'Rich killers' stalk City of Lost Girls

Sandra Jordan reports from Ciudad Juarez in Mexico, where one campaigner is battling the authorities to expose the powerful men she believes to have murdered 100 women.

Ciudad Juarez is known as 'the city of the dead girls'. In 10 years almost 400 women have been murdered in this city on the border between Mexico and El Paso, Texas, and the killings continue. Now a courageous Mexican-American journalist is alleging a group of six businessmen is behind the slaughter. Described as 'untouchables', their wealth puts them above the law. Their motive is said to be blood sport.

More in link. Thanks, Fraction.

10 Artists Whose Work I Fancy*:

Florine Stettheimer
Maira Kalman
Ruben Toledo
Mark Ryden
Alice Neel
Romaine Brooks
James McNeill Whistler
Francois Boucher
Adolphe William Bouguereau
Yoko Ono

*This list is neither inclusive, nor systematic.

I don't so much want to own it, as I want to *be* it. Then again, I'm not sure one could actually smell anything through that teeny tiny nose:

Found by Fraction.

This made me weep.

If he is gone, I so hope he has found peace; and I wish the same for his friends and family.

Thank you, Xtop, for the link.

Sundance Entry Created in iMovie
“’Tarnation’ may be the first feature-length film edited entirely on iMovie, and it cost $218.32 in videotape and materials. Despite its low budget, the film has already earned a high profile. Both John Cameron Mitchell, the actor and director of ‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch,’ and independent film maverick Gus Van Sant have signed on as executive producers.”

More in link from Wired News.

Chris Ekman has posted on Fraction's board what is quite possibly the greatest political website ever. It lists EVERY current candidate for President of the United States.

The comedy gold--as you might imagine--is to be found on The Independents page.

Scroll down to "Jack Grimes (Pennsylvania)" for the rest of this:

Citing Cayce and Nostradamus, Grimes predicts that "the United States will be reduced from its present size to a small triangular-shaped land mass through the loss of many of its coastal states." While those quotes come from his old 2000 campaign site, his 2004 is equally entertaining. Be sure to visit the "Pictures" page to view Grimes and his girlfriend (presumably) posing in their homemade black uniforms ... and to view pictures of them eating at different local restaurants. Or visit the "Speeches" page to read Grimes' 1998 remarks delivered to the "Flying Saucer Society of Dover, DE." Best of all is the Discussion Boards section of his site, in which Grimes exalts his followers to worship Satan -- plus you can read about the problem he was having getting to a campaign event in another state (because Mom's car was broken, etc.).

Jack's group also vows that they will not tolerate perverts. Jack's site.

Watch the trailer. WATCH THE TRAILER.

Don't write Howard Dean off just yet.

"Front-runner John Kerry presents an eminently reasonable posture but seems unable to deliver a thought not charged with pulpit-like oratory on the abandonment of our allies, the Patriot Act, and that refrain suggesting his future victory "We're coming, you're going, and don't let the door hit you on the way out." This is presidential?'

"That might have worked better coming from Howard Dean, a man to whom a touch of humor doesn't seem entirely alien..."

I still have a few to add, and I need to repair captions and the link on the sidebar over there --->

Don't send me anymore pics, though, please. This is going to be the final incarnation of the Hulk Hands gallery; methinks the gag has run its course. It was fun while it lasted. Enjoy!

(The Best Of Gallery is purely subjective. Those are my favorites for various reasons.)

I think I have finally stopped farting after, like, three days of my own gastro-intestinal interpretation of the WWII Blitz on London, wherein my butt represents the Nazis and my marriage is London.

Yoga? No fun with gas. Not only are forward bends intensely uncomfortable, but trying to spare Jane and Brian your stench by somehow willing your sphincter locked, is like trying to hold a hundred puppies in your arms: not only is it impossible, but it makes you giggle, and every time you laugh another puppy escapes. The good news is I finally understand mula bandha. Though, mula bandha is supposed to be a kind of soft lock, not the anal equivalent of Cliffhanger.

Have I told you this story before? One time, while I was sleeping, I apparently farted on Fraction's hand. We were curled up together, spooning the way you do when you're, you know, married and stuff and I farted on his hand. It wasn't a splatter or anything, just fumes. But, you know--ew. He didn't tell me about it for several days but when he finally did I was mortified, of course. Despite appearances to contrary, I'm a very girlie girl.

Anyway, I was so shamed that I immediately had to tell everyone I know. I wrote to Niles about it and he wrote back making a joke about Fraction's prosthetic hand. Only instead of typing "prosthetic" he typed "prophetic," which remains just about the funniest thing I've ever read. One day I will write a story about magic farts that grant the power of second sight. It will be a children's book, of course, because six-year-olds are my people.

