Saturday Roundup

So. As it turns out, BookBaby wasn't about to print one single on-demand book for me as promised. Amazon has dropped my book because of BookBaby's failure to deliver. Can I get a refund? Unlikely. Nobody at BookBaby knows what's going on.  Not even the president. I got the run around....they're all suddenly Sergeant Schulz-like. "We know NOTHINK!" Until I am reimbursed, I will continue to speak out against BookBaby and warn others. There's no excuse for the shabby way my book was treated. I did receive 100 expensive copies up front. I gave almost all of them away for free. I even paid postage to places as far away as Australia and England. The books are now nearly gone. So to all of you who received a copy--you have a rare edition (regardless of the typos and mistakes) because it's unlikely I'll ever print another one.

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Here's a photo taken today at the gallery in Bigfork. ArtFusion has displayed my large painting of a fly fisherman out front and it's generating quite a buzz. Few people in this area have seen such a thing. Mostly they see the usual clichés--realistic landscapes and wildlife paintings. Mine stands out.

"Fly Fisherman," available at ArtFusion Contemporary Art Gallery in Bigfork.

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I have not drawn a cartoon in over a month. I have the ideas. I have the time. I have the desire. What I don't have is freedom of speech. Whatever I draw is instantly defaced into hate and spread around the Interwebs. My reputation has been ruined as a result and it just makes no sense to draw something that will be seen by a few who like my cartoons while the rest of the world will see the defaced version. Until I can figure out a solution, there's no sense in drawing more cartoons.

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Finally, I have something to say about the tragic shooting that took place in South Carolina. Before those murders were considered, here is a statement that was made:


"The present situation is so unsettling that it's necessary to have an extreme response."


Do you know who delivered the above quote? See if you can guess. Was it a young man named Dylann Roof who coldly shot down innocent churchgoers? Guess again. It was Andrew Anglin, who runs a silly, but well-read Nazi site that spews hate. Is it any surprise that he and his ilk have had an effect on young, impressionable and ignorant minds?

Anglin instantly started back peddling as fast as he could to avoid any blame. Apparently he's now a paragon of peace and understanding. He's suddenly become the Martin Luther King Jr. of white supremacists.

http://splcenter.org/blog/2015/06/22/dylann-roof-may-have-been-a-regular-commenter-at-neo-nazi-website-the-daily-stormer/

And yet he has published statements such as "Gas the kikes, race war now!" and he has affixed my name to such shameful slogans. He publishes vicious and disgusting A. Wyatt Mann cartoons calling for race hatred--and he puts MY name on them. It's libel and it's actionable. It's too bad I can't get a lawyer interested in going after him. Why? Because he's also a broke loser.

Andrew is an Internet troll. Trolls stir up shit and laugh about it. That's their main goal and passion in life. Yet this time Andrew is definitely not laughing about the murders he may have indirectly caused...but since he is a troll he's definitely not about to take any responsiblity whatsoever. Oh no--trolls never take responsibility for their words. They blame others.

Behind it all is his charlatan "Christian" counselor daddy, Greg Anglin. Hey Greg, would Jesus approve of what your son is doing? Your deep pockets fund your son's online hate screeds and trolling. Donations are sent to your office while you claim you have no idea whatsoever what your baby boy is doing. Nosirreebob--you only started the site for your kiddo. You're the daddy troll. You enjoy it and laugh.

You also claim you have no idea what National Socialism is. Hitler who? The fact that your precious offspring has repeatedly pasted my name on disgusting A. Wyatt Mann cartoons that call for race hatred must bring you quite a belly laugh. What your son has done is libel, pure and simple.

You've also funded trips for your kid. You know, the one where he spent a year in the Philippines because he loves to drink and frolic among very, very young filipino girlfriends. You saw nothing wrong with that, either. In fact, you put your stamp of approval on his behavior, didn't you?

So enjoy your creation and make sure you also claim no responsibility for the increasing acceptance of race hatred among young people. The elite at the top love what you and your boy are doing. After all, if the nation is kept divided by race issues, there's less of a chance of all races coming together to fight tyranny and economic slavery. --Ben Garrison

bengarrison.com

My website is back up today. It now focuses on my fine art. I've come full circle. I'm now officially a starving artist--a painter. This is what I had expected to be when I was in college.

