"everybody needs a little devastation"

I guess it's been a while since I've updated this damn thing. Oh well. Who cares? The interweb is ruining my life anyway. Sucking up all of my time. I feel like I am glued to this computer screen way too much lately. I just want to get off of this stupid planet. Find a wormhole somewhere to disintegrate in.

On that note, I finished another issue of Elephant Mess. Remember a while back when I said that I was going to do one issue of Elephant Mess every month for a year. Well, I lied. Or I changed my mind. I am now going to do Elephant Mess bi-monthly for a year. I put one issue out in January, and now it's March. So, Elephant Mess #22 was promptly born. It's kind of a tribute to The Promise Ring, but not really. In order to really be a tribute to The Promise Ring, it would have to be much better and about different things. Mostly it is a continuation of my empty ramblings and failed attempts at being philosophical (or something like that). If you are a huge fan of The Promise Ring, you will be sorely disappointed and probably offended. If you are just a regular ol' fan of The Promise Ring, then your chance of liking the zine will be based mainly on the degree to which you enjoy reading mopey, melodramatic prose that occasionally feels forced. If you don't even know who The Promise Ring is, then some things may not make any sense but otherwise see the previous sentence. Is this a long enough description about a 16 page, 1/4-sized zine? Either you want it or you don't, right? End of story. If so, send a buck, a couple stamps, a trade or a nice note to:
Dan Murphy
PO Box 3154
Moscow ID 83843
And I'll consider updating this stupid thing more frequently. Although don't count on it. I'm busy.

"Neon black future
charging like a bull
with a funeral bouquet
ready to explode."
-The Blood Brothers

"how can we be the best, yet be failing all the time?

Elephant Mess 21
Originally uploaded by juniperbug

Elephant Mess has become a monthly zine for one year only, starting right now (with issue #21). This is the first issue of twelve for the year 2009. It's short but worth a stamp. I wrote about the double life syndrome and catalysts, plus I included artwork by Maaike. You can send a stamp for one issue or twelve stamps for all 12 issues (like a subscription ). A five dollar bill will also get you a one year subscription. Or just right me a friendly letter every month, and I'm sure you'll end up receiving all twelve.
Dan Murphy, PO Box 3154, Moscow ID 83843, USA
messyelephant@hotmail.com

"Hal Hefner floated above his life. He saw the world around him as if he were just a ghost floating through. Nothing could harm him now. Nothing could move him or make him love again. He was that kind of ghost. The kind that couldn't love again...
Eventually, all of this would pass, and the memory of it would give way to embellishment and fantasy and outright distortion until it was hard for Hal Hefner to remember what he was really like back then when he still carried in his head the sound of a made-up perfect voice, the voice that could speak its heart, the voice he used to wish he had, until the day he stopped wishing he sounded like anyone else and just started talking as he was."
-from the movie, Rocket Science

"please don't scratch me out"

The Juniper 11
Originally uploaded by juniperbug

Hello there co-conspirators.
Were you aware that I have just recently finished a brand new issue of The Juniper? Well I have. And while it seems to be taking me longer each year to get these things done, the important thing is that they are getting done. And if I'm going to go through all the trouble of making these things, well then you darn well better take the time to read them, ya hear? In this issue I talk about slowing down and looking on the bright side. I also give a quick overview of last season's gardening adventures, offer a composting primer, share a couple recipes and talk about cold frames among other things. It's worth a stamp or a trade.
Dan Murphy
PO Box 3154
Moscow ID 83843
USA
juniperjournal@hotmail.com

Also, a new issue of Elephant Mess is in the works and should be done within the next week or two. So keep an eye out for that.

"the unexamined life is not worth living"

Seasons Greetings Citizens.

I am in the midst of my holiday break. Are you?
I don't have too much to report, but I did want to let you know about a zine I recently read. It's called Greenwoman #3, and it's "dedicated to bees and their keepers." In this issue, Sandra writes all about bees and also includes some bee-themed writing from other authors. Sandra's obsession with bees is no secret, but it's nothing to be ashamed of. Bees are a gardener's best friend, and eaters all over the world should be grateful that those busy pollinators are around, making harvest possible. Sandra writes about assisting with a swarm capture, observing honeybees in the wild, and touring a meadery (mead = honey wine). Also included are several lists of plants that attract bees, some interesting facts about bees, a few recipes that call for bee products (including baklava and beeswax lip balm) and two bee-themed movie reviews. If you haven't yet had a chance to read an issue of Greenwoman, take the opportunity now. Send $3.50 to Sandra/Greenwoman, PO Box 6587, Colorado Springs CO 80934-6587, sandra@sandraknauf.com. (Issues #1 and #2 can be ordered from Sandra or from Carrot Row.)

