:
Dan Murphy
PO Box 3154
Moscow ID 83843

any questions? email me:
juniperjournal@hotmail.com

p.s. Contrary to the review I recieved in Zine World recently, I do give my readers credit. I'm just not the best writer, that's all. I know ya'll are much smarter than me!

Pretty Hot / Ghost Mice split CD

Punk is better when it's simple and lo-fi. It's better in basements and tiny clubs. And it's better when it has something new to say, something genuine and heartfelt. I was tired of today's punk, so I stopped listening to it for awhile. I was just about to say that there is no good "new punk" out there, but then I got the urge to check out the new bands on Plan-It-X Records, remembering how much I loved listening to Operation: Cliff Clavin, Disarm, The Sissies and This Bike Is A Bike Bomb. I ordered a few CDs like Ghost Mice, Defiance, OH, Carrie Nations and Rosa, and as soon as I put them on I was in love with punk rock again. This is the real stuff. The music that changed my life so incredibly back when I was a clueless high schooler. So, now I'm listening to punk again, and to those who are feeling really jaded and disillusioned by Warped Tour/MTV punk, don't give up on punk completely. There is still some good stuff out there; you've just got to know where to look.
The Pretty Hot/Ghost Mice split CD is a good place to start. These songs (six from each band) are awesome. Both bands are from Bloomington, IN. Pretty Hot is rocking pop punk with a good mix of humor and seriousness. On the first track, Carlisle, they sing, "I don't ever want to grow up, but that doesn't mean I want to stop growing," which to me basically defines the spirit of this band: having fun & being youthful, but also being smart and questioning things and not being complacent and apathetic. Motionless makes a good point about crutches and things we lean on just to get us by: "without a person to hold them" they're "motionless." "Our legs will get stronger." Slingshot brings up some good questions about effective activism and blatant revenge and how sometimes the line between the two gets blurred.
Ghost Mice is Chris & Hannah from all sorts of past Plan-It-X bands. They are an acoustic folk-punk band, and one of the best. Apparently most of the shows they play are sans electricity, which is definitely punk rock. They say that these are some of their best songs, and I'd have to agree. The Good Life is probably my favorite in which they sing about how much better life would be as a bumble bee or a mountain goat: "I would never have to hear another telephone." In Letter Home, Chris thanks his parents for being supportive and helpful even though they don't completely agree with his lifestyle choices. They also include a cover of Fifteen's classic punk song, Petroleum Distillation, which is definitely worth hearing. This CD is $5 postage paid and was put out by Anti-Creative Records. You can write to them at: PO Box 1528, Upland CA 91785.
On another note, I recently found out that a guy I know has started a reforestation project down in Venezuala called Ciudad Teca. He is growing teak trees to help out the local economy and repair the damaged rainforested areas. I don't know a whole lot about it (teak trees are new to me), but you can check out the website to learn more. And if you have some extra cash, you can support the cause by making a donation.

12 Volt Terrain

I should write these reviews when the zine is fresh on my mind, but honestly there is too much amazing stuff in this zine that it wouldn't matter if I had read it a hundred times, I still couldn't do it justice in a few short paragraphs. 12 Volt Terrain was (is?) a self-sustainable living project in Tegue, Netherlands. Edward wrote this zine to explain to readers what the project was all about and also share some things he learned through his involvement and pass along some info about living sustainably. The idea of the project was to live completely self-sustained on squatted land, disconnected from "the main supply network for water, electricity, sewer and gas." Obviously, there were times when compromises had to be made, but for the most part they did pretty well with the use of solar power, human-powered transportation, well water, wood stoves, compost toilets, greywater techniques, etc. The biggest problem that arose was the friction that proceeded to exist between the residents which apparently led to Edward leaving. Here's what Edward had to say about that, "Quite a lot of the time our group is stalled by inertia and laziness. No one does the dishes. Somebody martyrs themselves doing them and thinks they can take the rest of the day off. One guy chops wood one day and complains the next day when no one else does. We find it hard to work together. Everyone always has a valid excuse. Everyone is always too busy. I get paralyzed. I have too many things to do, so I retire to my sofa and my cats sit on my head. All of these problems are what seem to happen if you live in a group."
Included in this zine is a discussion on sustainability and it's different meanings to different people along with an overview of the four step energy preservation cycle: refuse, reuse, reclaim, recycle. Edward also includes an outline he wrote for a meeting that was held in order to address some of their domestic dilemmas. I can't emphasize how informative this little zine really is. Not only did it teach me more about sustainability and inspire me to continue advancing toward a more sustainable life, but it also got me thinking about certain issues that might arise in an ecovillage setting that I had never really thought about before. People just can't seem to get along, and even in the most ideal settings there will still be social and domestic problems. That's why it's so important that we work on changing ourselves as well as the world around us. They go hand in hand.