I have managed to sell quite a few paintings and I have more in the works. My paintings are now sold exclusively at the ArtFusion, the lone contemporary art gallery in BigFork. The other art galleries there basically sell the same old kitsch that has been painted millions of times. Of course, kitsch does sell. Too many people want comfortable, safe clichés and nostalgia. I prefer to take a different path.

http://www.bengarrison.com

Blue Indian

Here is my latest painting titled, "Blue Indian." It will soon be at the ArtFusion gallery in Bigfork. Oil on canvas, 18x24. I've seen many cliché paintings of such an Indian--usually painted in ultra realistic style. I took a different tack, but I still wanted to maintain an expression of severity and dignity. I think I accomplished that. The man is from the Blackfoot Indian tribe. I lived among these Indians when I was a kid at a ranch in Blackfoot Idaho.

I met an Indian here in Lakeside recently. He was about my age and had an advanced degree in languages. He spoke many Indian languages fluently including the one used by the local Salish/Kootenai tribes. He spoke to me in that language and it sounded exceptionally beautiful. He said some of the Indian languages had many more words than English. which enabled one to express oneself in subtle ways. The Salish language in particular was very poetic and beautiful. I wish I could speak such a language.

I'm currently working on my next painting and it will be a good one. I'm also considering not drawing any more cartoons since everything I draw is instantly defaced into hatred by trolls. They've succeeded in ruining my online reputation. My cartoons are no longer being taken seriously or reblogged by others since I'm now seen as racist and 'anti-Semitic.' The trolls have won. My business has also been ruined. Nobody is going to hire me based on my name and google searches. My work site, bengarrison.com is currently down and no longer tenable. I'll have to make major changes in order to try to continue to make a living. All because I dared to draw anti-Federal Reserve cartoons. --Ben Garrison

UPDATE: This painting sold very quickly at the ArtFusion gallery in Bigfork. It's the quickest I've ever sold a painting!

Hate Speech and Dopplegängers

I live in Montana and I know it's freer than a lot of states. I'm also very familiar with 'hate speech' since many trolls around the age of this young man have enjoyed using my name and face to spread their hate--and it went on for  years.

http://reason.com/blog/2015/06/05/montana-hate-speech-case#comment_5348331

Is hate speech really 'free' if it destroys the reputations of others and their ability to communicate clearly? Is it free if it threatens lives? I've been told libel and defamation are 'free speech' and that I'm wrong to complain about getting my reputation ruined. I've been told I 'deserved' it because I complained...therefore I'm against free speech. This was the meme they used to keep the hate going.

I'm now known as an 'anti-Semitic' cartoonist thanks to Internet trolls even though I've clearly stated I'm against racism and anti-Semitism. Even a Fox news affiliate said live on air that I was an 'anti-Semitic cartoonist' simply because that's what they heard over and over via hate speech delivered by countless Internet trolls.

I also drew a custom cartoon for an organization whose ideals I support. They were delighted with the cartoon and they were going to use it for their promotional materials. Then later....no. They changed their minds. Why? Because even though they knew I was heavily trolled, they decided they didn't want to be associated with a cartoonist who is thought to be 'anti-Semitic.' It would be a distraction from what they were trying to do. There! My cartoon goes unseen and my free speech has been shut down because of hate speech. That's why I may give up drawing cartoons altogether...what's the point in extending the joke and further ruining my own reputation? In essence, I've been shut up and I've also lost business due to hate speech.

The young man in question is an obvious Internet troll, which is now a sport or a game among many. He probably doesn't hate jews...he was doing it for the 'lulz.' He was doing it because he can. He is being charged with 'hate speech' under Montana law. I'm surprised Montana had such a law and I expect his case to be tossed out of court. What he was posting was completely reprehensible--he calls for the murder of people based on their religion and some find that hilarious. I don't. And if he had been using my face and name to do it (as trolls were doing with regularity) I would have loved to see him brought to justice in my state because that is libel and it would be far easier to try the case in state court.

As it is, he's free to express his hate. It's legal in America. The problem is, too many are now doing it 'anonymously' and they're able to escape any responsibility or accountability. If they said these things out on a street corner, they'd be ignored or countered and humiliated by reason.

Here's the problem with 'anonymous' hate speech: It encourages abuse and more hatred. The constant repetition of death and hate callouses minds and even starts to make such death threats acceptable. They're not acceptable. Hate speech should be considered 'legal,' but it's not 'free' when it cries for the death of human beings based on their race or religion. When someone is killed as the result of hate speech, their free speech is gone forever. What I'd like to see is responsible speech on the Internet. Do you love Hitler and hate jews? Then go ahead and write that, but PUT YOUR OWN NAME ON IT. Very few will do that. So instead of jail time for this young man, instead let's make him accountable for what he is saying and make sure people know HE is the one behind it. Right now a lot of these young people enjoy online anonymity and they've lost their sense of decency because of it. They have no shame. It's anything goes and they push the envelope because they think free speech is also absolute free speech.