I covet this:

"His mission: To eat three meals a day for 30 days at McDonald's and document the impact on his health.

Scores of cheeseburgers, hundreds of fries and dozens of chocolate shakes later, the formerly strapping 6-foot-2 New Yorker - who started out at a healthy 185 pounds - had packed on 25 pounds.

But his supersized shape was the least of his problems.

Within a few days of beginning his drive-through diet, Spurlock, 33, was vomiting out the window of his car..."

More in link. (Thanks, Fraction.)

See also.

I freelance. I am a freelancer.

Someone is trying to kill me and so I am writing this down.

68% liberal, 32% conservative

You tend to hold progressive/liberal values, but are more traditional on some aspects.
When it comes to social morals, you feel that society's current laws need to be more flexible in some areas.
You believe that government is too conservative and would prefer it to change several of its political and practices.

You are relatively open to new experiences.
You are neither organized or disorganized.
You are extremely outgoing, social, and energetic.
You find it easy to criticize others.
You are generally relaxed.

Fruits Basket is up on Amazon.com for pre-order. I just got my copy of Volume 1 and Jake Forbes has done a *fantastic* job.

I'd like to take more credit for this one, but really, I've pretty much been copy-editing since Volume 2. Anyway, the Tokyopop page is here.

Nicely done, Jake.

The nation is screwed.

Did I hear right? $23 million for drug testing in schools? Did he just threaten to back a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage...?

The USA Patriot Act chills me to the core of my being.

How many days till that election...?

Xeni Jardin interviews Susannah Breslin on Suicide Girls.

I don't know if you've read interviews on Suicide Girls before, but old-school-Playboy they are not. Generally, they're about as illuminating as Teen People. Xeni and Susannah have produced an exception.

Also, I somehow missed that Susannah Breslin's You're A Bad Man, Aren't You? had been released. I need to pick that up.

I tried to resist. Tried hard. But I lost. I heart robot spy daddy.

After comparing Uberlists with Nikol, I want to make a few changes to mine (changing a few and adding dollar amounts). I'm giving myself until the end of month. In the meantime...

Uberdone:

#1 2004 priority: functional home office
hang shelves ($200)
re-paint blue ($60)
give black curtains to xtop; replace with something brighter ($60)
buy: computer: fire wire drive ($150)
buy: new glasses
buy: wardrobe: tall boots (j. crew jean boot?) [went with naturalizer "auburn" boots instead]
computer: back it up, wipe & reinstall
health: eye exam
health: schedule that massage meshel gave you.
home: kitchen: clean out junk drawer
home: livingroom: hang painting
mail: send out belated x-mas gifts to gary, mark and grandma deconnick
money: meet with varone about what records you should be keeping
travel: book hotel for san diego con early

Uberstarted:

computer: keep e-mail inbox under 50 messages.
correspondence: write & mail out circle journals
health: drink more water
health: yoga: headstand w/o a wall
heath: see dentist twice

Some observations:

G-Unit sucks. Are people seriously still rapping about their jewelry and grabbing their nuts...? And the rap stroll? You know, the half-stoop Groucho Marx mosey with the mic in one hand and the other hand alternately held over the head or curled around the scrotum...? It's tired. Can someone please stand up? Fittyscent is an inarticulate thug. Also, he's not very good.

The FEAR FACTOR Couples Special where Something Happens That's Never Happened Before...? You know what I hope it is? I hope someone comes to their fucking senses. I hope one of the contestants realizes eating shit in the vague hope of winning a million dollars is still eating shit. There is no dignity at the bottom of that trough. I hope one of them tells NBC to eat shit. That's what I hope.

A girl can dream.

Did Spalding Gray Jump From Ferry?
By Robert Kahn and Pete Bowles
Staff Writers

January 14, 2004, 7:24 PM EST

Police Wednesday night continued their search for performance artist Spalding Gray, who was reported missing Sunday after failing to take a scheduled ski trip.

"The case is still actively being investigated, and he is still missing," said Sgt. Kevin Hayes, a spokesman for the New York City Police Department.

More in link.

... He and his family are in my thoughts and prayers.

You look good for your age.

xxx

Kelly Sue

Current Projects updated with Amazon link and info.

Also, Peter blogged it on the artbomb blog. There are no permalinks, so good luck finding it.

... Edited by Eric Searleman, English adaptation by yours truly.