I'm not sure about the cost of this zine, but you can contact Edward here:

Matlingeweg 101
3044 EV
Rotterdam
Netherlands

bintang@seznam.cz

My dentist looks like Jimmy Fallon

I will update this again soon. I have more reviews to post. School started, and I had a root canal yesterday. I am wasting money as we speak. I am also worried about the folks in New Orleans, zine pals and fellow diy-ers. I hope they're alright. Kyle Bravo says that Hot Iron Press may be gone forever. He lost everything in the hurricane. I hope that he finds some way to rebuild his empire. Hot Iron Press was one of my most favorite distros. And they were revolutionary, too. Not one of those dime a dozen distros that pop-up and disappear on a daily basis. They were trustable. Now they are in limbo because of natural causes. It's sad I tell you.
I shouldn't be typing this right now. I need to get some sleep, my friends. More later.

Tour de Lentil

Yesterday I went on a 100k plus bike ride, and I didn't die.
I took part in the Tour de Lentil which took place in conjunction with the National Lentil Festival in Pullman, WA. We started at 9 am and took the long way from Pullman to Colfax. From Colfax we braved the rolling hills of the Palouse region to the city of Palouse and then back down to Pullman, 62 plus miles in all. At the start of the race, I was surrounded by a sea of spandex and fancy racing bikes. I stood out like a sore thumb with my baggy shorts, bulky skate shoes and backpack. There were only a few of us non-cycling team riders, which became especially obvious not too long after the ride had started and we were left in their dust. It wasn't a race or anything, but it appeared that way. It was my first time riding such a long distance in one day on my bike, and I definitely wasn't prepared for all of those murderous hills...but I tackled and conquered them anyway. Besides the handful of people who dropped out along the way, I came in dead last with a laughable time of about 7 hours. But I didn't care, I was a first timer and those hills really did a number on me. The last few miles were a bit scary. I was getting dehydrated, and the only water I had was still ice and melting very slowly. Colors started to fade and I was feeling like I was going to pass out. With four miles left to go, I layed down in someone's front yard under the shade of a big tree and took a 20 minute rest. As soon as I saw Pullman in the distance, my energy seemed to come flooding back as I cruised down the hill into the city. I had made it, my first 100k! Things to remember if I do the ride again: a) bring more fluids, b) wear sunscreen (my legs got fried to a crisp), and c) psych myself of for those monster hills.
After resting in Pullman for a few hours, I made the 7 mile trek back to Moscow. I don't have one of those fancy bicycle computers, but I figure that by the time the day was over I had ridden at least 85 miles or more when you add in the trip to Moscow and back along with the other biking around that I did. And honestly, my legs don't feel too incredibly tired. The only pain I'm in is due to the extreme sunburn on my pasty white legs. Like Sarah Contrary says: "It was just a bike ride."