Absolute free speech. Sounds great, huh? If allowed, however, be prepared to accept child porn--kids who are abused and scarred for life. Be prepared to accept anonymous trolls who torment grieving parents whose kid has just died. Be prepared to accept online snuff films. Be prepared for people posting grisly auto wreck scenes featuring horrific photos of someone's dead loved one. (That has happened).  Be prepared to accept someone calling for YOUR death and torment you and your family because you happen to be a targeted race, religion or have a different sexual preference. Be prepared to have your online reputation completely ruined by libel. Be prepared to have your business attacked. Be prepared for people changing your work and your words and into hate. (Happened to me--they've even edited podcast interviews so that I sound like a Nazi). This kind of hate speech has spread to social media--Facebook, Twitter, Reddit and so forth. The anonymous trolls do not own these sites, but the abuse there is increasing daily and sites such as Facebook have a bad track record of enforcing their own stated community standards.

America has long since tolerated hate speech as the price for free speech and the haters were easily ignored. But now, due to the internet, the unheard and the powerless have access to a giant megaphone that is used to make their repeated and very loud cries for murder. Again, they will usually NOT attach their own names to their hate, nor will they pony up their own dime to pay for their own website as a means to spew hate still further. Instead they use free social media and when hate is repeated constantly, impressionable minds start to believe it. (Think of Nazi Germany).

Removing hate speech from social media is not violating free speech. In fact, it's a way of PROTECTING the real free speech of REAL people. If we don't police this ourselves, look for big government to step in and shut down all free speech on the internet. They will use the out of control hate speech as one of their excuses. --Ben Garrison

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Additional:

Quinn Norton is a marvelously talented writer who penned this response to David Blumenstein's cartoon. If only I could write half as well...she uses the word 'dopplegänger,' which is extremely appropriate. It reminds me of a 'Twilight Zone' episode in which a woman is haunted by a dopplegänger who looks just like her, but has mischievous and even malevolent intent. David has done a lot to help me finally tame my dopplegänger.

https://medium.com/@quinnnorton/4chan-tells-is-very-little-about-ben-garrison-but-it-tells-us-a-lot-about-the-net-bf3b75ccbc54

SPECIAL THANKS TO DAVID BLUMENSTEIN!

https://thenib.com/the-internet-s-most-trolled-cartoonist-91a92d9b7585

He has a unique, distinctive and professional style. He uses minimal colors (love the burnt orange) and has a very gregarious and easy to read lettering style. Some friends have already commented that they knew it was me right away. David can capture the essence of someone in a simple manner and that's very difficult to do. His caricatures have a wonderful warmth and charm.

I am flattered and humbled that he spent so much time doing this great cartoon and I'm certain that it will finally put the trolling to an end. I'm very happy about that! There are some very good people out there who have helped me and this is just amazing. I've received a lot of exposure and now most people know the truth. I can finally close the chapter on the trolling and move on.

Thank you, David for your brilliant work!

--Ben Garrison

I DO NOT CONSENT TO A SEARCH

"I do not consent to a search."

These are words all Americans should memorize.

My son was pulled over by a cop last week when he was driving from North Dakota to Billings. The police started to question him...asking if he had anything to drink (no) and then the cop claimed my son's eyes were 'watery.' At the point the cop wanted to search his car. A cop's imagination is not probable cause. My son had listened to me and wisely told him, "I do not consent to a search." The cop then left. There was no ticket. After all, going 5 mph over the speed limit was hardly worth it. The revenue generator, er, cop, was on a fishing expedition and moved on to snag easier prey.

DO NOT CONSENT TO A SEARCH. Ever. It can never be to your benefit. You do not need to show the cops your 'support' and the cops are NOT your friends. Their job is to find or invent a case and arrest you and get you spending thousands of dollars. That's what it's all about. Again, the cops are out there to arrest you and generate money for their corrupt system. DO NOT TALK TO THEM other than to assert your rights. If you must talk to them, simply say..."Am I free to go?"

https://www.facebook.com/ajplusenglish/videos/558855407589304/

Sometimes this does not work. Watch this video.

https://youtu.be/gyvQ5HkZd3s

The cop got off scot free, of course. No wonder we hear, "No justice, no peace!"

