We’ve got a great show put together for next month’s Rumpus (September 13th at The Make-Out Room in San Francisco). Check out the lineup and buy your tickets early: …more

A fairly intense (but pleasant) discussion has broken out in the comments section of Steve Almond’s essay about editors, ambition, and dependence.

By Rich Ferguson.

Kodak’s first digital camera. (via @caitlinroeper)

Rockaway to Rockaway: This dude Matt just finished walking across the country.

“How great would you feel if a real person called you every day to tell you, ‘You’re Awesome!‘?”

Corporate design porn.

Micky Hess has promised to blurb any book within 24 hours, and he is making good on that promise. Here is what writers are saying about Mickey, and the blurbs he has given them:

“Thanks, I think…” – Buzz Poole …more

You can order the paperback version of The Adderall Diaries, due out next month, directly from The Rumpus and we’ll send it to you as soon as it arrives. Signed. $11 domestic includes shipping. Cheap!  …more

Justin Hall grew up in Providence, Rhode Island.  He started reading Tintin and Jack Kirby comics as a kid and became a comics art major in college at Purchase College, SUNY.  He began making his own comics nine years ago and has now visited over sixty countries, learning in the process how to carry his art supplies with him. …more

Just another reason to love Japan: Kyoto’s Iwatayama Monkey Park.

The sweetest montage video you’ll see all day.

Pretty darn fantastic dirty car art. (via Flavorwire)

Ok, this video is all sorts of cute too: otter plays with rock.

Logo Mash-Ups.

This is the opposite of anything that should run on The Rumpus. Apologies. – The Editors.

Less than one week away, on August 9th at The Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd Street, San Francisco. 7pm.

Featuring authors Antonia Crane, Matthew Zapruder, Victor Martinez, and Steve Almond!

National pun champion Joe Sabia!

Comedy by Nato Green!

Music by Chuck Prophet!

Food provided by The Lady From Empanada.
Also chances to win great prizes in our monthly porn raffle!

$10, cheap! You can’t afford not to go.

Hosted by Rumpus editor Stephen Elliott.

NOTE: No one under 21 years old will be admitted.

“But it’s not extreme anecdotes that make the specter of Internet addiction so threatening; it’s the fact that Internet overuse has the potential to scale in a way that few other addictions do. Even if Steve Jobs designed a really cool-looking syringe and started distributing free heroin on street corners, not everyone would try it. But who among us doesn’t already check his email more often than necessary?”

Internet addiction, the concept of which was once parody, “may soon be diagnosis.”

(via The Awl)

From the folks who brought you the original shake weight.

More from the annals of advertising.

We published two pieces today that should not be missed:

1. “They live on Planet Earth. You live on Planet My Baby Died.” A powerful “DEAR SUGAR,” our Rumpus advice column.

2. Eve Goldberg’s “Lunch with Carson,” a beautiful essay about Carson McCullers, Marilyn Monroe and Isak Dinesen having lunch.

Enjoy, and thanks for reading. We love you back.

View Rumpus artist Lucas Adams‘ tribute to Harvey Pekar, inspired by this comic, after the jump: …more

View Rumpus artist Jason Novak‘s tribute to Harvey Pekar after the jump: …more

Sad news this morning: Harvey Pekar has died.

For more Harvey, be sure to check out SMITH Mag‘s Pekar Project.

Want to join The Rumpus Book Club but don’t trust the interwebs with your credit card number? You can now sign up by calling The Rumpus phone at 215.589.4131 between the hours of 9am to 5pm (PST). Crank calls are (somewhat) discouraged.

We had a fantastic Rumpus at the Make-Out Room in San Francisco on Monday night.

Couldn’t make it (don’t live in the Bay Area)? Don’t worry, Timothy Faust took some amazing photos of the wonderful evening. View them after the jump; and be sure not to miss our next event on July 12th (tickets are on sale now). …more

Click here to buy advance tickets!

July 12th at The Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd Street, 7pm in San Francisco.

Featuring authors Justine Sharrock, Matt Stewart, Eli Horowitz w/ Mac Barnett, Lauren Wheeler, and Matthew L. Moseley.

A performance by hooper of the year Richard Porter.