Rumor has it that members of the band, Broken Social Scene, are currently dating characters from Sesame Street. Is this true?

Also: If it hurts to hold, just let it go.

"i don't listen to the suits behind the desk no more"

I finally finished putting together another Carrot Row catalog. You can get a copy by sending me a stamp, or you can just keep on reading and you'll get the basic idea.

Carrot Row Mail Order is a small, laid back zine distro with a focus on DIY zines that, for the most part, promote a simpler life. Gardening, bike riding, composting, cooking, and crafting are just a few of the topics discussed in the zines featured in this catalog. These zines will not only entertain you, but educate you as well, and that is the whole point of The Carrot Row. If you have a zine that you think would fit in well with this ideology, please send it my way and maybe we can work something out. Otherwise, browse the list and pick out a zine or two to add to your collection. You won’t be disappointed.

Agriculture Biotechnology (free)
A genetic engineering primer (if you eat food, you should know about this stuff).

Axis of Evil ($2)
Recipes from the Axis of Evil. A case against war. A plea for cultural diversity.

Chickeney #1 & #2 ($1 each)
Sam’s fascination with chickens and living the slow life.

CROQ #4 & #5 ($2 each)
The craft revolution is here. Where were you during the craft takeover?

Dimanche #5 ($2) & #6 ($1)
A food/perzine. Recipes, food tips/ideas, and a glimpse into Sabrina’s life.

Dumpsterland #11 ($1)
Classic hobo-punk zine about dumpster diving and composting.

EnvironMENTAL Imp Pack! #1 & #2 ($1 each)
Maaike’s sustainability zine: reduce, reuse, recycle, repurpose and BUY LOCAL.

Farmer’s Daughter #2 ($1)
A farm zine written by a farm girl. Cow drawings and photographs included.

Fatty Boom Boom #3 (stamp/$0.50)
Vegan cookzine from English punk rocker.

Greasespot #4 ($3)
Punk rock stories by Texan punk rockers.

Greenwoman #1 & #2 ($3 each)
Sandra’s zine about gardening and being politically active. A gardening zine with lots to offer.

Punkman ($2)
Maaike’s comic about a punk rock superhero. Dumpster diving for the people. Do you believe in justice?

Resist #46 ($3)
Matte is back with more stories about bikes, gardening, parenting and DIY adulthood.

Spat Back #3 ($0.50)
DIY punk mini-zine from England.

Seattle DIY ($2)
Punk rock guide to Seattle, WA.

Sixth Minky’s Guide to Herbs ($1)
Maaike teaches you how to grow and harvest herbs for all your culinary needs.

Take It – It’s My Body ($3)
Chelsea’s zine about fat acceptance for the fat revolution.

Ordering stuff is simple. Just write me a note telling me what you want. Put the note in an envelope along with the cash (or we could also work out a trade) and mail that envelope here:

Dan Murphy
PO Box 3154
Moscow ID 83843
USA

When ordering multiple zines, please add a dollar or two or a few stamps to help with shipping.

Questions? Email:
messyelephant@hotmail.com

P.S. The Carrot Row will soon be restructuring. The mail order is dissolving but not right away. Stay tuned to learn more about a new website and a new direction.

"you can't trust a heart that was cold from the start"

Elephant Mess #20
Originally uploaded by juniperbug

"...don't waste your time on it."

I am ashamed to admit that I have finished another issue of Elephant Mess. I am hesitant to even tell you about it. It is an embarrassment. It is more sappy pap, and it's hopeless. Bring on the melodrama! Why do I have to be so "emo"? The worst thing about it is that most of the writing is old (whether it be several years or several months), and I don't really feel that way anymore. I'm over it, okay. Now leave me alone. Anyway, I figured I better at least get it out there so that I can move on. I have big plans for future EM's, so if you'd like to just pass on this one and wait for something better, that's fine with me. I wouldn't blame you. But if you're brave enough to see what all the fuss is about, then send me a couple bucks or some stamps or a trade, and I'll send (albeit reluctantly) a copy your way.

