Saturday, August 29, 2015

Aitkin Age column: Opportunity to save lives

Here is my third column for the Aitkin Independent Age:


I've attended the Aitkin County Fair almost every year as long as I can remember.

First we would walk through the 4H and industrial buildings, get food, look at animals, then, finally, ride the rides. When I was a child, the buildings held little interest, except for saying hi to my grandfather, Dean Sanford, at the Minnesota Deer Hunters' Association booth. Now I’m older I find more than the rides and animals interesting but the industrial buildings are still where I’d spend the least time, preferentially. But that’s where I spent the most time this year, because for the first time, I volunteered at a booth.
Read the rest here.

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Year One

A year ago today, I posted the first chapter of a large undertaking, my elegant gothic lolita style Batman fancomic, Batman: Decadence.

I had hoped to have the latest chapter ready for today, but professional work, a trip to Texas for my brother's wedding, and health issues made that not happen. But here something neat: my sister Anna carved the Decadence version of the bat symbol out of wood.


I have learned a lot from this project already. Nothing improves one's drawing like drawing as much as one possibly can till one thinks one can draw no more and then drawing some more. Pacing, flow, writing, and finding the right balance of American and Japanese comics style are all ongoing challenges. I truly hope to have the next installment ready by the 25th of next month!

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Zelda Medallions Quilt II


I made a second Legend of Zelda Medallions quilt, like this one, but with a green background and queen-sized, as a wedding present for my brother and now sister-in-law. This one also has no silk, which is an improvement both in ease of sewing and machine-washability.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Second professional writing

It's been a while since this went up; but I've been awfully busy. Went to Texas for a week for my brother's wedding, at which I was the photographer. And that, a real wedding, has to do, by contrast, with the subject of my second column for the Aitkin Independent Age:


It may be bold of me to write this column, as it is only my second and what I am going to say runs counter to the attitudes of many, including my fellow columnist Pam King, whose words you may have read last week. It may get me labeled a homophobe who cannot possibly be motivated by anything but pure hate. The fact that, as mentioned in my introductory column, I am proudly Texan may also get my argument rejected without consideration.

There are even newspapers which have announced that since the Supreme Court ruling, they will publish no columns nor letters opposing or criticizing same-sex marriage, since it’s now the law of the land. I wonder if they will be consistent and disallow opinions not in line with any current law, silencing argument for any change or new legislation.

I trust the impartiality of the Age enough to know I wouldn’t get fired for this, but I would at some places. Anyway, I am not now going to say anything about the right or wrong of same-sex sexual relationships. I am simply going to say something that should be obvious but seems to be overlooked: it is not the same thing as marriage.
Read the whole thing here.