The “Kvelling” Edition :: Issue #316, Rusty’s Electric Dreams





“The function of art is to do more than tell it like it is—it’s to imagine what is possible.”

— bell hooks (R.I.P.)

An inbox zine for positive deviants and the people who love them
Issue #316 :: The “Kvelling” Edition :: 12:22:2021

Kvelling…
 
Seems every time I think I’m done with “Eat Fuck Kill,” I get pulled back in. The latest iteration is a Yiddish take: “Nosh Shtup Kvell.”  I was trying to come up with a good holiday card for my Jewish friends this year. Can’t believe I never thought of before! 

Happy winter solstice, all! I, for one, am looking forward to longer, lighter days. 

Rusty Blazenhoff
P.S. I’m out the first week of January, so see ya again mid-month. Also, happy 2022!

As seen on the Internets



R.I.P. Nez
Speaking of the Monkees, I can never get enough of their beautifully harmonized cover of the Spanish Christmas carol, “Riu Chiu.”
image via Letterheady (Peter, where are you?)

Editor’s note: I have just a few regrets when it comes to this zine. Last issue I told you about Kyle Scheele, callling him a “gawddamn droplifting/prankster hero.” Welp, right after the zine was sent out, I learned that he lied. The Scheele Meale prank was fabricated with the help of the gas station chain. Boo! If I could take back his spotlight, I would. Oh well, don’t hold it against me.

:: Original (1977): youtu.be/n9kfdEyV3RQ
:: Remake (2010): youtu.be/EJBFD-Wvc7U

:: This obit! A “plus-sized Jewish lady redneck died in El Paso” 
:: fayobserver.com/obituaries/m0028451
:: The story behind it: 
:: theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/dec/20/outrageous-viral-obituary-renay-mandel-corren

:: Now this is some sweet solidarity
:: twitter.com/LouisaD__/status/1471779181667225603

:: 1986 was weird, and kind of awesome
:: boingboing.net/2021/12/16/max-headroom-had-a-christmas-song-and-special-and-theyre-both-weird-as-hell.html

:: Processed World is “an anti-capitalist, anti-authoritarian magazine focused on the oppressions and absurdities of office work” (1981-1992) via
:: archive.org/details/processedworld

:: Cheryl Strayed (“Dear Sugar”) on shame and “welcoming the light”
:: cherylstrayed.substack.com/p/you-have-arrived-at-the-fire

:: Gingerbread dive bar kit (sold out tho!)
:: boingboing.net/2021/12/14/gingerbread-dive-bar-kit-comes-complete-with-a-syrup-sticky-floor.html

:: Daisy Dukes or Farm Dress?
:: chickendaddies.com

:: USPS has a new podcast: mailin’ it!
:: usps-mailin-it.simplecast.com

:: “We Eat at The Worst Michelin Starred Restaurant, Ever”
:: medium.com/@everywhereist/bros-lecce

:: Let’s do this Christmas Eve book-giving tradition here please
:: treehugger.com/icelanders-give-books-christmas-eve-4858313

:: Secret zine library? Say no more! I’m in!
:: neatorama.com/2021/12/14/Librarian-Finds-Secret-Zine-Library-inside-Her-Public-Library

Real things you can’t actually buy: holiyay!


VACCINATION

BOOSTER

Real things you can actually buy: nay!



Handbags that look like oversized face masks: “Let’s pulltogether and return fair weather.” Yes, let’s.

Featured Events


Goes Without Saying

[NYC :: 1/1/22] If I were in New York, I’d definitely be going to Dorothy Darker and Shadow Traffic’s Goes Without Saying event, unless it was omicron-cancelled. But I guess THAT goes without saying. 

WORLDWIDE
[In a city near you] Phil Kline’s Unsilent Night, a “luminous soundscape played by the audience on boomboxes carried through city streets”

[6/11/22] 2022 Game of Shrooms has been announced!!

LOS ANGELES, CA+
[Los Angeles :: now through 1/22] The Obamas Portrait Tour at LACMA
 

BAY AREA, CA+
[AlamedaChristmas Tree Lane is open, 3200 block of Thompson Avenue, evenings. It’s free and outside. Be careful crossing the street, for goodness’ sake!

[Alameda :: now until ?] Krampus Korner: “get your photo taken with the keeper of naughty children!” 918 Central Avenue

[Alameda :: now through 1/9] Side Effects May Occur, Victoria Heifner painted a can a day for 100 days and they are completely charming! Now on exhibit, and for sale, at Inkblot Gallery, 933B Central Ave (prints and cards available too)

[San Francisco :: now through 2/1] Charlie Gadeken’s Entwined returns to Golden Gate Park this winter! It’s free and outside. Peacock Meadow

[Oakland :: 4/9Baba Yaga’s Forest Tea Party, “Baba Yaga invites all folklore and fairytale creatures from around the globe to join her for tea in her enchanted woods. Wear any fantasy or folk wear, and share your favorite dish.”

[San Francisco :: dates in Jan.] SF Sketchfest 2022 (maybe!)

[Oakland :: early 2022] In-person White Elephant Sale returns! (probably!)

SCOTTSDALE, AZ
[Scottsdale :: 4/28 to 5/1] Arizona Tiki Oasis

Shen Yuk

If you know, you know. 
 
The story behind this image: If you’ve never spent the holidays in the Bay Area (some other cities too), you may not be aware of the Shen Yun phenomenon. In short, their ads are everywhere. This month alone I’ve gotten three direct mailers from them. That’s on top of the many billboards and web ads that have intruded my psyche. So, I was joking with a friend about the absurdity of it and she texted back, “Shen Yuk!”

This exchange happened in November, her birthday month and I had plans to see her. So I took two of the direct mailers, scissoring out an “N” and turning it make it a “K.” Then I took a glue stick and decorated her gift bag “Shen Yuk” style.. When I gave it to her, she wondered where I got the Shen Yun bag! She guffawed when I showed her it was a cut-and-paste job and that it actually said “Shen Yuk.”

So that got me thinking. Could I Photoshop a “K” over that “N” and make something with it? Well friends, the answer is “Nope.” Not me. My ‘shop skills suck. But I mentioned it to a colleague and she whipped up the image you see above! And, possible spoiler alert, there was just enough time to make Shen Yuk holiday cards for my Bay Area pals. They’ve been hitting mailboxes and it’s been fun to get everyone’s responses. One friend posted the card on Facebook and commented that it turned their “panic to laughs” and that it’s like a “modern Rick Roll of sorts.” Yeah, I can see that.

But it didn’t end there. No, no. Now there are stickers! (This falls under “parody,” right?) While you’re there, check out the “Nosh Shtup Kvell” merch I quickly put together for fun. (Print on demand is a gamechanger, btw.)
 
thank you to: Cynthia for the inspo, Maria for the ‘shopping

Rusty’s Electric Dreams is a fortnightly inbox zine by Rusty Blazenhoff for positive deviants and the people who love them. If this was forwarded to you, please consider subscribing yourself.

Described as, “One of the most inspiring, weird and off-kilter collections of curated kitschy ephemera for the big-brained.” People like it. Well, most people do.

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Publisher & Baddie-in-Chief: Rusty Blazenhoff

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