Dan Murphy
PO BOX 3154
Moscow ID 83843
USA
messyelephant@hotmail.com

"you could play all day
and tell your friends that everything's alright
the truth is that your heart collapsed
two years ago tonight"
-bayside

"all fallen leaves should curse their branches"

The results are in: Obama wins.
Hooray for rhetorical change: change you can believe in as long as it's not too specific.
Yes, of course I prefer Obama over McCain by far. And yes, of course I think it's awesome (incredible, really) that we have elected our first African-American President, and I am excited about that. BUT, the corporate state remains in tact, and the brutal war machine rages on. Let's not kid ourselves, the ensuing "change" as a result of an Obama Presidency will most likely be mild. Obama is, after all, a timid reformer and a BFF of the corporations and Wall Street. My question is, now that Obama has reached celebrity status and millions of Americans have fallen madly in love with him, swooning over his flowery speeches and endless charm, are these same people who elected him President ready to stand up, take to the streets and protest any bad policy that he attempts to push across (or under) the table during his Presidency, the same way that proud Americans have done for centuries. The act of protest against those in power is an American tradition. My point is that now that the elections are over and Obama has won, it is time to put our Barack-star worship aside and hold him to his promises and push him to make even greater promises (especially since his promises weren't all that great to begin with). We need to be willing to exercise our right to voice our opinions (beyond simply voting) regardless of who is President. Can we do that? Only time will tell.

Chris Hedges has enumerated a few things about President-elect Barack Obama to help us begin our protesting:

-his vote to renew the Patriot Act
-his votes to continue to fund the Iraq War
-his backing of the FISA Reform Act
-his craven courting of the Isreali lobby
-his support of the death penalty
-his refusal to champion universal, single-payer, not-for-profit health care for all Americans
-his call to increase troop levels and expand the war in Afghanistan
-his failure to call for a reduction in the bloated and wasteful defense spending
-his lobbying for the huge taxpayer swindle known as the bailout

As Hedges says, these are things that are "repugnant to most of us on the left." Hedges goes on to say that "there will be under Obama marginal improvements for some Americans although the corporate state, as Obama knows, will remain our shadow government and the working class will continue to descend into poverty. Democratic administrations have, at least until Bill Clinton, been more receptive to social programs that provide benefits, better working conditions and higher wages. An Obama presidency, however, will make no difference to those in the Middle East...I cannot support any candidate who does not call for immediate withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan and an end to Israeli abuse of Palestinians."

One more thing: It's November 5th. It's time to go to work.

"all fallen leaves should curse their branches
for not letting them decide where they should fall
and not letting them refuse to fall at all."
-David Bazan

"open your throat and just scream"

The elections are less than a week away, so even though you may be getting sick of my posts, I feel like there is a sense of urgency about this stuff, so I just wanted to pass along a couple more things that I think are important.
First, I am sure you are aware that none of the third party/independent candidates were allowed at the Presidential debates. This is because the debate commission is a private, corporate entity headed by former heads of the Republican and Democratic National Committees, and they make it pretty much impossible for any other candidate to be included (another good reason to dismantle this corporate duopoly). Luckily there is an organization called Free and Equal Elections that has been organizing some third party debates under the premise that free and equal elections are guaranteed in the constitution (see Article I: Section 3). You can watch a debate that aired on C-SPAN a week or so ago between Constitution Party Presidential candidate, Chuck Baldwin, and independent Presidential candidate, Ralph Nader, on cspanjunkie.org.

Also, Raplh Nader's running mate, Matt Gonzalez, recently posted an article exposing many of the lies and capitulations of Obama and the Democratic Party. I don't think it's necessary to enumerate the crimes and gross errors of the Republican Party, they are all very obvious, but sometimes we need to be reminded that the Democrats are just as guilty and have committed countless atrocities of their own and that there is really no difference between the two - they are after all, as Noam Chomsky said, just two factions of the Business Party. So, what else do they have to do before they finally lose your vote? You can read the entire article here; it's pretty long (as there are many things to expose) but it's worth reading. Here are a few paragraphs from it:

"[Democrats] also like to say that voting for Nader is throwing your vote away. The Democrats often cite the 2000 election to blame Nader for Bush’s victory. But they noticeably never mention the 1992 election, when Bill Clinton won because Ross Perot 'spoiled' the race for George Bush’s father, an incumbent president. By the way, Clinton got only 43 percent of the vote in 1992 compared to 48 percent by Bush in 2000.

