punkpunk

Mushroom Mystery Solved: Basket Stinkhorn

2010-08-18T10:47:00.000-07:00

Ever since I started working at a job in San Francisco's Presidio, I've noticed these strange little egg-like fungus that would undergo a startling transition. On my daily walk from the bus stop to the office, I'd see them under some shrubs. I always imagined them as some sort of alien life form. Frankly, they freaked me out.

They'd start out as a whitish egg shape, then "blossom" into a something like an orange dodecahedron or geodesic dome with holes, which would finally start to collapse. I've been wondering about these things for about three years, and of course did nothing about it. Even though I knew that one of my coworkers is into fungi (I think she's even part of the Bay Area Mycological Society), it wasn't until today that I took a photograph, along with a Post-It Note documenting its phases, to seek her guidance.

Within a few minutes she was able to identify it: Basket Stinkhorn. Gotta love the name. Today was also the first time I noticed flies all over it. Apparently it has an odor like rotting meat (I don't want to get close enough to smell it!), which attracts the flies, which then helps to spread its spores; ingenious and gross. Ironically, the more I learn about it, the more freaked out and disgusted I am.

Notebook, Memory, Nevermore

2010-04-17T11:16:00.000-07:00

So long Penway 3x5. 2002, we will miss you.

Finally getting down to the nitty-gritty of cleaning the apartment. A real clean, where everything has its place, and whatever doesn't gets recycled, Goodwill-ed, composted or thrown away. Getting rid of notebooks. Just tossed one from 2002. This is basically one from my Kinokuniya days. I have all the initial notes: the book departments; staff names and their positions, what sections they bought for; and crudely drawn store layout maps. I have ideas: section logo 1" buttons to identify what sections staff headed (which I did make and some folks actually wore on their blue Kino aprons); an ill-thought bookworm mascot I was playing around with; thoughts and schematics for future punkpunk's that never made it off the ground, like a menko card set; and prose that never made it into stories. There's even notes on the proper way in Japanese to do credit card transactions with customers and other assorted Japanese bookshop lingo or customer service language I was unfamiliar with at the time. This is all gone now. It will fade. I have a horrible memory. As I'm shredding and tossing this all into the compost, towards the end, I'm feeling that I just threw away a whole year or at least a good six months of my past. Will I miss it? Probably not. Like I said, I have a horrible memory. It's just like it never existed.

Randy Raccoons

2010-02-19T09:57:00.000-08:00

Just chillin' before the main event.

Work came to a standstill seeing these two on a Friday morning. They didn't seem to be rabid or anything. And what they did next, maybe explained their diurnal outing.

Every window had a coworker or two watching the action.

My Harry Potter Office

2009-09-24T20:30:00.000-07:00

My friend Thien moved recently and had converted a closet space into an office. During the planning stages for our new apartment, Jing jokingly mentioned that I should do the same. Well, it's now a reality. It's 21 sq.ft. of workspace awesomeness.

Muni Man + SF Muni Fast Pass Buttons = Happy Packaging

2009-09-03T19:35:00.000-07:00

Finally had some time and was able to finish final packaging. I've also added some info lines on the back so folks get to know the month and year of the Fast Passes used. I don't know, this just makes me happy. Click the title link if you're interested.

SF Muni Man Is Back

2009-09-01T22:46:00.000-07:00

This is a modified version of the envelope image we used for punkpunk02 way back in 2002. It said "READ ONE" instead. I've brought this out to use as part of the button sets. I don't even know if this guy is still riding around in some of the older Muni buses, but he used to adorn the metal pamphlet holders. Now instead of a "please," we get the command of the soulless and text only "Take One" signs. Does anyone know if these guys are still around? I used to see it most on the 22 line.

Moving, Moving

2009-08-28T00:55:00.000-07:00

Oh, the joys of moving. Still trying to figure out where everything goes in the soon to be new home. I think the low level Cubits shelving–always only buy during DWR's warehouse sale, a kit only ends up costing about $20!–across an entire wall in the bedroom will be fantastic.

SF Muni Heads, Fast Pass Buttons Now Available Online

2009-08-26T23:38:00.000-07:00

By popular demand, these are now on Etsy. Seems like everyone wants them now, but I'm hoping to make some cute, minimal packaging to go along with it—maybe something with punkpunk's version of the Muni Man on it.

punkpunk Toy Karma 2 Packaging

2009-08-26T22:06:00.000-07:00

Just finished the packaging for the Toy Karma 2 show at Rotofugi in Chicago. The text says Monster Matchbox.

