RESTRICTED
FREQUENCY

a weekly newsletter by Ganzeer

Edition: 098 Date: November 11, 2017 Subscribers: 1,268

Recently read a long New Yorker investigation into the Sackler family's involvement in shaping America's opioid epidemic, which has left me sick in my stomach all week. I have seen evil before. I've seen it in a great many forms, but more often then not I've seen it take place under the guise of ignorance, or the illusion of 'doing the right thing', or the excuse of being subject to far more powerful forces.

This opioid epidemic though, largely the result of introducing OxyContin, a prescription opioid that has claimed the lives of 200,000 Americans since 1999, has been created with intent and committed resolve on part of the Sackler family. For no other reason than profit. Billions of dollars worth of profit. There's no two, three, or four ways about it. These people have bribed the FDA, involved politicians, faked medical reports, and launched an aggressive marketing campaign based entirely on a lie. All the while shielding the family name from direct involvement, and instead working tirelessly to make "Sackler" synonymous with art and philanthropy. Fucking repulsive villainy. If there's one long read you do read this week, make it this one: THE FAMILY THAT BUILT AN EMPIRE OF PAIN – The New Yorker

As artists with some degree of consciousness, it's important for us to know these things. Because our targets can't just be the obvious dictator or petroleum company. There are other less visible targets out there who are committing far more violence with far more abandon, while simultaneously sponsoring our art-production in the process. Even if such sponsorship is indirect by several degrees of separation, it still makes us complicit.

Do forgive me for the rather somber start to the newsletter. The rest of it has to do mostly with art and creativity, including Part II of last week's story: 1,000,000 A.D.

Do enjoy, and I hope you and yours as well,

Ganzeer
Denver, CO

WORKS

1,000,000 A.D. – Part II

“That is correct”, said the geologist before the Board of Directors at the Grand Temple of Sciences. “No matter how eternal existence may seem, I do not think it is inconceivable that it be followed by something else.”

“Something else?” asked one Board Member, “Like what?”

Silence. The geologist stood there in silence for an eternity of now before building up the courage to say it. “Death”.

There was muttering. Until one Board Member said “What is this word you communicate to us, Doctor?”

“It is a word I have encountered more than once in my excavations, where remnants of ancient knowledge is often found. I could not decipher its meaning before, but I now believe it to be the word used to describe post-life status. Death.”

“Doctor”, said one Board Member sternly, “Please be reminded that you are standing within the Grand Temple of Sciences, which is no place for contemplation of pre-human superstitions. We deal in facts, Doctor. Pure truth made concrete by the presentation of hard evidence.”

The geologist dug her hand into her bag and produced the human skull, holding it up high for all to see. “Hard enough for you?”

KEEP READING

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SURFS

Podcast: The Dreaming

I'm actually not a big fan of Neil Gaiman's SANDMAN, but I do like certain things about it. Don't get me wrong, I love Neil Gaiman's work, but I do feel he is a much better writer of prose than he is of comics. Neil's strength as a writer doesn't really lie in his plots or concepts, but rather in his use of language and the way he goes about telling a story, which he is able to do extremely well in prose (the crown of his output being THE GRAVEYARD BOOK, in my opinion).

(As an aside, I should say I feel quite the opposite about Alan Moore, whose strengths are utilized in comics more than in prose, which more often than not feels bogged down and tedious. Warren Ellis has both mediums down to perfection I think, weaving linguistic wizardry in prose, while relying more on the strength of visuals in comics, with high concept philosophical contemplations sitting at the center of a lot of his output.)

But this podcast I recently discovered, a read-along of Gaiman's SANDMAN, with each episode focusing on a singular issue, I find very enjoyable. The duo behind it not only gives a general recap of events per issue, but also goes into detail about many of the things referenced throughout, whether they are references to actual historical events and/or figures, or to things from mythology and outside fiction, or things from within the DC Universe. Enjoying a review of something more than what is being reviewed is a thing. It's how I feel about Pauline's Kael's reviews of Jean-Luc Godard's films, with the reviews almost describing another film I'd rather see more.

So if you're not a fan of SANDMAN but are interested in story, you will likely enjoy this podcast. If you are a fan of SANDMAN, you'll almost certainly enjoy this podcast.

CHECK IT OUT

SURFS

Podcast: Bulaq

Marcia Lynx Qualey and Ursula Lindsay have just launched a podcast on Arabic literature. This first episode focuses primarily on IN THE SPIDER'S ROOM by Mohammed Abdel Nabi, a first-person account of a gay man in contemporary Cairo. But they also touch upon some YA literature, conservative trolls, and oddly questionable poetry. Sound isn't the best, but I imagine this'll improve in following episodes. An important addition to the literary-scape of podcasting.

CHECK IT OUT

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ALSO!

Protestors crash Banksy's "Apology Tea Party" in Bethlehem.
National Park Service reverts decision to fund project documenting the legacy of the Black Panther movement.
Museum of Contemporary Art Denver announces $18 million renovation. Not sure that this is money well spent. The space, as is, is already fantastic. The art housed within, however? Not so much.
The history of Paris' catacombs, and the rise and fall of a particular Parisian delicacy: the Paris mushroom, 1000 tons of which was produced under the streets of Paris by 1880.
A network of ancient paths etched into the earth by the indigenous people of Bolivia some 3,000 years ago. They are found near the Nevado Sajama volcano, the highest point in Bolivia, and there are thousands of them. Why they were etched and where they are supposed to lead, it is not yet known.
CITY OF IMAGINATION: KOWLOON WALLED CITY 20 YEARS LATER – 17-min documentary on what was once the densest place on Earth, Kowloon Walled City in Hong Kong. Fascinating informal labyrinth of a place that is no more.
The latest images from Jupiter are something else.
Saudi Arabia granting Sophia the robot citizenship is nothing more than a feeble marketing gimmick in coordination with Hanson Robotics, and doesn't really mean much, but it lays precedent to future actions that may have consequences down the line.
Some lovely graphic novel recommendations from Rod Christensen:

In terms of comics with strong female leads:
- for kids my daughter (7) loves 'Zita the Space Girl', the 'Hilda' comics and 'Bone'.
- Porcelain from Improper books is a great series (I'm waiting on delivery of the final book 3) with a strong female character as the focus in a (sort of) steampunk setting.

You might enjoy A.D. After Death by Jeff Lemire and Scott Snyder which also explores the idea of "after immortality, then what?" Would we actually crave a release from living eternally?

(Based solely on PORCELAIN's 12-page preview, it looks absolutely fantastic! Very French BD.)
So, uh, I think Denver is starting to grow on me:

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