The Hero's Journey through the Suburbs of Punk Culture

Within the intellectual, philosophical, and spiritual tapestry of humankind's brief stroll through time and space, underlying threads cab be pulled which reveal subtle and decidedly, unsubtle patterns woven throughout the systems of belief. Examine these stitches in time closer and we discover, in the intricately woven schemes, symbols representing the meaning we so desperately search for in our lives. Pluck a thread and the Punk movement unravels before you, emerging inside this thread is the Steampunk culture.

For the newly initiated, Steampunk is the mixture resulting from the combination of Rube Goldberg machinery, literature, cyberpunk technology, and Victorian fashion. A combination that could produce, if we are not careful, that most volatile by-product known to man - independent thinking. A dream for some, but a nightmare for those in power or somehow deeply invested in the predominant social norms.

The cycle of social change has been examined and reexamined many times over. Virtually every independent movement has been met with resistance by the cultural police. Do-gooders, religious hierarchy, and the unimaginative hate to deal with subversive thoughts. And the subversive thoughts most repelling to the bosses are, conveniently, ideas that challenge the rule maker's position of power. But you can't stop them all, can you?

It's the change that sneaks up on us from the ignored, underestimated intellectual nether regions that gets through and changes the status quo. Steampunk has adherents from many backgrounds. In a few years, I would not be surprised at hearing the curmudgeons saying, "...but they seemed so harmless at the time." They always do; don't they?


Want to learn more? Well, right in my backyard is an opportunity to fulfilling your wishes.

Wired describes the festivities thusly:

Imagine a world where steam power and clockwork mechanisms are the cutting edge of technology. A neo-Victorian setting, with Charles Babbage’s great Engine running calculations, inventors competing to outdo each others’ greatest works and Ferdinand von Zeppelin’s airships flying overhead. SteamPowered Events, Inc. announces Steam Powered: The California Steampunk Convention 2008, October 31st through November 2nd at the gorgeous Domain Hotel in Sunnyvale, California.

Steam Powered will be two and a half days of Steampunk immersion! The event will be located at the beautiful Domain Hotel in Sunnyvale, California. Special room rates will be available shortly. Click here to see what the Domain Hotel has to offer.

A rough sketch of the calendar is:

Friday October 31st
11am-4pm Vendor and event set-up
4:00pm Registration opens, Vendor Hall open
6:00pm Opening Reception - come in costume! Gamer's Guild opens
6:00pm-Midnight Game Room
7:00pm-Midnight Parties & hospitality Suites
8:00pm - 11:00pm SteamPunk's Ball: Victorian dance, Steampunk style!
11:00pm Costume contest - cash prizes!

Saturday November 1st
10am - 6pm Convention events: Speakers, Panels & Workshops TBA; Gamer's Guild, Steampunk Workshop, Dealer's Den, Art Gallery, Maker's Area
6 - 8pm Hospitality Suites - Leather Tea, etc.
10:00am-Midnight Game Room
9:00pm - 1am Party at the Center of the Earth - Headliners: The #1 Steampunk Band, Abney Park with Platform one, DJ Neshamah & DJ Anders *off-site venue with free motor coach transportation for hotel guests.

Sunday November 2nd
10am - 6pm Convention events: Speakers, Panels & Workshops TBA; Gamer's Guild, Steampunk Workshop, Dealer's Den, Art Gallery, Maker's Area

Do you want a Comic Book Tattoo?

Tori Amos has a new book out, sort of. She and Rantz Hoseley managed to get a few writers and illustrators to splash their creative juices around Tori's songs. Viewing her songs, interpreted through the pleasantly distorted lens of comic and graphic novel artists, stoke a desire for further collaboration with such steampunk sensibilities.

Rantz Hoseley and Tori Amos are listed as editor and executive editor on the inside cover masthead, but there's a bit more to this endeavour than merely compiling works. The artists include Pia Guerra, Leah Moore, John Reppion David Mack, Hope Larson, Ryan Kelly, Jonathan Hickman, Colleen Doran, Eric Canete, Ted McKeever, Jock, Anthony Johnston, Dame Darcy, Carla Speed McNeil, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Mark Buckingham, Ivan Brandon, C. B. Cebulski, along with an introduction by American Gods author Neil Gaiman. Okay, Gaiman is most well-known for the SANDMAN series, but my predisposition for old-school myth keeps sneaking out. Instead let's listen to the muse herself tell it:


It seems her entry into the publishing realm should not come as a big surprise. The release of her album, Tales of a Librarian - with songs categorized by the Dewey Decimal System - foreshadowed her interest in literature. Ah yes...Every boy's fantasy, librarian by day and musician/singer/songwriter/graphic novel editor by night. Hope the little earthquakes keep coming.

the privilege of a lifetime is being who you are

Any alternate topic for this post would necessarily require delving into the implications, arising from the revelation your bartender regularly checks up on you. Now it might be true, this only occurs when you haven't been around in awhile, but it has the makings of a sordid tale. And this is a non-sordid post; maybe next time.




This weekend's buffalo roam landed us amongst those inclined to celebrating wedded bliss. Blessedly warned of potential drunkenness and pillaging, a crew of the usual suspects, led by one cock-eyed pirate, made true to their word. The night was long and festive.


There was plunder piled high next to a flock of emo-goth kids, attempting to forestall the inevitable explosion of angst, as the old folks pinched their cheeks and told them " you were so cute in your diapers." Nice to see life's little circle continues its orbit.

But back to the ostensible purpose for this little walkabout in Nevada; a couple of souls got hitched! The evening winds, heated by some nearby dragon's breath, blew down the canyons and across the desert floor. Never fear though! Flowing liquor and some not-so-in-distress damsels managed to soothe away any concerns over the weather.

Slowly, portions of brain matter are beginning to function once again. A vague remembrance has been coalescing; one of a pool with clothed, partially-clothed, and a least one woman clad in foul undergarments.
Oh, mine eyes! Mine eyes! How could such sweet blissful ignorance be rendered into such painful imagery? Damn trickster Gods are at it again. Giggling their little assess off, I bet.

I call to the stand two of the prime suspects, Herr Jagermeister and Senor Tequila! Alas, none of the sorry witnesses have recovered enough mental clarity and the accused will saunter away to perform their devious ruse again and again. It would be a far more boring world without them, so we continue to put up with their shit, eh?

However, at least two incidents have been confirmed.

• The local constables stopped by to say hello and snuggle with their fellow brothers in the fraternal order of enforceability, fortunately they were whisked away on dreams and promises of controlling the thunder.
  

• A later unrelated report of some type of ritual copulation ceremony, designed to christen the premises may not have been exaggerated, as originally thought. The names must be held in strict confidence...until the video comes out. You gotta love a video enabled home security system.

It was a fine affair.

A toast to the beloved couple:

We bathe your palms
In the showers of wine,
In the crook of the kindling,
In the seven elements,
In the sap of the tree,
In the milk of honey,

We place nine pure, choice gifts
In your clear beloved face:

The gift of form,
The gift of voice,
The gift of fortune,
The gift of goodness,
The gift of eminence,
The gift of charity,
The gift of integrity,
The gift of true nobility,
The gift of apt speech.

Slainte'!

Next time we can discuss that bartender's saga, The Trail of Beers.