SF Muni Fast Pass Buttons

2009-08-26T09:55:00.001-07:00

I've had this idea for years now, but every time I suggested we make Fast Pass buttons, Jing would always make the unsure face and that would be that. Well, as our wares were quite low in number for the recent SF Zine Fest, I decided that I would finally get a chance to test out my idea. I think the response has been quite good. I will soon be posting info on how to purchase. Can anyone catch the mistake in the photo above?

So of course I can't believe the coincidence of my timing (I always wait too long), but in the very same Golden Gate Park where Zine Fest just took place, John Kuzich's fast pass piece is currently displayed at the de Young Museum. I think I even remember seeing his ads asking for Fast Passes in laundromats. It's up till August 30th; I must check it out. Share the Fast Pass love.

punkpunk @ Rotofugi in Chicago

2009-08-20T08:20:00.000-07:00

This is punkpunk's contribution to the Toy Karma 2 group show at Rotofugi in Chicago. The theme is art inspired by classic Japanese toys. From right to left we have: Ultraman, Garamon, Kamen Rider, Shocker, Gamera and Asagi-chan (Gamera 2 winter outfit). We're bad and still working on the packaging for these guys. They'll be available at the store on September 5th.

So Long Ewok Fire Cart

2009-03-04T23:03:00.000-08:00

For about three to four years I've been trying to get the Ewok Family Hut (circa 1983-84) – not that they're hard to find, it's just that I'm really cheap. I first started off with wanting the Tree Tots Family Tree House (circa 1976-77, the Japanese version Koedachan is even cooler and still going strong today), but later found that this was retooled, released and crossed with another love of mine: Ewoks! Like two birds… Anyway, I'd come across a few of the other toys in this Ewoks line for preschoolers and eventually was able to get this Fire Cart set. Unfortunately, I was really disappointed. It's all about their eyes. Something about them just creeps me out, and then the grand dream was over; the search for the Family Hut was over before it started. These are pics from an eBay auction I just posted. Looking at these pics, I almost feel a little sad.

work/life_002

2009-02-15T14:00:00.000-08:00

work/life_002 made its debut on February 15th, 2009 at Lark Pien's art show, I Love You A Little, at STUDIO Gallery located on Polk Street in San Francisco. As you can see, this issue features Lark Pien. You may want to pick up this first edition, as a forthcoming (hopefully in time for APE 2009) second completely reformatted edition will have all the embarrassing bits taken out!

work/life is a continuing interview zine project. Each issue focuses on a single artist or creator. Up next: Bwana Spoons.

You'll Shoot Your Eye Out or: Rampax, the Evil Italian Robot

2009-02-03T10:49:00.000-08:00

For the longest time, I always thought that non-missile-firing toys were the worst. At some point during my childhood suddenly all the missile launchers wouldn't fire their missiles; you could still shoot the missile, the launcher just wouldn't release it. Some dumb kid was probably to blame. Recently I stumbled across a vintage toy site from Italy looking for some Lego Scala jewelry. As shipping was gonna cost a bit anyway, I added a few extra items to my order. One of which is this super-cool Kit Robot called Rampax by an Italian company called Grisoni. I think the packaging alone is worth it.I have a feeling this toy may be haunted. I used my trusty X-ACTO Gripster knife to cut the parts off the tree. It's been quite awhile since I've cut myself, but then, slice, off comes a tiny piece of a knuckle off the middle finger of my left hand.
Rampax's abuse didn't stop there though. It has two missile-firing arms: the right uses a simple hook mechanism; and the left arm uses a more complex swivel motion to fire. After I put it together, as I am oft to do when displaying toys, I put its arms in the air, forgetting about the left arm's harpoon like missile's firing mechansim. It hit only about 1/8" below my right eye. I've since removed the springs.Just look at this face on its chest. Rampax is angry. It wants to take your eyes.

Shigacorn Vs. Sublife

2008-11-02T20:51:00.000-08:00

One of the nice things about the Alternative Press Expo (APE) is getting to hang out with out of town cartoonist friends. Here Jason Shiga shows LA native John Pham some East Bay love at Lower Haight's Memphis Minnie's.