The “Everything’s bigger” Edition :: Issue #327, Rusty’s Electric Dreams





“There’s a vastness here and I believe that the people who are born here breathe that vastness into their soul. They dream big dreams and think big thoughts, because there is nothing to hem them in.” 

— Conrad Hilton (on Texas)



An inbox zine for positive deviants and the people who love them
Issue #327 :: The “Everything’s bigger” Edition :: 08:10:2022

Everything’s bigger…

Because I’m a professional blogger, I’m often the “catcher” of unsolicited email pitches. I usually ignore them or, at worse, mark them as spam. But this week my curiosity got the best of me and I responded to one.

—————-
“Hey Rusty,
Sending all the love from [redacted] at [redacted]. We hope your zones have been as lofty and as luxurious as possible and that everything is aligned properly. [Pitch continues from here]”

“Hi [redacted], 
I have to ask, what are ‘zones’?”

“Hey Rusty,
We tend to use ‘zones’ as a catch-all term for just, you know — your life, your daily actions, your physical surroundings, your general well-being, etc. More of a metaphysical state of being than anything.”
—————-

So, there you have it. Now YOU know what “zones” are too. Look at us learning something new!
 

— Rusty Blazenhoff
P.S. Dear readers, how are your zones doing?

As seen on the Internets


Takahiro Iwasaki duct tape sculpture

Duct Tape Sculpture by Takahiro Iwasaki

:: Let’s solve a puzzle together!
:: g.co/arts/M5kraqcx8YExUgXb8

:: Lea Redmond has a cool new project called “Wonder Hunt
:: kickstarter.com/projects/leafcutterdesigns/wonder-hunt

:: Podcast on Chuck Pahlaniuk, culture jamming and “Drunk Santas” in Portland (yes, I was there too)
:: open.spotify.com/episode/5mMeqqloU3qJMp7Nigmqhq Thanks, John!

:: Remember “Found in a Library Book”? Well…
:: Now they’re on Insta: instagram.com/oaklibraryfound
:: And SFGate did a piece: sfgate.com/local/article/oakland-library-chronicles-found-objects-17328357.php

:: All of MTV’s 120 Minutes (minus the videos that are now marked “private”)
:: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHg1sVThC-gOV_2LmFfK3J1isqPYs2H70

:: Chicken selfies
:: chicken.photos

:: “finally found out what binch means”
:: cardhouse.com/2022/2022.htm#20220727

:: Beavis and Butt-Head is back
:: newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-interview/mike-judges-secret-art-of-satire

:: Going to Burning Man? Let your friends know where you’re at
:: burnermap.com/map (requires Facebook)

:: but beware of monkeypox!
:: boingboing.net/2022/08/02/ai-artist-manifests-monkeypox-at-burning-man.html

:: John Waters hosted a formal dinner in a dump…because, of course he did
:: vanityfair.com/style/2022/08/john-waters-provincetown-film-society-auction-dinner-in-the-dump

:: Making the recipes found on tombstones
:: theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/apr/29/experience-i-bake-recipes-i-find-on-gravestones

Real things you can actually buy: stray!



How they roll: Thrilled to learn there’s a field guide to the “stray shopping carts of Eastern North America.” 
Real publication you can actually buy: yay! 
There’s a new issue of Popular Pandemics

Real places you can actually visit: way!



Dam fine: I went to not one but two Buc-ee’s on a recent visit to see family in Texas. If you’re not familiar, Buc-ee’s is a legendary chain of 24/365 “travel centers” that boasts clean bathrooms (cue: potty humor), plenty of gas pumps and, well, so much more. Nearly everything sold in these massive stores are branded with a red-capped beaver. Snacks, souvenirs, you-name-it, there’s no escaping the little guy. But why would you want to? It’s like a pop-art project gone mad and I admit to feeling a bit envious that it wasn’t my own logo. (Side note: I also made the pilgrimage to my near-namesake “beach” at the Schiltterbahn water park—Blastenhoff!)



I MET BUC-EE!!
photos by Rusty Blazenhoff

Featured Events



[Oakland, CA :: until 8/27]  Rock Papers Scissors Collective is currently exhibiting something cool, a miniature art show called Tiny Time. (I’m particularly interested in the three pieces Chris Rummell is showing.)
 

BAY AREA, CA+
[Berkeley :: Full moons] Moonstruck: a wild concert series (get on their list)

[Oakland :: ongoing] I noticed that the good folx at NewNow are starting to fill their calendar with all kinds of fun shows (FB link). 

[SF and Oakland :: dates in August + September] Killing My Lobster’s new show: My Parents Came To America, And All They Got Was A Kid Who Does Comedy

[San Francisco, CA :: 8/13]  Fun Stuff: Lost and Found: Bring a small object to “ceremoniously lose” and head to Raining Chainsaws warehouse at 1789 Egbert Ave. 7:30 p.m. doors/8:30 p.m. show. RSVP online and bring $15 to $30 cash.

[San Francisco :: 9/30-10/2] Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

[Guerneville (Russian River) :: Fridays 2 to 4 p.m.] Artist Spy Emerson (of Hook-Up Truck fame) is hosting Hugs Farm, a KGGV 95.1 FM radio show that promises music, meditation, and a therapy cow. 

[Point San Pablo, Richmond :: ongoing] Go get hot at good hot!

BLZNHFF

The Blazen-assimilation continues.

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

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