"And they offer no explanation for why they haven’t worked on election reform since 2000. Imagine claiming your political party lost the presidency because the 'winner' was declared even though he hadn’t won a majority of the votes cast? Then imagine doing nothing to make sure it wouldn’t happen again. Isn’t it odd that the Democrats haven’t worked on election reform in the past eight years?

"They never will change the system because the way things are now, they can be assured that they will be in office roughly half the time. They also count on people to accept their arguments that Nader and other third parties aren’t polling high enough to get your vote; that the real contest is between just two candidates.

"If all else fails, they argue that it’s the most important election of your lifetime. I’m 43 years old and I’ve heard this argument each time the presidential race has come up.

"If you accept these arguments, you are in effect rewarding the two parties for not fixing how we do elections in this country. You reward them for creating the Commission on Debates. You guarantee that things will not change. And you ensure that candidates that support single-payer health care, decent wages and pensions for workers, controls on corporations and a foreign policy based on achieving peace rather than driven by self-interest, cannot ever be heard.

"Nader wants a more humane and democratic society. He’s seen that you can’t get anything done in Washington because senators like Obama and McCain ignore what’s good for Americans in pursuit of their own interests. Sure McCain talks like a maverick and Obama talks like a revolutionary, but look closely and you will see repeated capitulations to the very entities our government needs to get away from if we are to build a more democratic society."

On election day, please vote for Decentralized Government for and by the People, and not for a continuation of Centralized Corporate Rule. Say no to the lowest common denominator. Say yes to the superlative.

...less than two weeks away...

NO to the Republicrats
No to the Demicans
YES to the People
YES to INDEPENDENT

NO to the Corporacrats
NO to Big Money
YES to the People
YES to INDEPENDENT

NO to the Kleptocrats
NO to the Fat Cats
YES to the People
YES to INDEPENDENT

NO to Big Lobby
NO to Corporate Endorsements
YES to the People
YES to INDEPENDENT

NO to Endless War
NO to "Foreign Enemies"
YES to the People
YES to INDEPENDENT

NO to Broken Economy
NO to Job Losses
YES to the People
YES to INDEPENDENT

NO to the Corporate Future
NO to the Corporate Takeover
YES to the People
YES to INDEPENDENT

PLEASE, THINK ABOUT IT.
THE CORPORATE FUTURE ABOUNDS.
BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO.
LEGIONS OF YOUNG VOTERS DO NOT HAVE TO BE DISILLUSIONED.
THERE ARE VOICES AGAINST THE POWERFULL.
SEEK OUT THE INDEPENDENTS.
LISTEN TO THEIR MESSAGES.
CHOOSE THE PEOPLE...NOT THE POWERFUL.
VOTE INDEPENDENT. PLEASE.

I realize that ANARCHY is our ultimate goal, but how else are we going to get there if we don't get these KLEPTOCRATS/BIG LOBBY SYMPATHIZERS out of power. YES to the PEOPLE. YES to INDEPENDENT. That is my plea. I make it in earnest. Please vote your conscience and not the lesser of two evils. Read the constitution; I know it will depress you, but do it. We have lost sight of our goal: Of the people, by the people, for the people - NOT of the corporations, by the Demicans, for the Republicrats. Vote for the people. Vote independent. PLEASE.

That's all for now. HAPPY HALLOWEEN. (end corporate rule, i beg of you...)

GOOD NIGHT.

"i'm the fort knox of secrets"

The Presidential elections are coming up, so I guess I better put my two cents in. I am not in any position to tell anyone how to vote, people should vote their conscience, and that’s a personal choice. Nor do I know for sure if voting really even counts for anything (remember what happened in 2000?); the jury is still out on that one. What I do know is that things are wrong and stuff is broken, and something has got to change, radically and thoroughly. We need a revamping. A complete overhaul.

It was Noam Chomsky who said, “the United States effectively has a one-party system, the business party, with two factions, Republicans and Democrats.”

I have never considered myself a member of any specific political party. And like many people (perhaps even most people), I am tired of this corporate duoply. Personally, I believe that if votes are going to be cast, they should be cast for independent candidates. Unless you whole-heartedly believe in what either the Democrats or the Republicans stand for, don’t vote for them. Why perpetuate this sick and sorry tradition of voting for the lesser of two evils? I wouldn’t be able to feel good about myself if I voted for someone who I didn’t fully believe in under the premise that, well, at least he/she is better than the alternative. Vote your conscience. Take pride in your decision. Stand up for your beliefs, and don’t back down. Don’t settle.

