Those of you who know me well would have heard of my plans to cycle to Melbourne. Some of you were a little concerned to hear that I was going alone on a bike I built from scavenged parts. Those of you who know me best could see that it was necessary - I had to break out of the routine I’d kept for most of 2008, and needed both a change of scene and some quality time alone. I aimed to be as self-sufficient as possible, taking spare parts, tools and camping gear, and hoped to reach Melbourne by New Year’s Eve. I succeeded - but my trip held its share of surprises and some unexpected revelations, as epic journeys often do. Here’s the travel log I kept throughout (with some minor editing). It records the conditions, setbacks and breakthroughs I encountered on my trip as well as my foremost thoughts. It runs to 18,000 words, so don’t feel obliged to read it in one go.
Some of you might be wondering why I haven’t put anything up lately. The truth is, I haven’t been drawing much. The ideas are still there, but the urge is not. There are several reasons for this, and I’ll cover them in depth. Fortunately I have a solution, which I’m going to save for last.
Right now, the big news is war in Georgia, or for those with skewed priorities, who’s won what at the Bejing Olympics. I’ll leave these issues to the pros and focus on a different contest. This one’s not for land or gold, but the hearts and minds of the local populace. The much-maligned Church of Scientology, which was founded by the science-fiction author L.Ron Hubbard in 1952, has come under sustained attack from the internet-based group Anonymous, whose members have taken the war to the streets.
My boss is a Polish expatriate who grew up under Soviet rule, and despite our obvious differences, we usually get along well. We have similar views on the Western world, which we feel has entered a state of decline that may be irreversible. Here’s an account of a brief exchange with far-reaching implications.
I haven’t been online for a while, but regular visitors need not panic - no-one’s managed to silence me. A few things have conspired against me - I’m working full-time again, and it’s been flat out for the last few weeks. The internet’s been playing up and my site’s had a couple of technical issues (I haven’t been able to add new work). The experts are currently on the case.
The upside of all this is I’m richer, which means I can get back to spoiling some friends and helping others out of trouble. I’ve also rediscovered the pleasures of old-fashioned, unplugged art. Any angst incurred on the job is vented on the page at night, and sleep deprivation aside, my work continues to improve.
I’ve also discovered a neat trick in Photoshop that lets me create high-quality digital pictures in one third to one half the time. The original drawings need to be more polished, but I’ve never been adverse to such work. I’ve also been reworking the cartoons in “Misanthropist Camera.” The new versions, which are drawn in ink, may one day feature in a compilation titled “Culture Wars.”
Anyway, I’d better go. Every bad girl needs good shoes, and it seems I’m the man to ask.
Expect more nightmares,
JF.
This allegorical story deals with beauty, truth and honesty, three values that are hard to find in a superficial world. If you care about such things, you might find it interesting, though if you want an adrenaline rush, watch a DVD instead.
This is an expanded version of a story I wrote in 1999. The writing is a lot less subtle, but I thought this was necessary as few people understood it the first time. There’s also a little more characterisation. Readers are advised that this story is approximately 9,000 words long.
Given my thoughts on religion, some people wrongly assume that I am a socialist. The political left has an active presence in Sydney’s Inner West, and its members frequently accost me, trying to get me to sign petitions or join them in demonstrations. Like the worst evangelists, they think they are the sole possessors of a high and mighty truth, which humanity will have to embrace if it is going to be saved. I met one on Australia Day, and after the usual ear-bashing, I politely declined to sign her petition. I was in a good mood at the time - but in retrospect I should have stayed and given her a piece of my mind.
Don’t worry - I’m not apologising for offensive imagery. It’s just assumed a different form. Regular viewers are probably wondering why I haven’t added much lately. It’s got nothing to do with holidays, girlfriends, personal problems, etc. None of these should limit our work - if anything they should inspire it!
This probably seems self-indulgent, but I feel the need to vent. If anyone out there is paying attention, don’t feel obliged to bear with me. Tune out if I’m boring you.
Tonight I was at a friend’s place. I won’t mention any names for reasons that will soon become clear. Until now, we have got along well - she’s intelligent and open-minded, and pretty damned attractive too. I’ll admit I was a little upset when I learned she was using drugs, but she’s not alone on this count. I’ve known many others like her, and I had no problem with them at first - if they respected my lifestyle choices, I didn’t interfere with theirs.