Idea From A Dream & Bike For Lentils

Have you ever gotten the most stellar ideas while sleeping, awesome inspirations that come to you in your dreams? When you're laying there half awake, they seem like pure genius. Later on, after you've been awake for a while and are able to think a little more clearly, you realize that your ingenious ideas that came to you in your dreams are actually pretty lame. Last night's dreams allowed me such an experience. I dreamt up a gardening technique that just might help out with starting cold season crops (such as spinach, broccoli, leeks, etc.) from seed during late summer weeks while the soil is still warm. After all, in order for said seeds to germinate, they need the soil to be cool, but the long summer months leave the soil nice and toasty. After the seeds have sprouted, the deadly summer heat should be a thing of the past, and the seedlings should be able to flourish into the fall. So how can you cool down your soil? Why not get a bunch of bags of ice from the grocery store or gas station and spread them out into a shallow trench you've made in the soil. Cover the ice up with the surrounding soil and let it melt for a few hours. Later, sow your seeds and mulch with straw or leaves or whatever. Once the seeds begin to sprout, clear away the mulch until the seedlings are established. Isn't that a great idea?!? Actually it's pretty stupid I guess....But it could work.
Tomorrow I am hopefully going on a 100km bike ride (that's 62 miles!). It's called the Tour de Lentil and it's part of the National Lentil Festival in Pullman, WA. Yes, there is a celebration for lentils, which leads me to believe that there must be a festival or celebration for just about everything. Anyway, I'm really excited about it, so I'll be sure to let you know how it goes. Time to go tune up my bike for tomorrow.

Rebirth of the Small Family Farm:

A Handbook for Starting a Successful Organic Farm Based on the Community Supported Agriculture Concept by Bob & Bonnie Gregson
This booklet contains the "true tale" of two 40 somethings who went through a mid-life crisis and decided to quit their jobs as corporateers and become organic farmers instead. They explain how they began with virtually no experience as farmers and over the course of a few years were able to turn a two acre area of land into a profitable endeavor. By sharing their story and revealing their trials and errors, they hope to motivate and assist others in doing the same thing with the utopic vision of small farms popping up all over the place and surrounding urban areas in an effort to make food local again. In order to turn a profit, they eliminated the middle man for the most part and sold their produce directly to consumers through a subscription-based system and at an on-site produce stand. This is a very informative and helpful booklet for anyone considering a career as a small farmer. It could also be inspiring to those that don't already know that they want to be a small farmer. I really appreciated their reasoning behind farming organically and selling locally, and I liked how they referred to the farmer as a "junior partner" with the earth. We must work together with nature in order to live in harmony, but we also must realize that we are only second in command for without nature and her miraculous processes, we are nothing.
This booklet costs $12 plus shipping from Acres U.S.A., PO Box 91299, Austin TX 78709, 1-800-355-5313, www.acresusa.com
Oh, and expect to see many quotes from this booklet in future issues of The Juniper.

To The Many Dedicated Readers Of This Blog...

Okay, so that title is a little sarcastic and a definite exaggeration, but who cares?
I am planning on updating this blog more often and I'll tell you why. I am currently writing material for the next issue of The Juniper (issue #5, and it should be out in a month or two) and I am realizing more and more that space is going to be a major issue. I have to keep it small so that I can keep it free to readers and cheap for me to print, yet I am finding that I have more and more stuff to say along with piles of information that I want to pass along. It's rough knowing that I don't have the money to make this thing big, nor do I really have the time right now unfortunately. The first three issues included reviews and recommendations; the fourth issue didn't due to lack of space. The fifth issue won't have space for them either, so I decided that all (or at least most) of the reviews of zines, books, etc and recommendations for websites, products, etc. can be posted here. I hope to post something new each week. For those without internet access or who choose to boycott or avoid the internet at all costs, I will print a few one sheeters of the reviews and recommendations to tack onto some of the copies that go out. That way everyone will have a chance to read them if they'd like to and those who don't want to bother with them at all will also be much obliged. This idea is good for me because then maybe my blog will get a little more traffic, which means it'll actually become worthwhile for me to have this stupid thing. So anyway, look for the first post real soon. bye now..........

