You call this clean?!?

7 PM on a Sunday night. The house is silent: Wife and son are off with the in-laws, maid is off with maidly friends. Just the dog and I, and he'd rather be out exploring the neighborhood.

Just to update everyone, I've been working and commuting and doing family-type things like family photos and such; I've also been studying for my automobile and motorcycle license-type stuff. And I've been getting the paperwork sorted out for my external degree course at the University of London. It seems I'm going to have to take a A-Level exam. At 35, I've got to sit for an A-Level, as U of L does not recognize the American CLEP test. So I've been sorting that out. Fun fun fun.

I've also been trying to sort out my head and my heart.

It's not a midlife crisis, but I am sort of questioning what the hell I'm doing with my life. What I *want* to do with my life. What's important. Drawing cartoons, however amusing, can't be it. Teaching kids how to read, while fulfilling, is not my life's calling or ambition. Writing… well, writing is always there, in the back of my mind, but to be honest I haven't got the interest at the moment to finish anything I've already started, and I haven't got the time, energy or inspiration to start anything new. Bu the itch is still there; it's always there. It never goes away. There is a constant, droning voice inside my head that mutters 'you should be writing, you should be writing, you should be writing…'

Maybe I should be. Just finished Atwood's 'Surfacing' (it'll be on my A-level, doncha know) and the small, egomaniacal voice inside me muttered in disgust 'Christ, I could do better than that'. To which the less-small, sardonic voice inside me replied 'Okay. When are you gonna?'

Silence.

Whole lotta questions, whole lotta forward motion getting built up; in four years I'll finally, actually have a degree. Then what?

I'm too old to save the world. To be honest, right now all I want do is tour the world or buy one small, beautiful corner of it and dig my burrow.

Indefinite Hiatus

MercerMachine
Originally uploaded by MercerMachine.

So I got some stuff to take care of. Don't worry, I'm fine. Could be a while before I post again, though.

When I get back, I want this room cleaned up!

Sticky Issues: (Un)Common Sense Award

Sticky Issues: (Un)Common Sense Award
Originally uploaded by MercerMachine.

Too small? Can't see? Click on pic, then click on 'all sizes'. If you must.

Still scooping the poop... or, I TOLD YA SO.

Just saw this on Crooks and Liars:

"One of the most under-discussed and under-appreciated political facts is the depth and intensity of George Bush's unpopularity in this country. It isn't just that his approval ratings have fallen into the 30's again, although that is significant. More significant still is the fact that Americans disapprove of his performance in every region in the country, and in almost every state." --Glenn Greenwald

Which reminded me when I said this 226 days ago:

In other news, dubya seems to be having a hard time of it back in the US (cue false sympathy). According to Yahoo news, his approval rating has been below 50% for weeks. Gee, some buyer's remorse going on? Too late now, Red States. You rode the elephant, now you get to scoop the poop.

As the war in Iraq drags on and American soldiers continue to get killed for a cause that was controversial from day one, I guarantee his approval rating will continue to slide. The problem is, he doesn't care. He doesn't have any more elections to win, now does he?

The best that can happen is that any proposal he tries to push through gets stalled in Congress. It's about damage control, now. Bush doesn't have to worry about re-election, but thankfully the house and senate do. And since only 15% of Americans believe that Congress is doing anything that directly benefits the American people, maybe it's finally time for American government to start shaking off the bush 'compassionate conservatism' pall.

Oh, and where the hell is Osama? -Me, June 26th, 2005

Sigh...

Wheee! Redux

So it's 6:50 AM, on a Sunday morning. I am awake, and have been for, oh, about two hours. There's a reason my son has a shirt that says 'I don't sleep, NOBODY sleeps'.

I'm running into difficulties lately in writing. Part of it is to do with the fact that my free time is limited--basically an hour and a half on the bus to work, and the same back. I can do little sketches on the bus, but for some reason I just can't write. Maybe it's the inevitable old man hacking his germs on the back of my neck, but my concentration is just barely enough for cartooning. Stringing several coherent sentences together seems to be beyond me. And with a six day workweek, that doesn't leave much time. What time there is I have to split between wife, child, errands, and things like what I'm doing now.