Music by Ember Schrag.

Comedy by the hilarious Janine Brito.

Food provided by The Girl From Empanada.
Also chances to win great prizes in our monthly porn raffle!

$10, cheap! You can’t afford not to go.

Hosted by Rumpus editor Stephen Elliott.

NOTE: No one under 21 years old will be admitted.

Janine doing her thing:

The Bold Italic recently sent writers and photographers to Sixth and Market, an infamous intersection in San Francisco “known for its gritty liquor stores, strip clubs, and SROs.” The reporters covered the area in shifts for a full 24 hours.

The write ups, photographs, and videos from the project are now being published online in hourly segments. The project includes writing from Rumpus managing editor Isaac Fitzgerald (who witnessed a knife fight and drank rot gut vodka before the sun was up) and today’s Rumpus interview subject, Justine Sharrock (who walked the beat with a local cop). You can watch the day’s events unfold here.

The Rumpus and the Rickshaw Stop present an evening of music, intriguing video projections, and rad friends!

Featuring: The Yellow Dress, Rachel Fannan (of Sleepy Sun), and Quite Polite!

Weds June 9th, at the Rickshaw Stop (155 Fell Street) in San Francisco at 8:00pm.

Tickets are only 9.99! Totally awesome flier after the jump: …more

Tonight(!) at The Make-Out Room, 7pm.

Featuring authors Keith Lee Morris, Jillian Lauren, Beth Lisick, and Andrew Sean Greer!

With Comedy by Kyle Kinane.

Music by Michael Mullen.

Plus a special guest, our very own Ted Wilson!

Food provided by The Girl From Empanada.
Also chances to win great prizes in our monthly porn raffle.

$10, cheap! You can’t afford not to go.

Hosted by Rumpus editor Stephen Elliott, back from NYC!

Do you have your tickets yet? Quick, click here!

Kyle Kinane doing what he does after the jump: …more

The Rumpus Proudly Presents:

Fresh Starts and New Mistakes

May 10th at The Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd Street, 7pm.

Get Advance Tickets! Click Here!

Featuring authors Keith Lee Morris, Jillian Lauren, Beth Lisick, and Andrew Sean Greer!

With Comedy by Kyle Kinane.

Music by Michael Mullen.

Plus a special guest, our very own Ted Wilson!

Food provided by The Girl From Empanada.
Also chances to win great prizes in our monthly porn raffle.

$10, cheap! You can’t afford not to go.

Hosted by Rumpus editor Stephen Elliott, back from NYC!

Order your tickets here:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/110107

NOTE: No one under 21 years old will be admitted.

Kyle Kinane doing what he does:

Did you miss the last Monthly Rumpus at The Make-Out Room in San Francisco? Or, where you in attendance but you just need, need, to relive the laughter, the tears, and the hotness that was Randall Mann? Either way, here are some photos of last Monday’s festivities. Please enjoy (special thanks to photographer Evan Huggins): …more

Bay Area Readers,

Do you have your tickets to the Monthly Rumpus on April 12th in San Francisco yet? Because Flavorpill really thinks you should. As does The iS Collection.

Click here to insure you have tickets for Monday’s show. Can’t wait to see you!

PEN American Center is a literary and human rights organization made up of readers and writers. Become a member of PEN today and join us in our fight to defend expression and support an international literary community.

Today is the two-year anniversary of Rumpus comic artist extraordinaire Jon Adams‘ strip, Truth Serum.

But that’s not all, the San Francisco Chronicle has revamped its weekend insert, 96 Hours, creating a comics section that highlights local and independent artists. The comic we’re most excited for? Why our very own Jon Adams’ new strip: Friendship Town. Other artists featured include Keith Knight, Sacha Eckes, and Michael Capozzola.

The very special cover for today’s 96 Hours, drawn by Jon himself, can be seen after the jump. …more

Today we have a Rumpus Original Combo with Gabrielle Calvocoressi, which includes an interview as well as a Rumpus Original Poem:

“Every Person in This Town Loves Football”

Even the nuns come out
to watch the boys in their
gold and blue. Sister Marita,
Sister Anne, and some weeks

…more

Holy shit Martin Luther King, Jr. was fucking cool.