Elephant Mess Re-invented

So the 15th issue of Elephant Mess is done. I've been unemployed for the last month otherwise this wouldn't have happened. But a disadvantage to being unemployed is that I don't have the money to print it. Normally I pass along all my zines for free (usually only asking for a trade or some stamps or nothing at all), but this time (because I have no money) there is going to be a charge - at least for those that want a copy of this right now and maybe for everyone if I don't get a job soon. Anyway, issue number fifteen is The Unreviews Issue which just means that it's me writing about a bunch of random stuff that I don't normally write about. Rather than reviewing things like CDs or books or zines, I'm unreviewing things like record players, dumpster diving and public urination - hence, The Unreviews Issue. It's fun...and much different from all the past issues of Elephant Mess. So, don't judge this issue by other issues you've seen and order a copy today. I'm only asking for a buck - not the new one dollar which is two dollars. Just one dollar. Send your George Washington for EM15 to:
Dan Murphy
PO BOX 3154
Moscow ID 83843

or paypal to messyelephant@hotmail.com

Moog Movie

Did you know that there is a movie all about MOOGs? I haven't seen it yet, but I definitely plan to. Remember The Rentals? (Weren't they a side project of one of the dudes in Weezer?) They were all about MOOGs. Awesome. Check out the trailer.

Andrew Skurka and the Sea-to-Sea Route

A guy by the name of Andrew Skurka recently finished a cross-continent, 7,700 mile hike. The route he took is called the sea-to-sea route (C2C). It took him 11 months. That's a lot of walking.

NEW PO BOX

Okay... I finally have a new Moscow address to give to you:

Daniel Murphy
PO Box 3154
Moscow ID 83843

Please write to me soon. It's lonely up here in the panhandle. The Juniper #4 is done. It's been done for over a week. I've just been waiting until I knew what my new PO Box was going to be... Now I have to wait until I have the cash money to print it. But that shouldn't stop you from sending those stamps so that you can be one of the first to see it. It's still free in person and a 37cent stamp by mail. There's lots of stuff about bikes, plus some recipes, stuff about organics and other interesting things. Live free my friends. We'll talk again soon.

oh yeah...and monetary donations are always accepted with thankful arms.

I'm moving!

Okay...I'm not sure how many people read these boring and drab posts and updates, but just in case anyone does and would like to know: I'm moving to Moscow, Idaho next week. I'll be attending the University of Idaho this fall. I am in Moscow now for the first time ever and it's awesome. It's a beautiful, tiny city nestled in the mountains of Northern Idaho (the panhandle). There are lots of trees (evergreens)....and lots of farmland, too. What more can I ask for? I'll give you a more thorough update later along with my new address....but for now you should just know that if you're planning on writing me or sending me something, don't write to my Boise PO Box anymore. Just wait a couple of days and I'll let you know what my new Moscow PO Box will be.

By The Way...

Last Friday we had a tiny zine workshop for the Mountain Home Public Library in Mountain Home, ID. My mom organized it (because that's her job) and I was the presenter. It was fun, even though only a handful of people showed up. I talked about the basics of zining, demonstrated a few different ways of putting a zine together and then we watched parts of the $100 and A T-Shirt DVD (Microcosm Publishing). Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.
We plan on having another one next year and having it be more hands on. Plus by then the library will be newly remodeled with its very own zine section. Thanks mom, the zine community appreciates you ... and needs more people like you.
Link: Mountain Home Public Library

Unbirthday

It was my birthday a couple of days ago....
Since then I've had this song stuck in my head:

"Everybody knows it sucks to grow up......
The years go on and we're still fighting it."
-ben folds

I'm the man with the kid heart and the daydreamy eyes.
I don't wanna grow up......and yet I'm well on my way to 30.
Here's to staying young at heart....forever.

