Attention all you flag-pin and cross-pin wearing prats out there. Bob Schieffer has got a little something something to say to all y’all:

Patriotism is no more about signs or pins than religion is about reminding others how pious we think we are. No, the proof in these puddings is not the signs that we wear, but how we act. Wouldn’t that also be a better way to judge our presidential candidates than by the jewelry they wear?

Ramen, brother!

el jo

Happy Passover, people!

I just got back from my first (technically second, but I actually engaged in stuff this time) seder, and it was fun stuff. I’ve celebrated other holidays like Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur (which usually falls on my birthday, what a drag), and Hanukkah, so it made sense to participate in a far more important holiday this year. (I should bally well celebrate! I was, after all, a first born son!)

But now I’ve committed myself to eight days of no grains, which means no beer! (Oy gavolt!) Meh, I’ll be fine.

In other news, I’m working on a new political comic in response to the bullshit debate on ABC last week. Keep an eye out for it in the next few days!

Anyway, Happy Pesach everybody!
el jo

Clinton Portrays Herself as a Pro-Gun Churchgoer (from the New York Times)
Holy crap? When did Hillary decide she was running on the Republican ticket?

Maybe I’m just a clueless, naïve fool who doesn’t know shit about politics, but it seems like the three contenders are running in, not two, but three parties. John McCain is clearly running on the “Crazy Old Motherfucker” ticket, Hillary is rapidly becoming an old-school Republican, and Barack Obama does actually kinda sorta resemble a Democrat.

I think this division between the Democratic contenders is a real boon for John McCain (sadly). Hillary seems to be completely oblivious to the words that are falling out of her mouth. Is she like Joe Lieberman in that she forgot she’s supposed to be a Dem? (At least Joe finally dropped the charade by running as an Independent.)

The Republican Party has already demonstrated through its distance from Bush that there’s more than one way to be a Republican. This presidential race has proven that obviously there’s more than one way to be a Democrat as well. So why are there still only two major parties? I think that has a lot to do with the binary mentality of most Americans:

Coke or Pepsi?
Macintosh or PC?
McDonald’s or Burger King?
Male or Female?
Rich or Poor?
White Hats or Black Hats?
With us or against us?
All or Nothing?

It seems to me that this binary thinking is pervasive in American thinking. Nevermind the fact that there are alternatives to the binary. (RC Cola, Linux, Arby’s, Middle Class, Men Without Hats, Patriotic Dissent, Something.)

I guess I just don’t get it. But I do feel that if we’re not careful in our thinking, Americans are going to wind up with four more years of Bush, er… McCain.

الجوهرة

This switch over to WordPress has been arduous and time-consuming, but I think it was totally worth it. It’s nice not having to worry about both the site content and the content management system itself. Hopefully I won’t have to do any major reprogramming for the site for a long time to come. What that means is I can focus on content! (Oh, aren’t you all so happy!)

I still need to load up all 55 comics of AstroGirlX2. I also need to do something with the 11 comics of Absolutely True Tales of Lesbian Drama. Since I’m going to be rebooting that title from scratch, I’ll need to tuck those (now apocryphal) comics somewhere.

I also need to sort through all the old site update blogs and get those into the WordPress database. Oy! That’s going to be a chore. Oh well.

It will all come together. No sweat.
الجوهرة

So it’s true that I haven’t been getting any new comics or illustrations done. I’m still grinding away at university, plus I work two jobs. Consequently that means my website, and anybody who diligently checks back periodically, are getting neglected.

On the other hand, I’ve been busting my ass working on a new content management system for the site. I’m now using WordPress to handle everything. It seems to be working out pretty well, actually. I did need to design my own theme that would be compatible with the WordPress system, but that wasn’t too much of a chore for a geeky chick like me.

Now that the CMS part of the website is more streamlined (sort of), I should at least be able to get some new “Sketch of the Day” images posted more often. If I stay on my toes enough, y’all might even get to see new “Akhbaar al Johara” comics as well. (Fancy that!)

In the meantime, bear with me as I work out the rest of the bugs in this new system. You’ll note that I don’t actually have any comics up right now. I’m working to remedy that. On the up side, this new WordPress setup will allow me to post blog entries directly into my own server (rather than going through the RSS feed of my Blogger site), and any of you out there that are still around can post comments on just about anything I put on the site.

So that’s the latest.
الجوهرة

I’m happy to report that the same judge who, one month earlier, ordered a stay on Oregon’s domestic partnership bill has reversed his own ruling! Now gays and lesbians here in Oregon can get legal benefits almost but not quite exactly like straight couples. It’s not called “marriage” though, because gay marriage was voted down a couple years ago. To be honest, I’m perfectly fine with that. Marriage is a religious institution anyway and has no business being muddled with by the government.

But when has the government taken the separation of church and state seriously lately? Oh well. Go and get yourselves happily domestically partnered all you lovely Oregon queers out there! Yayness all around!

elle jo