DeKooning

Just a reminder...this is a freaking AWESOME painting.

Illustration vs. Fine art

People have often asked the difference between illustration and fine art. Some have said there is no difference at all. I think there is a difference. A big difference. I shall attempt to answer that question here.

But first, an anecdotal story: I once rented a vacation home in Montana. It was chalk full of Montana clichés. A small carved bear hugged the staircase. The house was rustic and came with a wood stove. Well, not really. It was fake--it was propane stove. The more I looked at the place, I realized it was chalk full of fakery. It's what tourists would expect and the landlord delivered. Mostly, it was filled with well-framed prints by a very popular artist here in Montana named Monte Dolack. He has a gallery in Missoula and apparently he's made a good living from what he does.

What he does is produce clichéd illustrations of Montana wildlife and such. He has sold a great many prints. The landlord had one of his framed prints just above the toilet. It featured wild ducks in a bathroom. It was titled "Suburban Refuge." I was forced to look at his painting daily since it was featured above the toilet. Ducks were in a bathtub and toilet. One was stepping on a tube of toothpaste and squeezing out an inordinate amount of toothpaste considering his weight. The bathtub was fixing to overflow. Apparently it did not have the usual drain that prevented that from happening. Logic cannot interfere--the narrative was wild ducks wreaking havoc and the artist had to force the issue.

I began to hate this painting with a passion. So much so that I removed it and put it facing the wall. It represented everything I hate about art.

Of course, Monte is far more successful than I am. He is perhaps the most celebrated artist in Montana. How did he obtain that status? He painted junk that appealed to the masses, that's how. The landlord had several other framed prints throughout the house and I despised each and every one of them. To be sure, he is far more successful than I am and he's apparently well-loved. I'm unknown. So what. I would never trade places with him.

He's an illustrator and not a fine artist, even if many claim that he is. He paints in an unoriginal style and hangs each work on a narrative and then the art is forced to adhere to that story line. Penguins destroying a refrigerator. A cloud in the shape of a buffalo. Trout in a couch. All rendered in minute, granular detail as if quality is measured by detail by the pound. No matter--simply give it a profound title such as 'Landscapes of the Mind' and people will flock to buy it. And they have. I know Monte couldn't care less about my opinion and I'm sure he'd hate my work. No matter. It's fair use and I happen to have chosen him as an example of illustration vs. fine art. His work is illustration because it depends on a 'hook' or story to reel the viewer in. Such narratives sell artwork--especially here in Montana. Fine art rests on its own merits and relies on the input of the onlooker. The viewer has to invest emotional energy into the work seen and that means an emotional connection occurs. The person is engaged at looking at art when this happens. It's fine art.

I'm a long time commercial artist and illustrator so I know these things. I know how to create metaphors that manipulate and teach the viewer about the content. This is useful and illustration does serve an important purpose. I get paid for doing what I do. It's not fine art. I came up with the following table to help further this understanding:

Of course, I can go on and on about this, but I think anyone who has read this gets the point. Illustration is narrative--left brain and horizontal thinking. Fine art transcends words and description. It stands on it's own merit--it's vertical thinking, which is far more effective at providing the meaning of life. Ducks in a bathtub do not provide the meaning of life.

--Ben Garrison

Prokofiev - Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Flat Major, Op. 10

Prokofiev looked like a Russian businessman, but his music was amazing. This is an early work and it's very short--but it's a work of genius. Prokofiev returned to Russia at the worst possible time....Stalin had taken over and it was a grim time for creative geniuses such as him. (And Shostakovich).

Daily Reminder: Andrew Anglin is a Little Troll

The fake Nazi scamp is at it again. Andrew Anglin, I mean. Apparently he's published another photo of me in a Nazi uniform (yawn) along with an anti-Semitic hate screed. I guess he's run out of original ideas. No worries...his daddy--Greg Anglin, a professional Christian "counselor," who apparently prefers that his patients are good looking young ladies, will pay his bills when he can't raise enough donations from his hate. His dad has received bad reviews for his work... perhaps because he mostly enjoys toying with people's minds. Like father, like son.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syWHGdCrEgg

Little Andrew is a trolling scallywag--following in his dad's footsteps. He's not a Nazi--that's just the song and dance he puts on in order to raise money through hate. In my book I've exposed him for what he is--he's a professional troll. Seen in this light, he is harmless. (Unlike his dad who messes with people's minds for a living).