This country will never have a viable third party (or a second party if you consider what Chomsky said), if people don’t first begin to cast their votes for independent candidates. Consider this, if all you watch, listen to or read is mainstream news, you would most likely never know that there are actually several other candidates running for President besides just ObaMcCain. The corporations have taken over, and the Republicrats (aka Kleptocrats) are fully entrenched in the corporate army. It’s time for something different, don’t you think?

A few demands:

-Kick the crooks out of Washington.

-Reverse gangster capitalism.

-Give the people the power that the Constitution guarantees them.

-Smash the corporate duopoly.

“A vote cast for a Republican or a Democrat is a wasted vote because it ensures that nothing will change.” –Bob Barr, Libertarian Presidential Candidate

"don't sink the boat that you built to keep afloat"

I read an awesome zine recently that I highly recommend. It's called Painting Over a Dead End City #1. There is lots of great stuff in it, like thoughts on the idea about how anarchism isn't so much about overthrowing government but outgrowing it and how girls can be pirates, too. But there was one thing that stood out to me the most - something that I can really relate to. Here is a quote:

"Social anxiety and community organizing are such a clumsy mix. I want to be a good ally to so many people and organizations working for equality, but my attempts at building community sometimes seem quite ridiculous when I'm fearful of things like calling even my good friends."

I want to be a part of the brave new world, fighting for justice and building community, but I too, am thwarted by my extreme introversion. It's a contradiction to say the very least. This has become all too evident now that I have been made president of the Soil Stewards Organic Farming Club. It has been incredibly taxing for me. I do just fine when all I have to do is volunteer a few hours of my time working on the farm or setting up and taking down our table for different events, but put me in charge and in the spotlight and all of my weaknesses come shining through quite vividly. The good thing is that the Soil Stewards are mostly made up of socially awkward folks (which is part of the reason why I fit in with them so well), still I find myself exhausted at the end of the day, not physically (or even mentally, really) but emotionally. Being the guy in charge is draining, and I'm just not cut out for it. So, I have to admit that I felt encouraged when I read Nicki's zine and was reminded that I'm not the only one. Therefore, I'll keep fighting the good fight, because it's worth it. Meanwhile, you should see if you can get a copy of her zine by sending a buck or something to:
Nicki S., PO Box 1122, Spokane WA 99210

Have you heard of a band called Fleet Foxes? They have an amazing album out that is definitely worth a listen. If you like My Morning Jacket and Band of Horses, I'm sure you'll like Fleet Foxes. Look them up. Their music will move you.

Also, I've been listening to The Mountain Goats a lot lately. I don't know why. I guess it's just that time of year.

"that's not music you hear, that's the devil
that's not the sun up in the sky, it's a human heart"
--The Mountain Goats

Do you like the gray, or should I go back to the green?

"young hearts should explode from all the lies they've been told"

The Juniper: Summer 2008
Originally uploaded by juniperbug

I finished the summer supplement of The Juniper #10, just like I promised I would. It's mostly pictures - kind of like a picture diary. It just shows what I've been up to this summer. You should get yourself a copy. Just send a stamp or a nice letter or some sort of trade to me:
Dan Murphy
PO Box 3154
Moscow ID 83843
USA

Also, I am back on the air again. A new semester is in full swing, which means a new schedule of radio shows at the student radio station (KUOI 89.3 FM). My show is called The Vegetable Patch, and it airs every Tuesday morning (until the end of this semester) from 6-8:30am pacific time. You can listen online at www.kuoi.org

I gave myself a paper cut today trying to open the envelope that held the brand new issue of Zine World. Consider that a plug for one of the best zine review zines around. (Plus they said that I am friendly and unpretentious. At least somebody thinks so.)

Okay, that's all.

"if i could get anything done, maybe i'd hold still"

I read a lot, but I don't read books much. I read zines. However, recently something came over me, and I decided to read a book. And I even read it in less than a month (the last book I read took me at least a year to finish). It was pretty short though, but who's keeping track?
The book I read is called Biodiesel Power by Lyle Estill. In it, Lyle talks passionately about his experience with the biodiesel movement and community. He began as a backyard brewer and evolved into the founder of a biodiesel co-op (called Piedmont Biofuels) and a prominent voice for the biofuels industry. Certainly biofuels are not without controversy, especially these days with all of the handouts and subsidies offered by our current administration to Big Agriculture and Big Oil for their participation in biofuels (and of course the moral dilema of using farmland to grow fuel instead of food), but Lyle understands sustainability, and his passion for biodiesel is rooted in that. That's what makes his views so intriguing and relevant. I highly recommend this book and will soon be reading Lyle's other book, Small is Possible, which I'm sure will be just as good, if not better.

