WILD WILD TURKEYS

Just some shots of the Wild Turkey (ha ha) (Meleagris gallopavo) flock that lives in the backyard.  I saw them through the window and got my camera, but as soon as I came out the door they started running.  Wily little creatures... the National Symbol of Ben Franklin's America.

* * *

THE TRUTH ABOUT LARRY

Larry is a girl.

LARRY THE LIZARD

Larry the Lizard is a Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis) that has been following Izzy around the state of Florida since she was two years old.  Currently, Larry spends his days doing who-knows-what, but each night he comes to the kitchen, climbs up the window blinds, and sleeps there.  He is so damn cute.  He doesn't even mind if you get up close to him and peer into his sleepy little lizard eyes, but if you touch his tail he might jump to the window, or move a little.  I Love Larry.

* * *

KING-CAT/BLAMMO WEST COAST TOUR!

John P. and Noah meet for the first time -- 2008 Denver Zine Fest

(Photo by Sarah Slater)

Hey all-- my good buddy Noah Van Sciver and I are hitting the road from mid-August through mid-September to bring all you west coast comic book fans a heapin' helpin' of good ol' fashioned stuff and nonsense!  We'll be hitting up many of the big zine shows, as well as having individual events in a bunch of other towns.  Most events will feature slideshows and talks by Noah and I, followed by Q+A and book-signings--  so come on down!

Sat. 8/21: Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis Indie Expo

http://www.mplsindiexpo.com/

Sat.-Sun. 8/28-29: Portland, OR

Portland Zine Symposium

http://www.pdxzines.com/


Mon. 8/30: Seattle, WA

ZAPP/Hugo House - 7 PM

1634 11th Avenue

Seattle, WA 98122

ph. (206) 322-7030

www.hugohouse.org/content/zapp 

Tues. 8/31: Vancouver, BC

Lucky's - 7 PM

3972 Main Street,

Vancouver, BC V5T 4L8

ph. (604) 875-9858

http://www.luckys.ca/


Thurs. 9/2: Berkeley, CA

Comic Relief - 7 PM

2026 Shattuck Ave.

Berkeley, CA 94704

ph. (510) 843-5002

http://www.comicrelief.net/

Fri. 9/3: San Francisco, CA

San Francisco Zine Fest Reading

Cartoon Art Museum

Time: 7 PM

655 Mission St.
San Francisco, CA 94105

ph. (415) CAR-TOON
http://cartoonart.org/

Sat.-Sun. 9/4-5: San Francisco, CA

San Francisco Zine Fest

http://www.sfzinefest.com/


Tues. 9/7: Los Angeles, CA

Giant Robot LA - 6 PM

2062 Sawtelle Blvd West

Los Angeles, CA 90025

ph. (310) 445-9276

www.gr2.net/


Weds. 9/8: Joshua Tree, CA

Mt. Fuji - 7 PM

61740C 29 Palms Hwy

Joshua Tree, CA

(Behind the Bakery and True World Gallery)

ph. (760) 333-9174

web.mac.com/chandoyle/fujibird/Mt.Fuji.html


Sat. 9/11: Albuquerque, NM

Astro Zombies - 12 PM

3100 Central Avenue SE

Albuquerque, NM 87106

ph. (505) 232-7800
http://www.astrozombies.com/

Sun. 9/12: Santa Fe, NM

True Believers - 12 PM

801 Cerrillos Road

Santa Fe, NM 87505

ph. (505) 992-TRUE

www.true-believers.com/


Sat. 9/18: Denver, CO
Kilgore Books and Comics - 6 PM
624 E. 13th Ave.
Denver, CO 80203
ph. (303) 815-1979
http://www.kilgorebooks.com/

KING-CAT 71 AVAILABLE NOW!

So, King-Cat #71 is available now!  This BRAND NEW issue features, Lost Denver, Street Encounter, Tenderness, Middle-Aged Dirtbag, The End of a Love Affair, and much, much more. 32 digest pages, in GLORIOUS BLACK AND WHITE.

Prices:
USA: $3.50 cash/check/MO or $3.75 via paypal
CANADA: $4.00 US cash or $4.28 via paypal
EVERYWHERE ELSE: $5.35 via paypal

Payable to:
John Porcellino
PO Box 18888
Denver, CO 80218
USA

Paypal: kingcat_paypal AT hotmail DOT com

Thanks!
John P.

GOD'S GREEN EARTH, PT. 2

A TRIP TO THE DEVIL'S MILLHOPPER

So the other day I finally managed to make it to the Devil's Millhopper.  When Dan and I were in Gainesville on tour in the spring, everyone told us to go check it out, but we ran out of time.  So after I dropped Izzy off at class last week, I headed on over at last.

The Devil's Millhopper is a huge sinkhole NW of town.  When I asked people earlier what it was, they were like "oh, it's just a big sinkhole..." like sinkholes were simply a way of life.  WELCOME TO FLORIDA.

Anyhow, the Devil's Millhopper is a big sinkhole that caved in about 10,000 years ago, and has since filled with a unique variety of plant and animal life.  Since the pit is usually cooler in the summer, and warmer in the winter, it sustains a more diverse ecosystem, including many plants and animals that are not otherwise found in the area.

I did two laps around the sinkhole, including two trips down to the bottom. It was beautiful, and so quiet you could practically hear the sweat dripping down your back. I saw a ton of stuff including a new type of lizard, a big black snake, a gigantic hornet, tons of ferns, and many gorgeous waterfalls. The place is definitely worth a trip out of town if you're ever in the area.

Walking down inside the sinkhole.

Waterfall.

Looking up.

From the loop path around the top of the sinkhole.

Twining trees.

Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)

Hot enough for you?

Goldenrod?

I finally ID'ed this one:  Butterfly-pea (Clitoria ternatea)

Loop path.

Saw palmetto and Pine woods.

Unknown flower.

Southern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus undulatus)

Southern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor priapus)

At the bottom of the sinkhole I found this ENORMOUS hornet, about two inches from snout to tail.  It enjoyed posing for me, so I took a bunch of pictures.

Some type of Shelf Fungus.

Waterfalls and rivulets, at the very bottom.

Lastly, I found this guy on my way back up the walkway.  Freaky. 

(I turned the picture sideways to make him easier to see.)

All in all, not too bad for a couple hours in the woods!