I'm not sure if anyone noticed, but I didn't put out a spring issue of The Juniper this year. I've just had too much other stuff going on, and since I'll be moving across the country part way through the summer, I decided it would be best to put off doing another issue of The Juniper until this fall.
In the meantime though, I would like to make a zine recommendation:
Coco Negro from Sacramento, CA makes an awesome zine called Carrots & Condoms. It's a very well-written zine with some great illustrations accompanying the writing. She has two issues out. The first issue deals with the dichotomy of life in the city versus life in the country (something I can really relate with). It also tells of Coco's adventures working on a homestead, learning about permaculture and finding community (both urban and rural).
The second issue is much more personal and introspective. It's a much more melancholy read because it deals with her sister's mental illness and growing up with an abusive father. Coco's words are honest and brave and warrant great admiration.
Here's an excerpt from Carrots & Condoms #2:
"What do most people consider 'normal'? I looked at my surroundings. I saw the blinking lights of traffic signals, the cars zooming by, the manic expressions of infuriated drivers, the brisk hurried pace of pedestrians determinedly avoiding each others' gazes. Oh yeah, I thought, This is what is considered normal. Smartly dressed people, smartly ignoring the homeless hanging around the park. Fast food and fast lives. Going to work and going to the store and going home. A few nights a week at the bar or some other preferred peer-approved social gathering space. Therapy sessions. Church. The most that anyone that is seeking an alternative really does is dress differently and buy different things. Everything is superficial, ugly, and unimportant, and yet that was all anyone seemed to care about. The world itself is fundamentally depressed."
You can purchase Carrots and Condoms from Coco for $2 an issue or trade:
Coco Negro
PO Box 163327
Sacramento CA 95816
I promise to try my best to have a new issue of The Juniper out sometime this fall. I will be at a new address, which I will be posting here as soon as I know it, so keep an eye out for that. And have an awesome summer. Summer of Slow, part two!
Friday, June 19, 2009
Monday, June 08, 2009
"we can suture the future shut like a cut"
"...we can replicate structures which replicate us." -Milemarker
Just a couple of things:
The new Sonic Youth album is coming out tomorrow. It's called The Eternal, and it features new band member Mark Ibold (former Pavement bassist). They are no longer on a major label; the new album is coming out on Matador Records, the home of Pavement, Mogwai, Yo La Tengo and lots of other awesome bands.
I probably didn't tell you this yet, but there is a new issue of Elephant Mess out. Issue #23. The fiction issue. Due to my recent bout of optimism and positivity, I didn't really have anything to write about. In the words of Al Burian, "I stopped liking the stuff I made. It seemed pointlessly negative. I didn't like the life I was documenting. My productivity ground to a halt. ... Even the bleakest art should be somehow life-affirming, otherwise, why bother?" I'd been meaning to do a fiction issue for a while now, so I decided that now is as good a time as any. I wrote a couple of very short stories using characters that I had developed more than a decade ago and I put together the May issue of Elephant Mess. Now, what am I supposed to do about the future? I guess we'll have to wait and see. Either way, if you're interested in reading some very poorly written fiction, send a stamp or something to:
Dan Murphy
PO Box 3154
Moscow ID 83843
Just a couple of things:
The new Sonic Youth album is coming out tomorrow. It's called The Eternal, and it features new band member Mark Ibold (former Pavement bassist). They are no longer on a major label; the new album is coming out on Matador Records, the home of Pavement, Mogwai, Yo La Tengo and lots of other awesome bands.
I probably didn't tell you this yet, but there is a new issue of Elephant Mess out. Issue #23. The fiction issue. Due to my recent bout of optimism and positivity, I didn't really have anything to write about. In the words of Al Burian, "I stopped liking the stuff I made. It seemed pointlessly negative. I didn't like the life I was documenting. My productivity ground to a halt. ... Even the bleakest art should be somehow life-affirming, otherwise, why bother?" I'd been meaning to do a fiction issue for a while now, so I decided that now is as good a time as any. I wrote a couple of very short stories using characters that I had developed more than a decade ago and I put together the May issue of Elephant Mess. Now, what am I supposed to do about the future? I guess we'll have to wait and see. Either way, if you're interested in reading some very poorly written fiction, send a stamp or something to:
Dan Murphy
PO Box 3154
Moscow ID 83843
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
"i totaled another amp, i'm calling in sick"
The release of Sonic Youth's new album is only two weeks away. That's cause for another great Sonic Youth moment from the past:
Did you ever see the music video for Sonic Youth's "Bull in the Heather?" It featured Kathleen Hanna of the legendary riot grrrl band, Bikini Kill. She was the dancer. They didn't give her any direction as to what she was supposed to do, so she just danced around like a maniac all over the set (dance party, bedroom style). She kissed Kim on the cheek, dirty danced with Lee, mocked Steve's drumming and wrestled with Thurston (she even gave him a bloody lip according to the video commentary). Best of all, they paid her enough money to make rent that month. However, she probably would have done it for free, because like she said, "No one's too cool for Sonic Youth."
"smashed up against a car at 3 a.m.
kids dressed up for basketball beat me in my head
there's bum trash in the hall and my place is ripped
i totaled another amp, i'm calling in sick
it's an anthem in a vaccum in a hyperstation
daydreaming days in a daydream nation"
- Thurston Moore
Did you ever see the music video for Sonic Youth's "Bull in the Heather?" It featured Kathleen Hanna of the legendary riot grrrl band, Bikini Kill. She was the dancer. They didn't give her any direction as to what she was supposed to do, so she just danced around like a maniac all over the set (dance party, bedroom style). She kissed Kim on the cheek, dirty danced with Lee, mocked Steve's drumming and wrestled with Thurston (she even gave him a bloody lip according to the video commentary). Best of all, they paid her enough money to make rent that month. However, she probably would have done it for free, because like she said, "No one's too cool for Sonic Youth."