Which is why I'm taking motorcycle lessons.

When I take public transport, I'm spending three hours a day, six days a week cheek-to-jowl with dozens of hacking, sneezing, smelly strangers. If I take a taxi, the time is cut by two-thirds: but the cost QUINTUPLES. I end up working for the taxi company.

Ergo, I need my own transport, one that's cheap. It's not a midlife crisis or a death wish. It's an economic and mental health necessity.

Plus, all my life I have been 'forbidden' to ride a motorcycle. Dire threats have been vocalized should I ever consider it. The main threatener being my mom. Well, Mom's on the other side ofthe world now, and I AM 35. If I wanna ride a motorcycle, great jumping Jehosephat, I'll do
just that.

Wheeee!

Brief bulletin, more later

I've started taking motorcycle lessons! M-O-T-O-R-C-Y-C-L-E! Lessons!

How much do I rock?

Now if only on my next lesson I can reliably find neutral gear.

Sticky Issues: The Guest-Host Interviews Episode 1

Sticky Issues: The Guest-Host Interviews Episode 1
Originally uploaded by MercerMachine.

Too small? Can't see? Click on pic, then click on 'all sizes'. That should create world peace.

Dear American Press: Boo F*&%$ing Hoo

Dear White House Press Corps and every other news agency who's been whining that Darth Cheney didn't tell you himself that he shot a guy in the face and heart-

You lazy-ass slacker losers get no sympathy from me. We got papparazzi that are able to update us when Sharon Stone gets a new frigging wrinkle on her face; you can't manage to know about the VICE PRESIDENT SHOOTING A GUY'S FACE OFF. Do your f*&%ing jobs!!!! Where were you, sitting in the White House Press Cave enjoying the free fingerfood and coffee when Cheney took off for his lawyer hunt?

The guy's been implicated in outing a CIA undercover operative and may well face an indictment: Why aren't you bird-dogging his fat ass like he owed you fifty grand and suddenly bought a one-way ticket to Tahiti?

I'll tell you why. Because you're lazy sacks of s&!t who expect to be spoonfed every drip and drab of information, which is why you guys are so frigging imbalanced and clueless when it comes to reporting the news. It's just easier to print what the White House gives out, than to actually do some JOURNALISM, isn't it?

F*&K YOU, you whining crybabies.

Cheney

For the Screwy Skeptic

minority
Originally uploaded by MercerMachine.

Everyone with a certain level of intelligence feels like an outsider- it has nothing to do with race.

Everyone who is an outsider is always missing home, because it is an ideal that should exist, but doesn't.

So take solace in the company of familiar strangers, and carry your home with you, a pastiche of all the wonderful bits and pieces you've experienced in your life.

Sticky Issues: "We Don't Torture"

Sticky Issues: "We Don't Torture"
Originally uploaded by MercerMachine.

Too small? Can't see? Click on pic, then click on 'all sizes'. That should clear up the rash.

An unsuccessful experiment

So I tried cutting back on my Prozac dosage for various reasons, like expense, because I felt ready, because I am a moron, etc. Went from 40mg to 20mg a day. At first things were fine. Then they weren't.

My extreme irritability crept back in, and then my weird anxiety/avoidance thing, and then the touch of paranoia. So I'm back on the full dose.

Sigh.

Looks like I should invest in Lilly stock.

The Adventures of Ninja Joe! poster

The Adventures of Ninja Joe! poster
Originally uploaded by MercerMachine.

Feel free to print this out and apply it to your cubicle wall/prison cell/padded room.

Sticky Issues: Sick leave

Sticky Issues: Sick leave
Originally uploaded by MercerMachine.

Too small? Can't see? Click on pic, then click on 'all sizes'. That should do ya.

The IDA is watching me.

