The PZS Reading

I went to the PZS reading at The Waypost this last Thursday. It was a good time. I was really impressed by the readers involved. 

Readers included:

A.M. O'Malley

Martha Grover

Jonathon Hill

Aron Steinke

Marco (Didn't get his last name)
and Christina "Blue" Crow


I am always impressed with how many amazing creative people there are in this town. Portland is amazing on so many levels. I drew the readers while they were reading. I didn't get to draw Marco. I was busy getting another drink. But I loved his lil nipple Satan comic. 8)

Stumptown Underground's 22nd Release Party

Stumptown Underground is putting the final touches on our latest issue, #22, Science: Fact & Fiction. The release party is Saturday, July 28th, from 6 to 8pm at Floating World Comics, 400 NW Couch St. The poster is done by the impeccable Everett Patterson. I'm pretty stoked for this one. Submissions = Plenty. Level of Awesomeness = High!! We really got some good ones in for this one. People seem to love science. I, myself am a pretty big fan. Maybe in my top 5 list of favorite things. Ever! Come check out the latest issue and meet the contributors and editors. If you are a creative type that hasn't gotten to see an issue yet come by and see what it's all about. Hopefully it will encourage you to submit something in... The Future!!

24 Hour Zine Challenge!!

Just a reminder that the 24 Hour Zine Challenge is coming up this weekend!!  It's a pretty amazing experience, working for 24 hours straight, trying to hit the deadline. It's a lot of work, but you learn so much about yourself and what you are capable of. If you feel up to the challenge contact us at pdxzines@gmail.com. Or if you don't think it is for you, but you would still like to help support Portland Zine Symposium check out our list of challengers and pick one to sponsor. You don't have to make your donation unless your challenger completes the zine within 24 hours. It's fun and helps support a good cause. 8)

Bookstores for Zines

I'm making a list of local Portland bookstores that carry zines. Any help would be much appreciated. This is what I have so far.

Portland Button Works
Reading Frenzy
Powell's
Powell's on Hawthorne
Floating World Comics
Cosmic Monkey Comics
Bridge City Comics
Herbivore (vegan)
Laughing Horse (political)
In Other Words (feminist)
Bitch Media (feminist)
maybe Microcosm though I know people that have had problems with them

and a few libraries that carry zines
IPRC
PNCA

If you know of any more let me know. I will add them to the list.
Thanks!!
~hop

PZS 24 Hour Zine Challenge

This July 21st we are going to get a bunch of people together to make a 24 page zine or comic in 24 hours. I took on this challenge myself a few years ago. It is an incredible experience. I kept working the entire time. No naps. No sleeping. You get a lil loopy after hours and hours of working. But I accomplished the task and came out with a lil surprising gem of a comic. I also learned just how much work you can get done if you focus. I suggest going for it and seeing what you come out with. Push yourself. Challenge yourself. And help support PZS and the IPRC in the meantime!!

Working, Working and Puppies

I'm working on the second batch of 10 pages for my upcoming webcomic with Jon Hallman based on our exploits moving into this new house. Going to set up the site once I am done with this set of pages.  Looking forward to figuring out how to run and market a webcomic. An adventure unto itself!!

I'm also debating whether I should send more pages into Marvel. I have realized that I have been dividing my time up between projects and in the year since I have quit working for Creator's Edge Press I haven't finished writing my own comic, the comic I started before college. It was actually what inspired me to go back to college and get degrees in Art and Philosophy to begin with. 

So, do I focus on writing this comic and getting it out of my brain and into the world or do I send more pages into Marvel?? Erg. At least working for Marvel would A) Be freakin' AWESOME!! but also B) be a much better day job than a pizza place. And I can still work on writing my comic in the meantime.  And hone my skills. I like to think I am constantly, through all my various projects, honing my skills. They are just scattered.

I also want to write a ton of lil zines, do some paintings for an art show, make prints of paintings to sell on Etsy, send off tons of lil zines and drawings to my contact list, write about 10 different books, read an ever growing list of books, and more, more, more.

I am also still helping out with Stumptown Underground and the Portland Zine Symposium. Both of which are great groups of people and definitely things I can stand behind. I love getting to know the creative community here in Portland. Check out SU's next theme and PZS's upcoming events. Good times!!

I am also drawing puppies.

My Thoughts on the Obamacare Supreme Court Ruling

This was taken from a post I made on Facebook.

I AM down with socialized health care. Not being able to afford to go to the doctor is one of the things that has always kept me from going. Having to weigh the options of spending way more money than I can afford for something that could be nothing but stress is only more stressful. Who wants MORE stress?!?

I’m not entirely sure how other countries handle socialized healthcare, but I always thought it was worked into the tax system and was one of those invisible things you pay for like firefighters or the police or primary education. Now we have to go through an insurance company, a third party that is concerned with profit.

Honestly, I hate the idea of insurance companies. I have never had health insurance. I go for years at a time never going to a doctor. Why would I pay hundreds of dollars a month for nothing and then not get any of it back? I've always felt insurance companies were a scam. And I still do.

Insurance companies are concerned with profit. That’s one of the reasons they don’t like pre-existing conditions. They are banking on the chance that nothing will be wrong with you and they can just run with your money. This is also why they exclude so many different forms of diseases and other maladies from their coverage. Insurance companies are probably loving the fact that everyone now has to have insurance. Bank!!

I feel very lucky to not have to ever go to the doctor. There are many examples like my friend, Daisy’s MS and my brother-in-law that has Leukemia and their outrageous bills that do show that insurance companies can work and really help a person out. I am willing to make a sacrifice to help benefit other people. Not being willing to make a sacrifice for the whole IS selfish. And you never know. I may need some major healthcare someday in the future. I’m only getting older. And weaker. And more fragile... And more awesome!!

And this talk of “forcing” one to buy insurance, of taking away “freedom,” of it being “un-American” is just ridiculous. You aren’t forced to buy insurance. You can pay the tax. You are given a choice which you are free to make on your own. There really is no such thing as “free.” What would complete freedom truly consist of? It can’t happen. And as far as “un-American?” When I think of what is right or wrong I don’t compare it to the country I live in. These concepts exist outside of the place I just happened to be born into.

But this decision was completely in line with “America.” I don’t know which America you live in, but I thought this was a democracy. Didn’t this just pass the Supreme Court? Isn’t that a major part of being “American?” Having issues voted on. It was voted on. It isn’t tyrannical. It isn’t extortion. It is within the law. That was the entire point of the Supreme Court’s decision. The fact that it was within the law.

What of those people that want to be free to murder? or rape? or molest children? These are obvious “freedoms” that are thankfully taken away. They may be extreme examples, but they are used here to show that we all draw a line somewhere as far as "freedom" is concerned. Speed limits, seat belt laws, helmet laws. There are many laws that take away your “freedom.” We don’t live in an anarchy. We have laws. Some, you may not agree with and every other person in this society is going to have a different list of ones THEY don’t agree with.

I may not like insurance companies, but I am hoping with the addition of allowing pre-existing conditions this is a step in the right direction. One day I hope we will be able to forego insurance altogether and have a more socialized healthcare. I don’t understand why it is so hard to get people to actually want to help everyone in the society. Let’s all work together and help the whole!!! All, meaning ALL humans on this planet. 

Someday.