http://www.amazon.com/Rogue-Cartoonist-Internet-Perils-Citizen-Muckraker-ebook/dp/B00XGFI0SK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1432409542&sr=8-1&keywords=rogue+cartoonist

Enjoy your hate, Andy....now get back to work and earn those shekels...your dad can't be expected to pick up your tab forever.

http://knowyourmeme.com/photos/957991-ben-garrison

Here is an earlier message that I posted:

Anglin is a spoiled, immature troll and nothing more. He uses his cartoon Nazi site to attract haters willing to support his troll habit. In other words, he's figured out how to get paid to troll. He knows hate pays. He's admitted that trolling is his passion. He's proud of it...but when Anglin himself is trolled he tosses a tear-filled tantrum. He also fancies himself some sort of journalist, which is laughable and pathetic.

What's even more pathetic is big daddy bankrolls his son's bad behavior. It must be interesting for him, a so-called 'Christian mental health professional,' to sit back and enjoy the psychology of it all. Shame on both of them...but his dad deserves condemnation in particular. There's no way America will EVER embrace that stupid Hitler junk--especially my generation. Our fathers fought in WWII to defeat that bastard. Hitler disdained Christianity and warred with Russia (Soviet Union), and yet Anglin admires Putin. It all makes no sense, but trolls care little about logic and reason. They merely want to stir up hate. Again, it's just trolling and that's all. Anglin is not smart enough for anything else.

End of story. --Ben Garrison

interview

http://knowyourmeme.com/blog/interviews/qa-with-ben-garrison

Know your meme dot com just published an interview and I hope it clears the cigar-smokey air a bit more. --Ben

A Winning Entry

https://libertopiacartoon.wordpress.com/2015/05/16/2015-art-contest-winners-announced/

I think editorial cartoon contests are a great idea. They encourage young people to think about issues and it gives them a venue to display their artistic talent.

Heck, such contests are good for 'old' people such as me, too!

The winning entry: I am supporting Rand Paul here. Yes, I have trepidations and doubts. I like his father much more. I was extremely disappointed when Rand did not endorse his own father, but instead supported Romney.

That said, he still claims he's out to audit the Fed and he's also against the Patriot Act, the NSA and so forth. We'll see if he can carry his father's torch of liberty.

--Ben Garrison

BB King - "Paying the Cost to be the Boss"

RIP, BB! He epitomized blues music.

Trolling the Clueless Anchors

Ha!

http://thedailywh.at/2015/04/prank-day-4chan-users-troll-fox-phoenixs-live-coverage-baltimore-riots/

JFK to 911 Everything Is A Rich Man's Trick

This is an excellent video that clearly explains how the world is run by, essentially, ultra rich and powerful gangsters. If you were skeptical that Kennedy was not killed in a coup, this video will convince you. Kennedy was one of our last, 'real' presidents.

The Three Branches of Government

This is a cartoon I drew nearly six years ago, but what shows up on Google searches first is the defaced version--defaced by Internet trolls, that is. So here is the original again to help give it some traction.

Hillary Clinton said the CFR was her 'Mothership,' and she answers to them, not to the people. She's incompetent, a cynical liar and corrupt to the marrow...which means she'll probably stand a good chance of becoming president.

I do not draw anti-Semitic or racist cartoons. End of story. But if you want to know more about the story, please check out my new ebook.

--Ben Garrison

http://www.amazon.com/Rogue-Cartoonist-Internet-Perils-Citizen-Muckraker-ebook/dp/B00XGFI0SK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1431385164&sr=8-2&keywords=rogue+cartoonist

My ebook is on Amazon

Rogue Cartoonist, the ebook!

http://www.amazon.com/Rogue-Cartoonist-Internet-Perils-Citizen-Muckraker-ebook/dp/B00XGFI0SK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1431308798&sr=1-1

No, I'm not just blowing smoke! My ebook is now available on Amazon. It's still pricer than I would have liked, but it's 1/3 the cost of my printed book. Since it has a great many images, the file size is on the large side, and so Amazon charged more than it would, say, for an unillustrated standard novel. 

I also added in more cartoons to the ebook version as well as a new epilogue!

Thanks to everyone who has given me and Tina their support--and for those of you who already bought my printed book, I arranged for the ebook version to be available to you for only a couple of bucks. The book is also in the Kindle Unlimited Library where it can be read for free if you are a subscriber.

It has been quite a learning journey for me. I learned that writing a book is much harder than I had imagined and my respect for real writers increased immensely. I'm also a horrible editor and I couldn't spot a typo if it hit me over the head with a 2x4, but I did fix them for the ebook. Those who have read my book have commented that they found it very interesting. 

