The "Four" Edition :: Issue #193, Rusty's Electric Dreams

“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that ‘my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.;”

— Isaac Asimov

An inbox zine for positive deviants and the people who love them
Issue #193 :: The “Four” Edition :: 10:24:2018

Four…

I have often felt small and haven’t always believed that I can actually make a difference in the world. Still, I always vote. I’ve voted each and every time from the very first year I could.

My grandmother worked the polls every year and that left a big impression on me. So much so, that it never occurred to me to NOT vote. It was imparted on me that it’s just what you do.

When my grandmother was born in 1918 women couldn’t vote. A year after she was born, Congress passed the 19th Amendment which granted women the right to vote. That’s just under a hundred years ago!

Honestly, I’m not always up on the details on the latest measures or elections happening, esp. the local ones. But, when I get my vote-by-mail ballot in hand, I spend a good deal of time researching everything and doing my best to make educated choices.

I take my right to vote seriously and I’m always surprised to hear that not everyone does. I feel fortunate to have been born in this country, despite the mess we’re in right now (and it really is a mess). Voting does make a difference. I believe, together, we can make change. But, we’ve got to show up and vote first.

On top of that, we need to get more people like us to vote. To that end, I’ve just learned about text-banking and I’m going to do that from now until the midterms. Because I now believe that I can make a difference in the world, even if it’s just a small one.

— Rusty Blazenhoff

P.S. Hey look at us: Rusty’s Electric Dreams turned FOUR this month!

As seen on the Internets

Clever AND cute: This group of gal pals dress up like a different character — played by the same actor — for Halloween. For example, this year they are going as Tom Hanks. From left to right, Toy Story, Castaway, Apollo 13, Forrest Gump, Big, David S. Pumpkins (SNL), and A League of Their Own.

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HALLOWEEN

:: Ghoul Log, like a Yule Log but spookier
:: https://www.shudder.com/shudder-tv via

:: Reader Kent B. has been collecting cool, vintage-y Halloween images
:: https://www.pinterest.com/kentkb/halloween-or-halloween:: Fake Ghost Tours
:: https://www.fakeghosttours.com Thanks, Donald!

VOTE

:: SF residents: I’ve just learned of the “League of Pissed Off Voters”
:: http://www.theleaguesf.org/voter_guides

:: Want to do something year round? Join or start a Solidarity Sundays group!
:: https://www.solidaritysundays.org

:: Stories of people blocked from voting
:: http://blockedfromtheballot.com

:: A reminder before midterms: A list of Trump’s atrocities
:: https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/atrocities-1-to-112

:: Humorous PSA on “How to Vote”
:: https://youtu.be/8uMZL3jkJV4

:: VoteBitch
:: https://www.instagram.com/votebitch2018

OTHER

:: Interesting read: Banksy’s shredding art isn’t the first time artists have pranked the art establishment
:: https://www.fastcompany.com/90254401/banksys-latest-prank-actually-has-a-long-history

:: Austin Kleon took a trip to Cleveland with his five year old and they made the *cutest* zine together
:: https://austinkleon.com/2018/10/21/trip-to-cleveland

:: Simone Giertz’s Every Day Calendar is a personal gold star system for creating new habits
:: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/simonegiertz/the-every-day-calendar

Real thing you can actually buy: no way!

You can actually buy these MANSIZE Kleenex, but not for much longer! Their parent company Kimberly-Clark is changing the name (after 60 years, mind you) to “Extra Large” after customers complained “mansize” facial tissues were sexist.

Real thing you can actually buy: yay!

Did you know that over 200 women are running on the Democratic ticket for Congress in the 2018 midterm elections? Yup, it’s true and here’s the scarf that proves it. It features illustrations of every single one of these sheroes. The Herwave 2018 scarf is available for $125 at Resistance by Design. via

Featured Events

Murder Mansion at the Magic Castle

Los Angeles [10/24-10/31] There’s a murder-mystery show at the Magic Castle!
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Auburn, CA
[THIS WEEKEND 10/27] Typewriter event (exhibit of over 50 vintage typewriters, interview with The Typewriter Revolution at 6 PM, and at 7 PM California Typewriter will show) at Auburn State Theater, Tickets are $25

Baltimore, MD
[Until 1/6] John Waters: Indecent Exposure at Baltimore Museum of Art

Carefree, AZ
[Until 10/28] Enchanted Pumpkin Garden, all created by legendary pumpkin carver Ray Villafane and his team, FREE admission and parking

Los Angeles, CA
[Taking reservations until 1/12] The Museum of Selfies (Tommy Honton worked on this!) is open again. 6757 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood

[10/31] Cinespia is hosting a Willy Wonka costume ball, starts at 7 PM, Tickets

[12/8] Los Angeles Santacon, 11 AM to 10 PM

New York City
Yay: Oriana Leckert keeps picking out great events for you, so I don’t have to!

Oakland, CA
[Open until 12/9] Hi-Fructose presents: The Art of the Mushroom at the Compound Gallery

[THIS FRIDAY 10/26] Extra Action 20th Anniversary Halloween Ball at The New Parish, 9 PM, Tickets

[DON’T MISS THIS 10/29, 30, 31] Driveway Follies, marionette puppetry at the yard of 3854 Greenwood Ave (first two nights are previews), Free

Oakland, California to Ashland, Oregon
[Weekend of 10/26] Caravan Rally: Here Be Dragons is “an intense endurance challenge which promises participants an opportunity to see a world which is typically closed off to everyone but the bravest of Explorers.”

San Francisco, CA
[Now through Halloween] San Francisco Ghost Hunt Walking Tour: Have you gone? Isn’t it interesting?

[THIS SATURDAY 10/27] Puppet Death Match at Raining Chainsaws, 1789 Egbert Ave, Floor 2, at 8 PM to 11:59 PM, RSVP

[10/30] How Everything Started in San Francisco (While We All Thought We Were Just Fooling Around) by John Law at Congregation Sherith Israel, 7 PM to 9 PM, $10

[HALLOWEEN 10/31] Mac Sabbath at GAMH, 8 PM

[11/1] Free screening of Sorry to Bother You at Bayview Opera House, 7 PM to 10 PM

[11/1] The Unreal Garden., 6 PM to 11 PM

[11/29] A John Waters Christmas at GAMH, 8 PM (other cities too!)

[12/1] Krampus Krawl #5: “Better not cry” (“More wandering guerilla theater than pub crawl”) begins at Union Square bar High Tide at 600 Geary, 5:30 PM to 9 PM

[12/19] El Vez, the Mexican Elvis at Elbo Room, 7:30 PM, Tickets

San Jose, CA
[Dates until 10/31] Mr. Nobody’s Mystic Midway (this is Scott Levkoff’s production!) at Winchester Mystery House. It’s FREE to get in, just go through the gift shop and into the courtyard to find it. Tokens to play midway games are $5 each or $20 for five. [Candlelight tours of the actual house are now available.]

Saratoga, CA
[10/28 -3/17] Bruce Munro at Montalvo: Stories in Light, Tickets Thanks, Tracy!

Know about a cool event? Send me the info and I’ll share it with the class!

“Radial Eminence” by rubber band ball builder and designer Joshua Hudson

Rusty’s Electric Dreams is a (mostly) weekly inbox zine by Rusty Blazenhoff for positive deviants and the people who love them.

Described as, “One of the most inspiring, weird and off-kilter collections of curated kitschy ephemera for the big-brained.”

People like it.

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Publisher & Editor-in-Chief: Rusty Blazenhoff
Co-editors: Carolyn Anhalt & Joyce Slaton

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