CM Boise is Dead

Okay...so maybe it was never really alive, but after Friday's poor excuse for a ride turnout Jackson and I decided to call it quits, which means that Boise no longer has a Critical Mass Bike Ride. But wait! It's not as sad as it might sound, because one of the main reasons we decided to go defunct (besides the fact that nobody was coming out and the few people that were were all becoming disillusioned) is because there is another downtown Boise bike ride that is actually having success and is actually shutting down some car traffic, which is awesome! It's called the Downtown Bike Shutdown and it takes place every third Saturday at 9:30 pm. Yeah, it's late, but that's the point: to become The Cruise - even if it means getting punched in the face by a meathead on a crotch rocket. Apparently bicyclists have been showing up in droves for this ride (anywhere from 75 to over a hundred) and it has only been going on for about 2-3 months. So yeah, if you want to join a group ride that's actually happening, get your bike in gear and head over to the Capitol Building on Saturday, June 18 at 9:30pm. Hopefully I'll see you there. Also, check them out on MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/downtownbikeshutdown

The Geek Is Back

Can you believe it? I'm putting out another issue of The Family Geek. I thought that zine was dead for good....but no, it's been revived somehow. Even though I changed the name of my publishing company from The Family Geek Press to Juniperbug Productions, I still found some reason to keep The Family Geek zine going. It's hard to let a good zine die. So, issue #3 is really simple (just like the last two). It includes zine updates, a couple of CD reviews and some interesting random stuff that you might like to know about, but maybe not. As usual, it will only set you back a stamp (well actually two, because you'll have to use a stamp to send me a stamp, but either way...). Order a copy today... it should be done within a week now that school's out.
Dan Murphy
PO Box 6352
Boise ID 83707

messyelephant@hotmail.com

GREEN ZAP

There is an alternative to Paypal starting up this summer. It's called Green Zap, and you don't need a credit card or a bank account to join. Anybody can join and easily transfer funds with other members. It sounds awesome. But even more awesome is that if you sign up now you will receive $25 to spend anywhere you want this summer as soon as Green Zap is up and running. It only takes a minute to register, but you can only pre-register if you are referred. So here, use my referral link: http://www.greenzap.com/messyelephant
As soon as you're signed up, you can start referring other people. You will then receive 5 more dollars for each person that registers using your referral. So check it out!!

Local Exposure for Zines!

My mom works at the city library in Mountain Home, ID. She was recently asked to write an article about zines for an Idaho state library newsletter. Here's the link: http://www.lili.org/scoop/aprl1505.htm#4#4 - just click on or scroll down to YOUNG ADULT CORNER: "ZINES?" BY ROBIN MURPHY. It's great. I found it amusing that the editor assumed I was her "teenage son." That's okay though - I'm a teenager at heart. GO ZINES! and go local, too!

new zine library at Boise State University

The BSU Publication Club is starting a zine library here on campus. Our goal is to accumulate a collection of zines that can be shown here on campus and elsewhere to help get more people exposed to the idea of zines and also help zine writers to get their stuff out to more people. We also hope to begin distributing zines to interested students and community members. If you are interested, please send copies of your zine for our collection and for possible distro consideration.
If you have any comments or questions, write to Dave and Dan at: publicationclub@hotmail.com

Send your zines to this address:
Boise State Student Activities
c/o PUBLICATION CLUB
1910 University Drive
Boise ID 83725-1335

FAREWELL HEARTATTACK

My little brother's band came and played a show here in Boise this past weekend. It was the first time I had seen them since they changed their name and went through some lineup changes. I thought they were good before, but they are even better now. I was amazed. Their sound has matured and their music is catchy and cathartic. They really rocked out. They are definitely one of the best local bands I have seen in a long time, and I'm not just saying that because my brother is the frontman. They're awesome and they have the potential to become even more amazing.
They have a 5-song CD-r out and a spot on myspace so check them out: http://www.myspace.com/farewellheartattack

"...i felt safe in the silence
but you broke it anyway..."
-farewell heartattack

THE FOURTEENTH ELEPHANT MESS

Elephant Mess #14 is out now....featuring the careful writings of a dissenchanted romantic and the musings, ramblings and inner thoughts of an aging zinester: steeped in mystery and clouded by disillusionment.
Order yours today:
$1, stamps or trade.
orders receive a free button.
paypal payments accepted.
Dan Murphy, PO Box 6352, Boise ID 83707

Fork 'n Spoon Zine Shop

This is a link to Stephanie's new site for her zine and craft distro dealing with all things food related, mostly having to do with the vegetarian/vegan and diy lifestyle. She also does several zines, one of which is called "The Cheap Vegan" - for veggies on a budget. Order some food zines and cook your own food -- It's punk rock!!