A quote from the final chapter:
"Biodiesel is great fun. It's empowering. Nothing feels better than tooling down the highway with the knowledge that you are free. Free of Chevron. Free of Mobil. Free of George Bush. Free of the Saudis. Free of the whole sorry lot. I realize full well that hydrogen is the place to be, but I'm stuck on vegetable oil. It's here now. It works. It's renewable. It's sustainable. It smells good. It creates jobs in the United States. And there is no war required to get it."

Bonus quote:
"I find myself unwilling to abide sheer stupidity."

Also, check out Lyle's Energy Blog.

"girls have those eyes that will cut you to ribbons sometimes"

The last list of the month. It's another small one.

The 5 DVDs at the Top of My Netflix Queue
1. Trailer Park Boys, Seasons 1 & 2 Disc 3
2. Dan in Real Life
3. Undertow
4. Noam Chomsky: Distorted Morality
5. Batman: Gotham Knight

A radio show/podcast recommendation especially for you: Destination DIY
Check it out for sure. The latest episode is about urban farming.

Fall semester has begun. Is summer really coming to an end? I guess Donald Draper was right. That's a bummer.

"how can i convince you it's me i don't like"

This week's list is a short one, but I don't want to hear any complaining or I'll take away your driving privileges.

Top Five Clubs That I Must See A Show In Before I Die (in no particular order)
-40 Watt Club in Athens, GA
-924 Gilman Street in Berkeley, CA
-ABC No Rio in New York City, NY
-Emo's in Austin, TX
-Crystal Ballroom in Portland, OR

CBGB in NYC would of course be on this list if it hadn't closed down a couple years ago. I'm sure there are lots of others that I could add, but my mind is blank right now.

"I've got one hand on the wheel
the other's out the window
with a smile on my face
my middle finger's up."
-Less Than Jake

"i'm trying to find creative ways to keep my head out of the noose"

This week's list:

Complete Albums That I Have Listened To Since Last Tuesday (8/5)
-Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - s/t
-Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
-Animal Collective - Feels
-Stephen Malkmus + The Jicks - Pig Lib
-Blonde Redhead - Fake Can Be Just As Real
-Free Kitten - Inherit
-The Sissies - Look Back and Laugh
-Rosa - I Mississippi You
-J Church - One Mississippi
-Radiohead - Hail to the Theif
-Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
-Brandtson - Send Us a Signal

"I can drink myself to sleep
and hopefully forget to breath
I hate what I've done to my life."
-J Church

"1960, I am so over you."

Didn't I say something about posting a weekly list here on this blog? I'm pretty sure I did.

Things That I Harvested From My Garden This Week (8/5 - 8/9)
-Spearmint
-Mache (aka corn salad or lamb's lettuce)
-Onion
-Rosemary
-Lettuce
-Carrots
-Arugula (aka Rocket)
-Summer Savory
-Lemon Balm
-Korean Mint

Does urban/suburban farming interest you? Even if it doesn't, you should still check out this video. It's all about growing your own food, which is possible even if you live in an urban setting (and even if you are a renter). I like the guy's opinions about cohabiting with the insects and seed-saving. Something else you should check out is a documentary called The End of Suburbia. Perhaps you can find it at your local library or video store.

Also, a post on livejournal brought to my attention a little website called Zine Classifieds. I haven't posted anything on it yet, but it may be of interest to you.

"I know people say life goes on, and it does. But no one tells you that's not a good thing." -Betty Draper on Mad Men

"i wanna be jackie onassis. i wanna wear a pair of dark sunglasses."

People were posting these lists on facebook, and so I figured I had to do one, too. Sorry, I couldn't help myself. But then it gave me this idea: since I like making lists and today is the first day of a new month, I am going to post a new list on here for each week of this month. They won't all be so long (in fact, they will be considerably shorter), and they will all have different themes. Just something to waste your time with, because that's all the internet seems to be for these days anyway.