From the Viz site:

Sensual Phrase, Volume 1
192 pages, $9.95 U.S.
May 2004

As a budding poet and lyricist, Aine is on her way to an audition one fateful afternoon. Absentmindedly stepping into the street, she barely avoids being struck by an oncoming vehicle. Not only is the cute teenager lucky to be alive, but her brush with death also turns out to be a date with destiny. The driver of the car just happens to be the charismatic and fabulously handsome lead singer for a band called Lucifer. Is this Aine's chance to fulfill her dreams and become a professional lyricist? Or is she about to dance with the devil?

Also known as KAIKAN PHRASE, the 17-volume series has sold more than 7.4 million copies in Japan, spawned a real spin-off band called Lucifer and a 44-episode anime program. SENSUAL PHRASE was created by shôjo artist Mayu Shinjo, who made her debut in 1994 with ANATA NO IRO NI SOMARITAI (I Want to be Dyed in Your Color) in the pages of Shôjo Comics and has created more than fifteen titles in addition to SENSUAL PHRASE.

Bill Morton made me a pretty new picture to commemorate the new hair:

Thank you, Mr. Morton. We should talk Lilys of the Alley soon.

Anybody know how I go about importing bookmarks from Explorer to Safari?

If you're in the Boston area, my friend Mexico's band is making its debut:

The Star and Garter site has been updated and it looks fantastic. (Moderately work-safe, I suppose...?)

This S&G model has me all in a tizzy. Isn't she lovely?

Move over friendster, tribe.net, and that british one whose name I can't remember: here comes my space.

Why do I keep filling these things out? Pure ego.

Also: BEARDO is on myspace.com.

(I'm not giving you the link, fuhgedaboudit.)

Explanation here.

uberlist 2004
1. #1 2004 priority: functional home office
a. hang shelves
b. re-paint tiffany blue? (you know you want to)
c. an inspiration board
d. catch up on filing. buy another filing cabinet (or 3) if necessary (right now i like these mesh baskets). get rid of plastic crates of old paperwork.
e. give black curtains to xtop; replace with something brighter
f. get rid of the magazines -- not all, but c'mon.
2. buy: all-weather tires
3. buy: computer: fire wire drive
4. buy: grownup luggage
5. buy: home: livingroom: curtains
6. buy: new glasses
7. buy: wardrobe: nice, lined dress pants
8. buy: wardrobe: red a-line skirt
9. buy: wardrobe: short-corset from wasp creations
10. buy: wardrobe: tall boots (j. crew jean boot?) [done - went with naturalizer "auburn" boots instead]
11. closure/correspondence: finish thank you notes (the one that haunts me is danyon's mom)
12. closure: 4th step that friggin' xxxxxxxxxxxxx debacle
13. computer: back it up, wipe & reinstall
14. computer: burn movies and pictures to disk; get them off the hard drive
15. computer: keep e-mail inbox under 50 messages.
16. computer: print up return address labels
17. computer: put all addresses in .mac address book
18. computer: send new lois off to have her drive repaired. (applecare info?)
19. correspondence: return the letter favor to seth.
20. correspondence: write & mail out circle journals
21. correspondence: write to meshelle & alex.
22. crafts: finish fraction's hat
23. crafts: knit hat for timmy
24. crafts: knit something that's not a hat or a scarf.
25. crafts: sew something
26. family: help mom with xxxxxx issues
27. family: send amity a wedding gift
28. family: send joanie a graduation gift
29. give back: angel tree for christmas next year
30. give back: participate in bookcrossing
31. give back: send old phones to wirelessfoundation.org
32. give back: volunteer for dean campaign?
33. habits: send more letters
34. habits: start cutting out or writing down things from magazines as you read them. that way, when you're done, you can throw the magazine away. unless it's one of the titles you're allowed to keep.