It's a war on war

Check out this fake news article found in this weeks online edition of The Onion:

Bush Announces Iraq Exit Strategy: 'We'll Go Through Iran'
WASHINGTON, DC—Almost a year after the cessation of major combat and a month after the nation's first free democratic elections, President Bush unveiled the coalition forces' strategy for exiting Iraq.

read the whole article http://www.theonion.com/news/index.php?issue=4110

Announcement

I guess it's time that I officially announce the name change of my publishing company. About a year ago I chose the name Family Geek Press which was also in replacement of an older name, but this time I believe I have chosen a name that's finally going to stick. Everything that I publish from here on out will be put out under the name, Juniperbug Productions.
I have big plans for my production company, some of which are: a zine/book distro, short films, publishing other people's stuff and putting out music. These are all still in the planning process though, so don't expect anything major to happen anytime soon. Just know that The Family Geek Press is dead; Juniperbug Productions is alive. New issues of Elephant Mess and The Juniper are in the works and back issues are still available. I'll keep you posted.

Genetically Krafted

If you're not down with genetically modified food or if you're at all skeptical or curious, you should check out this link: http://www.krafty.org/flash/
It's an entertaining little cartoon about Kraft Foods' decision to test the effects of genetically modified food on its customers, namely, You & I. It's risky I tell you, and it just ain't right...but don't take my word for it - form your own opinion.
oh yeah and...GO ORGANIC!

Live Journaling Sellout

I went ahead and followed the crowd and got a livejournal account. Not that anyone will want to or will ever read it...but crap man, I just feel like I'm slipping into non-existence here losing connection with everyone, and if I don't do something quick I'm just going to disappear completely - fall right off the face of the earth.
Come to think of it, maybe I should be working on tangible relationships with people who I can actually see and talk to face to face rather than penpals and online friends, but you know me, ever the social outcast (mostly on purpose).
So, if you'd like to check out my livejournal site (which will be much like this one) go to: http://www.livejournal.com/users/juniperbug
And if I never get around to adding any indymedia news to this blog then just go check it out for yourself at: www.indymedia.org

Regarding my zines, and yes I do real zines, you can order them through paypal (www.paypal.com) if you'd like. Just put a dollar or two into my paypal account and I'll send you a stack of zines - email = messyelephant@hotmail.com I am currently working on Elephant Mess #14 which should be out in about a month. Personal is pathetic. Thanks for staring at a computer screen.

Hill's Farmers Market

I told you I was going to post the address to this awesome farmers market in the Boise area, so here it is:
4380 East Fairview just past the Cloverdale intersection as your leaving Boise and entering Meridian. Seriously if you live in the area or if you're passing through you should stop by and check it out. I'm sure Doug and Co. would be happy to show you around.

I'm thinking of posting some news from indymedia.org on here to keep y'all informed. I seem to be turning into a news junkie these days....though I guess we'll see how long it lasts. If any of you have any objections to this, let me know. Also, anyone who actually reads this thing please post a comment or something and let me know. I highly doubt I have many (if any) readers. Of course, I didn't start this thing so that I could be on here every day rambling on for the world to read. It's more of a sporadic thing mostly to help get the word out about my print zines. E-zines and weblogs suck...so order some paper zines, man. If you don't want to send for mine, at least send for some one else's. Support the underground press. Speaking of which, I'm planning on starting a zine distro. My main focus will be zines about gardening, biking, cooking, doing-it-yourself and living sustainably so if you do a zine like that or if you're interested in helping out OR if you just want to tell me to not even bother and just go on with my dull and mundane existence like nothing happened then get in touch with me. My email address and po box are posted elsewhere on this blog, so what are you waiting for? Get involved!

