this is what concerns me

From this week’s missive. “A metastudy by several U.S. universities applied the Tightwad-Spendthrift scale to romantic relationships and determined that cheap and profligate people can love each other.”

I’m not saying it’s not possible, just highly unlikely, at least from where I’m standing. More from the study itself:

“That is, ‘tightwads,’ who generally spend less than they would ideally like to spend, and ’spendthrifts,’ who generally spend more than they would ideally like to spend, tend to marry each other, consistent with the notion that people are attracted to mates who possess characteristics dissimilar to those they deplore in themselves (Klohnen and Mendelsohn 1998). In spite of this complementary attraction, spendthrift/tightwad differences within a marriage predict conflict over finances, which in turn predict diminished marital well-being.”

I love the heavy parsing on “diminished marital well-being.” But I’m sad to hear that these tightwads are so ashamed and self-hating. I think moderate to extreme cheapness is one of the most attractive traits in a potential mate; I actually become very anxious around people who spend more than they should. But I never would have suspected that this is a rarity. Especially in this economy, amirite?

I realize this blog has become a clearinghouse of excuses as of late, but what can I say? It’s in the works, but so are a lot of new comics and, well, you know my priorities.

Speaking of which, this coming weekend, I’ll be exhibiting at the San Francisco Zine Fest at the County Fair Building’s Hall of Flowers in the Inner Sunset. It’s completely free, besides your N-Judah fair or gas, plus the willpower to withstand the Sunset fog, and there will be 100 exhibitors, several interesting workshops and lots of cute 20 and 30 something hipsters with tattoos and expensive cheap-looking clothes. I don’t have the latter two, but I’m still hoping to move some comics (I’m even reprinting some of last year’s stuff, since I now live around the corner from a $.02 copy place). I’m also whipping up some affordably priced watercolors for the occasion, and I might even offer $5 portraits. Plus: free chocolate chip cookie with every purchase.

I think the “Zine” part of this fest is sort of misleading, as the majority of the exhibitors seem to be cartoonists, small publishers or crafters. But I won’t get snarky about my take on how worthwhile it is to make a zine in 2009 considering the love-in poster over there, plus the fact that I’ll be Xeroxing, folding, trimming and stapling more than I’d like to admit over the next few days.

First, an apology: turns out I’m about as good with this Website as I am with my personal life. I’m currently in the midst of moving, but when I’m finished I’ll have loads of new stuff up here that doesn’t require me understanding anything about Cascading Code (i.e. new comics and paintings).

For now, though: a recent Google search that resulted in some time spent on this very blog reminded me of the terrifying prescience of Nathan Barley. Twitter doesn’t acknowledge NB as the inspiration behind their name, and maybe I’m giving a little too much credit here taste-wise, but it seems obvious to me. Then again, teens don’t tweet so perhaps it’s just some fun with the synchronicity of the collective unconscious. Either way, if you’re not familiar, let me bring you up to speed.

I suggest clicking through to the similar videos, especially if you think Vice Magazine is fucking absurd, and also if you enjoy tiny hats. Well fucking Jackson.

Previously: thinking is rubbish and rubbish isn’t cool

I’m still wrestling with the CSS and FTP and other acronyms I barely understand. But I’m also drawing some new comics so keep your pants on (please). Thanks.