35. health: drink more water
36. health: eye exam
37. health: schedule that massage meshel gave you.
38. health: swim
39. health: yoga: headstand w/o a wall
40. health: yoga: jump-through
41. heath: see dentist twice
42. home: bathroom: clean out closet and reorganize
43. home: bathroom: post stain-removal chart inside bathroom door
44. home: bathroom: put together little stain-removal kit
45. home: get church framed and hung. it's been years.
46. home: give in. make that 3-ring binder you want.
47. home: kitchen: clean out junk drawer
48. home: livingroom: get the throne reupholstered
49. home: livingroom: hang painting
50. home: livingroom: make or buy an ottoman to match throne
51. home: livingroom: reorganize shelves.
52. home: organize in terms of function, think like that real simple lady who make the kits -- letter-writing kit, bill-paying kit, reading kit, adaptation kit, recipe kit, bath kit, hair-dyeing kit, etc.
53. home: review renter's insurance info
54. kc: electric house
55. kc: go to the opera
56. kc: science city
57. kc: tango night at hotel phillips
58. lists: make a list of all the things you wish you'd been taught as a child
59. mail: send out belated x-mas gifts to gary, mark and grandma deconnick
60. misc: keep an eye out for tuxedo pants for fraction
61. mlf: send a little something out to everyone
62. mlf: update the dance card on a schedule
63. money: follow up with markovitch on old taxes
64. money: meet with varone about what records you should be keeping
65. money: pay off 50% of debt
66. money: start getting credit reports in order/corrected.
67. money: update quicken pretty much nightly
68. read: get a financial life. do not freak out.
69. read: home buying for dummies
70. social: double date with carrie and her man
71. social: have the girls over for another book-making luncheon
72. social: meshelle brook and meshel cook. whose name is spelled how?
73. social: nero wolfe dinner party
74. social: poker night
75. social: propose a standing breakfast date with jane
76. travel: book hotel for san diego con early
77. travel: take a proper vacation with fraction.
78. travel: visit dave in la (and wefugees)
79. travel: visit family in florida & take a side trip down to see merry & alex
80. travel: visit grandma deconnick
81. travel: visit san francisco (for ape?)
82. wardrobe: alter or throw away clothes that don't fit
83. wardrobe: give in. make that 3-ring binder you want.
84. wardrobe: have measurements taken by a tailor
85. wardrobe: use some of the ideas you got from the lucky shopping manual
86. whimsy: learn something about classical music; know what it is that you enjoy
87. whimsy: look into tattoo touch up. see danny.
88. whimsy: pose for pin-up pics
89. wishlist: my husband is a hottie t-shirt
90. wishlist: start a special savings for another painting? $5/week?
91. wishlist: take a time management class (franklin covey?)
92. wishlist: white dishes (mikasa tivoli white? anna? great white)
93. work: artbomb: try to get at least one review in a month
94. work: finish perfect bound
95. work: habits: establish consistent schedule, days and times. if necessary, go work someplace else -- tea drops, broadway, coffee girls or muddy's.
96. work: keep up with invoice records. that's your money.
97. work: kitchensink prose submission
98. work: midge #1 a complete, highly-detailed outline
99. work: midge #2 a complete draft
100. work: pitch something to XXXX for XXXXXXX
101. work: sequential tart: 13 questions with patrick
102. work: take a risk professionally. write something that scares you.
103. work: whimsy: add up how many pages of manga rewrites you did last year
104. work: whimsy: switch planner sizes? maybe buy a pretty red leather binder?