101 Things You Probably Could Have Guessed About Me

1. I like to make lists.
2. I am fascinated by bugs.
3. I have been doing zines for eleven years and have made more than 50 of them.
4. I very rarely get bored.
5. I wish that I could be a nomad, but I’m not cut out for it.
6. I don’t like to drive.
7. I’ve been playing guitar for more than 13 years and I still suck.
8. I’ve been skateboarding for almost 13 years and I still suck.
9. I have several dozen pen pals (I don’t really want to take the time to figure out the exact number).
10. I’m a vegetarian…except when I eat the fish that I catch myself.
11. I like to keep secrets.
12. I like wearing glasses. I prefer them to contacts.
13. On that note…I’m attracted to girls who wear glasses.
14. I probably don’t trust you.
15. I was in a punk band back in the day. I will be in a punk band again someday.
16. My career goal is to be a rooftop gardener.
17. I am a fierce independent and a defiant individualist.
18. I think that celebrity crushes are lame, but I still have a few.
19. I probably don’t believe you.
20. I am rarely lonely alone.
21. I am not in love.
22. I am obsessed with the numbers seven and eleven.
23. I am rarely without a pen and paper in my pocket, and when I am, I feel unprepared.
24. I taught myself how to screenprint.
25. I wish that I could hibernate in the winter.
26. I have a mumbling problem and my voice is too quite.
27. I could probably sing better if my voice were louder.
28. I don’t like lima beans.
29. My brothers are my best friends.
30. I used to hate Idaho; now I think it’s an okay place (but Rigby can still burn in hell).
31. My favorite kind of music is punk rock, and my favorite band is Sonic Youth.
32. I have a goal to ride my bike across an entire state…I’d prefer it to be one of the larger states so that I don’t look like a total wimp (even though I am).
33. I have often thought that marriage is weird…but at least it means fewer taxes.
34. I refuse to have a pet (dog, cat, whatever) until I know for sure that I can give it the time that it requires and deserves.
35. I had three dogs when I was a kid, and they all had to be given away for various reasons.
36. I named my first dog, Buck, after the dog in the book, The Call of the Wild.
37. I am addicted to sugar.
38. I once went a whole year without drinking any soda, and then when I drank it again it made me sick.
39. I wish that I could remember what it feels like to have a lasting crush on someone.
40. I love being a bachelor.
41. For a long time, I was intimidated by comic books; now, I can’t get enough of them.
42. My new favorite comic book hero is the Blue Beetle.
43. I am not a group conversationalist.
44. I feel the most alive when I am either on my bike or my skateboard.
45. It takes me forever to write papers for school because I agonize so much about word placement and sentence structure. It is taking me forever to write this list for that same reason.
46. I became obsessed with baseball on my ninth birthday.
47. I used to shoplift incessantly, and sometimes I wish that I still did.
48. My brothers and friends got caught shoplifting, but I didn’t.
49. I like to stay up late and wake up early…sleep is for wimps.
50. I wish that humans didn’t have to sleep.
51. I think that I would make a pretty good spy.
52. I am trying to make my first batch of compost. It’s going pretty well.
53. My mom thinks that I’d be happier if I were married. (See number 40.)
54. I hate spitting, but for some reason, I spit a lot when I am riding my bike.
55. Commas, are an, over-used, punctuation.
56. I have probably judged you unfairly.
57. I enjoy washing dishes.
58. I love cooking, but I don’t like cooking for other people.
59. I consider myself a luddite, but in many ways I am also technophile.
60. When I lived at home with my family, I spent a large amount of my time alone in my room even when everyone else was busy doing things together (and by “doing things together” I mean watching TV).
61. I am the king of awkwardness.
62. I am very self-aware.
63. My favorite kinds of movies are indie dramas and comedies
64. I rarely read fiction, but I would like to start writing fiction again someday.
65. I am working on a concept album (but I say that mostly to make myself sound cool).
66. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.
67. I find little things funny that most other people don’t, so when I am laughing at something, it’s difficult to explain why.
68. I am much more eloquent in my head than I am in conversation.
69. I am much more eloquent on paper but still not as eloquent as I am in my head.
70. I started writing my memoirs, but gave up.
71. I want to hitchhike someday.
72. I can tell you which copy machine in town makes the best copies.
73. I wish that I wasn’t so selfish.
74. I know that I said I like making lists, but I am getting tired of making this one.
75. I used to pretend to like things just so that people would like me.
76. I still think a lot about the girl that I had a crush on in junior high.
77. I love watching/listening to/reading the news.
78. I consider myself a closet socialist…decentralized socialism, that is.
79. I don’t own a pair of jeans because I don’t like wearing them.
80. I rarely wear shorts and I rarely go sockless (which apparently makes my brother uncomfortable).
81. I only like swimming occasionally and not for very long.
82. I almost drowned in a river when I was a little kid. My dad and grandpa saved my life. I think that’s why I hate being under water.
83. My favorite book when I was a kid was, My Side of the Mountain, and so I tried to find reasons to run away and live by myself in the woods.
84. I’m terrible at giving compliments.
85. I’m not as good a listener as some people think I am, but I’m working on it.
86. I used to think that I’d be dead at thirty; now, I’m sure that I will live into my nineties.
87. I love simplicity and minimalism.
88. I am torn between wanting to live in a big city and wanting to live in a small town.
89. There is music in my head constantly.
90. I wanted to major in communications but I was too scared/intimidated, so I chose horticulture.
91. I often feel cosmically misplaced, like I was meant for another time and place but was accidentally put in this time and place (unfortunately).
92. I’m very keen on expanding my vocabulary.
93. You make me nervous.
94. I think that confidence is a very attractive trait.
95. I have two bum knees.
96. I wish that I lived by the ocean.
97. One of the best things about living with my parents was that I could play my guitar as loud as I wanted to and no one cared.
98. I think that Northern California should be its own state.
99. I hate commercials and I hate how they are usually louder than the TV programs.
100. I want to be in a New York City noise band.
101. I’m over it.