I've taken down "The Problem with Prophets" cartoon because:

a) I heard on the radio tonight that it's now not okay to publish images of the Prophet in S'pore;
b) I've gotten a hit from the Infocomm Development Authority;
c) I'm incredibly paranoid since I cut my Prozac dosage in half;
d) Small, jail-like spaces really freak me out, and
e) I won't blatantly disregard the law, even if I don't agree with it.

In case you were wondering, 'TPWP' had received 833 views on Flickr.

Peace be upon you.

Sticky Issues: Are we surprised?

Sticky Issues: Are we surprised?
Originally uploaded by MercerMachine.

Too small? Can't see? Click on pic, then click on 'all sizes'. That should do ya.

Sticky Isues: Stand by yer Man!

Sticky Isues: Stand by yer Man!
Originally uploaded by MercerMachine.

Too small? Can't see? Click on pic, then click on 'all sizes'. That should do ya.

Sticky Issues: A Heckuva Year

Sticky Issues: A Heckuva Year
Originally uploaded by MercerMachine.

Too small? Can't see? Click on the pic, then click on 'all sizes'. That should do ya.

We heart Crooks & Liars. No, really.

Crooksandliars.com featured "The Problem with Prophets" on one of their blog roundups. Just call me Amanda Hugnkiss.

Samantha Burns hits the nail on the head

This in a nutshell is why non-Muslim Westerners are so angry about the 'Cartoon War'. It's a serious cultural divide. It seems as though the Muslim world couldn't care less about the mass murder that Islamic terrorists are perpetrating, and yet many feel justified in attacking embassies that have nothing to do with publication of drawings of the Prophet.

Adore me!

Okay, here's the list of my doodles that have over 100 views on Flickr (as of 10:40 pm, 5 Feb 06). Wow. Who wants to talk syndication? I have a powerful urge to make my living drawing stick figures. Can you make my dream come true?

Sticky Issues: Once Upon a Tomorrow (2114)
Sticky Issues: The Problem With Prophets (542)
Sticky Issues: A Dream Deferred (393)
Sticky Issues: Good News! Bad News! (302)
Sticky Issues: The NKF Maths Tuition Center (256)
Bloghead (Sedition Edition) (247)
Ninja Joe: On the Bus (236)
Sticky Issues: The Sweet Hereafter (229)
Sticky Issues: The Times They Are A'changin' (226)
Sticky Issues: The Great Casino Debate ( 221)
Sticky Issues: State of Disunion (207)
Top Terrorist (181)
Ninja Joe: at the 7-11 (175)
Sticky Issues: The latest Craze (158)
Sticky Issues: A Satisfying Conclusion (156)
Ninja Joe: vs Busker-man (138)
Sticy Issues: Republican Snapshot #2 (134)
Sticky Issues: Singapore Low Cost Terminal (119)
Sticky Issues: The Cartoon War (116)
Sticky Issues: Chain of Command (115)
Sticky Issues: Republican Snapshot #1 (113)
Sticky Issues: Ye Olde Mother Tongue (111)
Notxiaxue: Swimsuit Issue! (109)

Sticky Issues: The Cartoon War

Sticky Issues: The Cartoon War
Originally uploaded by MercerMachine.

Too small? Can't see? Click on pic, then click on 'all sizes'. That should do ya.

I believe in a just God, a merciful God, a caring God. I believe in a God who gave us the most precious of gifts, free will. An inescapable consequence of free will is the need for freedom of expression. How can this be blasphemous?

The Big 3-5

Yeah, It's my birthday. Woo-hoo.

Sticky Issues: "The State of Disunion"

Sticky Issues: "The State of Disunion"
Originally uploaded by MercerMachine.

Too small? Can't see? Click on pic, then clickon 'all sizes'. That should do ya.

Friskodude:State of the Union Drinking Game plus Dubya's Speech!

Oh my god. I think I peed myself.

I hate the big picture

So I turned on my comment moderation feature. For, like, 2 hours. Then I turned it off. At the end of the day, I've got to put my money where my mouth is. I can't blather on about free speech and then censor comments on my own site. If X wants to comment here, she's welcome to. As you can tell from the previous post, she's not likely to add anything constructive, but as long as it's not spam, hey, go ahead.