Newspaper Banned My Comic and Audience's Reaction

After publishing two of my comic stripes, the Daily Cardinal, a student-run newspaper, made a sudden decision that they could not publish Molecules I Have Known and Loved. The release of MIHKAL ended without receiving reader complaints or objection. Several people expressed their disappointment or anger after hearing my apology that MIHKAL was banned.

The Daily Cardinal staff said they were very concerned about depicting dangerous drugs, such as Speed, as cartoon characters. I was very excited to see my works published, but I understand that not all people can tolerate drug-related topics. My comical depiction can be easily interpreted by some people as advocacy for drugs. Here I'm saying again that the intention of my comic is neither promoting nor against recreational drugs. I'm more frustrated with the editors' inconsistency - granting me the opportunity then taking it away within a month.

Professor W. noted that there is always phobia of drugs in the society. He saw the outcome as discouraging but understandable. My lab professor did not see a good potential in MIHKAL as a comic series, but said it surprised him that the Daily Cardinal, well-known on campus for their liberal and undaunting attitude, turned it away.

Other people deemed the newspaper editors' decision as narrow-minded. They understood that MIHKAL is meant to be a humorous take-on of the subject. My current classmate S. K. thought newspapers should publish controversial materials to promote the diversity and freedom of expression. A post doc in philosophy and a physics faculty said it was "ridiculous", because Speed whom was blamed is just a comic character. People who do drugs would have done them anyways, regardless if they read my comic. The faculty said with disbelief that the Daily Cardinal, which publishes offensive and controversial things all the time, including articles that teach people how to have sex, would reject such funny and artistic work.

Some faculties felt sorry for losing an opportunity to educate the public. C. D., a research fellow  specialized in sedative-hypnotics, wrote in a message that "they clearly did not get the scope of [the] comic" and that people just can't make rational judgement on certain topics. The physics faculty imagined MIHKAL would be very informative, which could potentially help reduce drug-related problems in the society. "The problem is we don't talk about it," she said.

A few people thought the newspaper should never publish such material. Perhaps with some misunderstanding, Professor G. said, not unhappily, "[The comic] suggests that you [the author] took and enjoyed those drugs. I was surprised that the newspaper agreed to publish it."

Despite people's divergent opinions, they agreed that the quality of my art is good. I've got a feeling that this is not the end of this incident. The Daily Cardinal staff said they still hoped my art to be a part of their paper and wanted to discuss with me, though with hesitation and possibly denial. Two of my friends eagerly wanted to see MIHKAL published on paper and volunteered to show my online samples to the city-based newspaper office.

So far I'm happy with just doing a web-based comic series and sharing it with my dear friends and professors. It should be a work enjoyed by people who do drugs as well as people who don't. In fact, I've received positive responses from both kinds of people. I'm also getting prepared to be notorious if I'm determined to deal with this subject in long-term. This is definitely not the end of MIHKAL. It just got started.

Animal Abuse at My School

I'm distressed to learn that some researchers at UW-Madison, my school, have been abusing animals. A orange tabby cat named Double Trouble had metal coils implanted in her eyes, holes drilled on her skull, ears deafened by toxic chemicals, and was imprisoned, starved, and forced into cruel experiments for several months in the name of science that they claimed would improve the human life. The anesthesia was also not strong enough that Double Trouble woke up during the surgery of opening her skull. The wounds from surgery were inflamed and Double Trouble's health deteriorated. As the results she began to twitch and became deeply depressed. The researchers eventually declared the experiment as failure and killed the cat.

This experiment of determining how the brain locates the source of sound is regarded by people as "useless" since results have already been collected by other researchers using modern and noninvasive methods on human volunteers. However, about 30 cats per year have been treated the same way and died. PETA has sued the UW experimenters and compelled the school to release the photos taken during the experiment process.

As a student of UW-Madison, I'm saddened by this news as I thought bioethics is a field of interest in my school. We can take courses on bioethics and the topic is addressed in various other life science courses. Sometimes I can see signs promoting animal rights around campus. This shouldn't happen here. Many people are indignant or distressed because the experimental subjects were cats, and they think cats' are humans' good companions. I think I'd feel bad for any animal if it was treated like this. There shouldn't be any excuse to mistreat animals even if they are less related to us than cats are.

The Recently Disqualified Miss Universe Canada ...

 Jenna, Talackova, 23 years old, one of the finalists of Miss Universe Canada

This has been going around on the Internet, but ... OMG, she was a boy!

Jenna Talackova was ousted from the Miss Universe Canada contest only because she is transgender.

This just shows how narrow-minded and unjust those people are. She is a woman!
What are they picking and fussing about when there is a trans looking like this?
Jenna said she will not give up and will continue to fight for her rights.

You can sign a petition to support Miss Talackova:
http://www.change.org/petitions/miss-universe-canada-donald-trump-reverse-the-unfair-disqualification-of-jenna-talackova?utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=autopublish