By the way, I'm out of promotional copies of the printed book for now. I have a few in reserve that I’ll send out to publishers, but I realize attracting a big-name publisher is a long shot. Heck, they all want literary agents nowadays and only 3 percent of the submissions on average get accepted.

I did snail-mail out 70 free signed copies to anyone who wrote me a polite email. I sent free copies out to people all over the United States as well as copies to other countries such as Mexico, England and even a few were sent to Australia. Those books will be 'rare' since I don't plan on printing any more unless I can find a publisher. They were very expensive to print on my own.

Ben Garrison

NOW AVAILABLE--CEO of TROLL!

I received a lot of requests for an image I drew last year--the CEO of Troll, Inc. I cleaned it up in Adobe Illustrator and made it presentable for printing.

Thanks very much to everyone who bought the other stuff!

http://www.zazzle.com/grrrgraphics/products/cg-196300347936911613

Cuck a Duck

People have asked me if I've lost my mind. Perhaps, but it has been fun. This particular drawing helps make amends for years of 4chan's personal attacks on me--all allowed by Luggage Lad himself.

Someone on 8chan suggested the idea for this--and I thank the anon for his idea because it was fun to draw.

There will be more!

My ebook has been formatted into various formats and I will publish the ebook next week. I've added in more cartoons and an updated epilogue. I lost to the Internet Hate Machine, but as Rhett Butler said in 'Gone With the Wind,'...maybe it's because I've always had a weakness for lost causes...that's what keeps me going.

Unlike 4chan (Mr. "m00t" had me banned), the folks at 8chan have been encouraging and they've even suggested cartoon ideas. I'm all ears.

Don't ask me to explain this cartoon. The anons on 4chan will know what it means. BTFO! LOL

My ebook will be released soon

I've gone for months without any commercial art assignments, but lately I have been lucky enough to have several going on at once. So I've been busy and that's good. I need to make a living.

I've also received some very nice responses about my printed book and I greatly appreciate that, especially since I'm not a writer (and I'm a terrible editor). I have mailed out approximately 70 books for free to those who sent me a polite email asking about them. I've also sent out many to friends and family. I'm just about all out of my promotional copies. To all of you who have written me with encouragement, I appreciate your sentiments very much and I'd much rather pay postage on the books than give money to lawyers. That said, I'd like to bring some of the worst offenders to justice, but that may take a while still.

I will definitely get the book uploaded to Amazon sometime next week. It will be a lot cheaper than the printed book, and it will also contain updates and more cartoons. I'm sorry to say I won't be able to autograph any of those copies.

The book was cathartic and it marks a turning point in my attitude. I no longer worry about the attacks and I've become so calloused that sometimes I even find myself laughing. The entire 'Zyklon Ben' meme has officially jumped the shark and now the trolls are starting to realize I'm 'untouchable.' In fact, I got a chuckle out of seeing this peculiar painting--done by a young artist who is also using my name on Google:

He actually took the time and energy to paint my portrait. Sure, I don't like the swastika and it's silly, but I smiled regardless. This only illustrates just how far and ridiculous the entire meme has gotten and now that it's impossible for me to be angry about it...well, it surely signals an end point to the trolling.

I like how the artist captured my expression here. People have remarked that my expression is always the same. They may have a point!

It's been quite a journey and I've learned a lot about trolls, memes and even a little about anime. Someone sent me a very interesting explanation about Bitcoin and I confess I've never been able to figure out exactly how that works. He explained it clearly and succinctly. I now wish I had mentioned it in my book. Five years ago I was naive and ignorant about the chan boards and those who posted on them, but I've discovered that there are many good people there. (Of course, many are very obnoxious, too). My ebook alludes to this in the epilogue.

Writing is very difficult. Writers hone their craft by daily practice and through years of learning and dedication. To become a good writer, one most possess a complete and resolute devotion--similar to musicians who spend a lifetime improving their skill. I don't have that kind of time and I'd rather produce art with what time remains. My attempt at writing a book instilled within me renewed admiration for good writers. It's very hard work. It's more difficult than I had ever imagined, but at least I can say I did it and now I can move on.

Thanks to everyone who bought the funny coffee mugs recently, and when I get the time I plan on doing a few more. The operator of 8chan is a tough guy who can take the flak and if he can, then so can I. I especially want to thank Tina who has been helping me monitor things while I've been busy cranking out the commercial art. 

More soon! --Ben Garrison