Sorry for apologizing

I'm sorry about that last posting. I know that nobody wants to hear me ramble on - complaining about the depressing mess that my life is. I should consider my audience a little more before I go and bravely click on that bright orange 'Publish Post' button at the bottom of the page. But does this weblog even have an audience really? I didn't think so.
The new issue of Zine World (#22) showed up in my mail box today. Included inside was a review of my zine Elephant Mess #11 which I had sent them almost a year ago. Here's a sampling of the review: "Dan must be one of the most depressed people in the universe...While sometimes visually striking, overall this was really too much of a downer to be enjoyable."
Now I know for sure that people don't want to read 'depressing junk'.

I wish I had an odometer on my bike. Today I rode out to Hill's Farmer's Market on Fairview Ave. in Meridian. It didn't seem to take me that long to get there (even after making a couple of stops) but then as I turned around to head back I realized that I had been kindly helped out by a mild westbound(?) wind and now on my return trip I would have to fight against it. Needless to say, it took me a bit longer to make it back home (especially now that my backpack was full of great Farmer's Market finds). Now my leg muscles are hating me, and I still have to make it through a long nights work washing dishes. Oh well...the ride is always worth it, and if you live in the area, or if you're ever passing through, you should definitely stop by Hill's Farmer's Market (I'll post the address soon). It's worth it just for the friendly service and old country feel (it's housed in an old, renovated barn and a lot of the shelves and baskets are antique and old-fashioned).

Don't mind me...my mind just slipped.

Cheating Is The New Faithful

There is nothing much to say except that I am tired. Tired of working all the time just to barely scrape by. Tired of school even though I'm only in my first year. Tired of not being able to spend my time doing all the things that I really want to be doing. Tired of having a head full of ideas but not knowing where to begin or how to start. Tired of not having the time to figure everything out. Tired of being tired and worn out. Tired of having no one to talk to - to unload all of my thoughts on. Tired of feeling empty - like there's nothing that's tangible in my life, nothing real (everything is fake). Tired of not being able to see all of my dreams realized immediately - or even see a logical or obvious path leading to their eventual realization. Tired of mundane life rituals and mere nuanced days (as in, every day is the same regardless). Mostly, I'm just tired of being alone.
Write to me please.
Order my zine...you won't regret it - and if you do regret it, at least it won't be comparable to your other regrets cuz heaven knows that we're all drowning in a pool of them.

Do you ever feel like you're on the verge of a nervous breakdown or that you could pass out completely at any given moment and it wouldn't even matter?
until next time... ... Happy Fat Tuesday!

The Juniper #3

The third issue of The Juniper is out now. The Juniper is my meek attempt at a gardening and sustainable living magazine. This issue includes stuff about past gardening, manipulating science for love of money, the importance of soil in agriculture, debunking monoculture, raising chickens, getting your garden started in 2005, a few recipes and some reading recommendations. All that stuff for just one 37 cent stamp. It's a steal.

Send that stamp to:
Dan Murphy
PO BOX 6352
Boise ID 83707

or contact me here:
messyelephant@hotmail.com

The New Year

"It doesn't matter how gentle you are, after fifty years, you always end up wearing away the stuff you love, rubbing it out with your fingertips, cracking the foundation every time you tap your foot. The humidity in your breath brings down paint and plaster. The weight of you, after a while, makes the planet sag." -from Dream Whip #11

It's a new year, so everything's older. If you care at all, you'll take care of yrselves - and your friends & family, too. You'll even take care of strangers.

We're getting older and we might not be able to keep from looking it, but hopefully we can keep from feeling it. So take a deep breath, savor the quiet of a calm thought and don't get too caught up in all those heavy breezes. Most of all, just enjoy being a whole year older - that'll make it easier.

Happy New Year.