"burn out switch is hit...instant meltdown...freak fry the ghost town"

Punkman Comic
Originally uploaded by juniperbug

I have awesome friends who do awesome things:

My friend, Maaike, here in Moscow (Idaho) just put out a full color comic called Punkman. It's a fictional story with a conscience, and the main character is based on me. (I should say loosely, but I would also like to believe that I really am as cool as Punkman [even though I know I'm not]...so, I'm torn.) You can order a copy for yourself from either me (Dan M., Po Box 3154, Moscow ID 83843 USA) or Maaike D. (PO Box 8891, Moscow ID 83843 USA). The cost is two dollars or equal trade.

Another friend, Chelsea, in Portland OR just informed me that she recently started a blog called, Flavor Vegan, on which she is sharing her vast knowledge about cooking vegan food. And trust me, her knowledge really is vast. She develops her own recipes and cooks like a pro. Her blog includes tips, recipes, etc. and is definitely worth checking out.

As a side note:
The new Free Kitten album, Inherit, is incredibly awesome and totally worth the eleven year wait. Listen to it soon, please. Your mind will be blown.

"Yeah, I'll always be your friend...
at least just till the end."
-thurston moore ("Fri/end")

"with every broken heart, we should become more adventurous"

Today is the fourth of July. The only thing that really means to me is that summer break is half over. School will be starting up again in about a month and half. Make the most of it, eh?

I finished reading another travel zine. It also happened to be about a trip to Europe. (I'm noticing a theme here.) Sarah Contrary went on a three month bike tour or Europe, alone. She wrote about it in Glossolalia #8. I bought this zine almost two years ago at Reading Frenzy in Portland, Oregon. It has taken me this long to finally read it. I have read past issues of Glossolalia, and they were great. This issue was no exception.

A coupla qoutes:
"[In France,] people always asked me if I was anything but American. They asked me if I was Italian or Spanish or British or even German. I don't know if they really thought that or if maybe it is just such a horrific insult to mistake someone for an American that no one will ever venture to ask unless you offer. When I said I was American, I always made sure to look sheepish. As long as I made it clear that I was enormously embarrassed by my country of origin, no one ever gave me a hard time, but every person I talked to for more than five minutes wanted to know why we drive such big cars."

"Sometimes it's hard to realize that no matter how hard you push yourself, there are some things you'll never be."

-You should read an issue of Glossolalia. It will inspire you to want to go on a bicycle trip. I get more excited about the idea with each issue that I read. GO BY BIKE!
-I also want to be in a New York City noise band. I even have a band name picked out and everything.
-Note to self: you are the king of awkwardness.
-This internet stuff is weird. Seriously.

"You say I choose sadness,
that it never once has chosen me,
maybe you're right."
-rilo kiley