Girl Got Game Vol. 1 is now available through Amazon.com:

Explanation here. I'll post the '04 list in the next few days.

Last year's tally:
42 that I'm considering successful; and
19 that I'm considering fine efforts...

Uber To Do List 2003
1. Buy: a Cat Carrier. - DONE
2. Buy: a House.
3. Buy: Beyond Beauty - DONE
4. Buy: Clothes: A White Suit - DONE
5. Buy: Clothes: Short-corset from www.wasp-creations.com
6. Buy: Eden’s Alley Frequent Diner card - DONE
7. Buy: Food Scale - DONE
8. Buy: MAC Foundation brush - DONE
9. Closure: Sew up the rest of the yoga bags for Kat.
10. Cook: Choose a “signature” dessert and learn to make it exceptionally well - DONE
11. Cook: Copy frequently-used recipes onto cards
12. Cook: Make Lemon Confit - DONE
13. Cook: Make something from the Nero Wolfe cookbook - DONE
14. Crafts: Clothes: Either MAKE that Prayer Rug Bolero Jacket you’ve been planning on making for 10 years or GET RID OF THE SIX PRAYER RUGS
15. Crafts: Embroider something.
16. Crafts: Fill red scrapbook in tandem with Fraction.
17. Crafts: Fix sewing machine/look into buying new one - DONE
18. Crafts: Knit something (maybe a pretty mohair lap rug with a chenille border for Amity as a shower or wedding gift?). - DONE
19. Garden: Keep an eye out for a bistro table & two chairs
20. Garden: Keep an eye out for a staggered corner shelf for herbs.
21. Garden: Plan out garden early; order bulbs or seeds - DONE
22. Garden: Transplant catnip, plant basil, rosemary, various peppers, short sunflower variety - DONE
23. Habits: Go to bed earlier; get up earlier. - DONE
24. Habits: Keep a list book.
25. Habits: Keep a reading journal.
26. Habits: Less TV - DONE
27. Habits: Morning Pages
28. Habits: Resurrect cards – PARTIAL CREDIT
29. Habits: Serve dinner at the dining room table more often - DONE
30. Habits: Write down personal goals
31. Health: Drink More Water - DONE
32. Health: Establish consistent yoga practice AT HOME
33. Health: Find a pool. Swim there. – PARTIAL CREDIT
34. Health: Go to the Dentist for a Cleaning and Check Up - DONE
35. Health: Go to the Doctor for a Physical - DONE
36. Health: Headstand w/o a wall. – PARTIAL CREDIT
37. Health: Hold crow pose for more than a fraction of a second. – PARTIAL CREDIT
38. Health: Join/Frequent Gym - DONE
39. Health: Meditate
40. Health: See a Dermatologist about Rosacea – PARTIAL CREDIT
41. Health: Write to Diane about Phone Therapy
42. Home: Bedroom: Conquer The Shoes - DONE
43. Home: Do Something About Clutter – PARTIAL CREDIT
44. Home: Kitchen: Build spice rack - DONE
45. Home: Kitchen: Hang a café curtain - DONE
46. Home: Livingroom: Get the Throne Reupholstered
47. Home: Livingroom: Reorganize Shelves.
48. Home: Office: buy an Area Rug
49. Home: Office: door desk
50. Home: Office: repaint?
51. Home: Organize and Use Storage Space downstairs - DONE
52. KC: Check out Science City
53. KC: find a good grocery store - DONE
54. KC: Go to the art museum. - DONE
55. KC: Go to the Toy and Doll museum. - DONE
56. KC: visit the Electric House
57. Love: Finish Thank You Notes – PARTIAL CREDIT
58. Love: Fraction – DONE (well, always in progress)
59. Love: get Fraction that thing you think he’d like to have (maybe for Valentine’s Day?)
60. Love: Help Amity Get Married - DONE
61. Love: Photograph Fraction (in a birthday portrait, and more often in general) – PARTIAL CREDIT
62. Love: Put together Matt’s DIRTY CHRISTMAS from the hardware store - DONE
63. Love: Return the letter favor to Seth. – PARTIAL CREDIT
64. Love: Write in Red Book at least twice a month, allow entries to cover more than one day
65. Love: Write letters to Aunt Polly, Mike and Maggie. – PARTIAL CREDIT
66. MLF: Send chocolates to the winner of the Uber To Do List contest – PARTIAL CREDIT
67. MLF: Send out Gladys
68. MLF: Turn in Directory Page - DONE
69. Money: Get past Taxes all straightened out. – PARTIAL CREDIT
70. Money: Get this year’s taxes together for Kathy - DONE
71. Money: Open a savings account(?)- DONE
72. Money: Try out CSA
73. Money: update Quicken pretty much nightly – PARTIAL CREDIT
74. PROGRAM: Finish Fourth Step
75. PROGRAM: Memorize the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
76. PROGRAM: Sponsor someone? Maybe.
77. PROGRAM: Step Five
78. Read: 2 Yoga Books – PARTIAL CREDIT
79. Read: GET A FINANCIAL LIFE. Do not freak out.
80. Read: The Little Friend - DONE
81. Social: Host a dinnerparty/game night - DONE
82. Social: Spend more time with Kelli – PARTIAL CREDIT
83. Social: Visit Old Aunt Amy for a girlie weekend.
84. Travel: Sandy Eggo Nerd Prom? - DONE
85. Travel: Spend a long weekend in the Northwest (Seattle?)
86. Travel: Take a vacation with Amity.
87. Travel: Use Seth and Courtney’s tickets for a Kelly Sue and Courtney GLOOMY GIRLIE ADVENTURE or KRAMER/DEFRACTION VEGAS WEDDING WACKY-WACKY-GOODTIME TRIP. - DONE
88. Travel: Visit LA
89. Whimsy: Grow out bangs. Maybe. Take 40’s Hairstyles book to hairdresser next time I go for a cut. Maybe. - DONE
90. Whimsy: Look into tattoo touch up.
91. Whimsy: Memorize a few poems.
92. Whimsy: Spend more time outside. – PARTIAL CREDIT
93. Whimsy: Take More Baths - DONE
94. Whimsy: Take the rest of our riding lessons
95. Whimsy: Talk to OAA about doing a project together – PARTIAL CREDIT
96. Work: Complete Comic Pitch – PARTIAL CREDIT
97. Work: Contact Maggie’s friend as she suggested. - DONE
98. Work: Finish The Big Man
99. Work: Get kellysue.com up and running. - DONE
100. Work: a complete, highly-detailed outline of Midge
101. Work: Set some goals, in writing – PARTIAL CREDIT
102. Work: START everything on the project list. Even if that means just making a file for some things and jotting down notes.
103. Work: Submit to Rxxxxx the materials that they requested - DONE