"smashed up against a car at 3 a.m.
kids dressed up for basketball beat me in my head
there's bum trash in the hall and my place is ripped
i totaled another amp, i'm calling in sick
it's an anthem in a vaccum in a hyperstation
daydreaming days in a daydream nation"
- Thurston Moore
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
"punk rock died when the first kid said, punk's not dead"
The new Sonic Youth album, The Eternal, comes out in only three weeks. In anticpition of that event, I will be randomly posting awesome Sonic Youth moments from the past.
Today's moment is when Sonic Youth were featured in an episode of The Simpsons. The year was 1995. It was the 7th season of The Simpsons, and the episode was called, "Homerpalooza." Homer was part of the freak show in the touring music festival, Hullabalooza. The festival included Cypress Hill, Smashing Pumpkins, Peter Frampton, and Sonic Youth. Unfortunately, Sonic Youth didn't get as much exposure as the other artists, but there was a scene where they got caught stealing watermelon from Peter Frampton's cooler. Later, Kim Gordon delivered this awesome line, "Hullabalooza isn't about freaks. It's about music and advertising and youth-oriented product positioning."
Sonic Youth also covered The Simpsons theme song which played during the end credits. It was awesome.
Bonus quote from the same episode:
"I finally tapped into that spirit of self-destruction that makes rock and roll the king of music."
-Homer Simpson
Today's moment is when Sonic Youth were featured in an episode of The Simpsons. The year was 1995. It was the 7th season of The Simpsons, and the episode was called, "Homerpalooza." Homer was part of the freak show in the touring music festival, Hullabalooza. The festival included Cypress Hill, Smashing Pumpkins, Peter Frampton, and Sonic Youth. Unfortunately, Sonic Youth didn't get as much exposure as the other artists, but there was a scene where they got caught stealing watermelon from Peter Frampton's cooler. Later, Kim Gordon delivered this awesome line, "Hullabalooza isn't about freaks. It's about music and advertising and youth-oriented product positioning."
Sonic Youth also covered The Simpsons theme song which played during the end credits. It was awesome.
Bonus quote from the same episode:
"I finally tapped into that spirit of self-destruction that makes rock and roll the king of music."
-Homer Simpson
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
"punk rock dream in a dimebag world"
There are a few exciting things coming up, just so you know.
-May 16th - I graduate from college with a B.S. in Horticulture
-June 9th - Sonic Youth comes out with their new album, The Eternal
-June 23rd - Dinosaur Jr. comes out with their new album, Farm
-July 23rd - I get to see Sonic Youth live in Boise, Idaho
-Shortly after that - I move to Edwardsville, Illinois to go to graduate school
Certainly there are other exciting things happening along the way, but those are the things that stick out the most right now.
Summer 2009 is fast approaching. I'm pretty sure it's gonna rule.
" I don't want a girlfriend who doesn't listen to the Ramones
I don't want a girlfriend who doesn't go to punk rock shows."
-The Invalids
-May 16th - I graduate from college with a B.S. in Horticulture
-June 9th - Sonic Youth comes out with their new album, The Eternal
-June 23rd - Dinosaur Jr. comes out with their new album, Farm
-July 23rd - I get to see Sonic Youth live in Boise, Idaho
-Shortly after that - I move to Edwardsville, Illinois to go to graduate school
Certainly there are other exciting things happening along the way, but those are the things that stick out the most right now.
Summer 2009 is fast approaching. I'm pretty sure it's gonna rule.
" I don't want a girlfriend who doesn't listen to the Ramones
I don't want a girlfriend who doesn't go to punk rock shows."
-The Invalids
Thursday, April 09, 2009
"give me back my childhood, but let me keep my beard"
In light of recent lack of posting, I decided that I would offer some sort of update. And since I like making lists, here is a list of all the seeds that I have sown in the past couple of days:
-New Zealand Spinach
-Chervil
-Sedums (Rock Garden Blend)
-Bee Balm (Panorama Mix)
-Genovese Basil
-Epazote
-Mad-Dog Skullcap
-Baikal Skullcap
-Gourmet Lettuce Mix
-Mesclun Spicy Mix
-Rue
-Marjoram
-Lavender
-Lovage
-Micro-Tom Tomatoes
-Green Ice Lettuce
I won't have a garden of my own this year, but I can't not grow stuff.
-New Zealand Spinach
-Chervil
-Sedums (Rock Garden Blend)
-Bee Balm (Panorama Mix)
-Genovese Basil
-Epazote
-Mad-Dog Skullcap
-Baikal Skullcap
-Gourmet Lettuce Mix
-Mesclun Spicy Mix
-Rue
-Marjoram
-Lavender
-Lovage
-Micro-Tom Tomatoes
-Green Ice Lettuce
I won't have a garden of my own this year, but I can't not grow stuff.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
"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
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
Monday, January 19, 2009
"how can we be the best, yet be failing all the time?
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
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
Sunday, January 11, 2009
"please don't scratch me out"
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.
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.
Friday, December 26, 2008
"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 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.
Friday, November 28, 2008
"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.
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.
Monday, November 17, 2008
"you can't trust a heart that was cold from the start"
"...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
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
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
"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
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
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
"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.
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.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
...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.
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.
Friday, October 17, 2008
"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
Thursday, October 09, 2008
"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?
"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?
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
"young hearts should explode from all the lies they've been told"
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.
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.
Friday, September 12, 2008
"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.
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.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
"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.
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.
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