current issue number (1) : November 2003 (give or take a month)

Local Progressive Activist Finds Selling out Surprisingly challenging

“I mean Corporate America sucks with what they are doing to the rain forests and the way they exploit those kids in Indonesia. I was like fuck that. I just knew that I would never give up my artistic lifestyle for that SUV, 401k bullshit.” says twenty six year old Seattle resident Trevor Rupert. “I guess what surprised me was actually how hard it was to sell out.” reflects Rupert after being turned down for a loan officer position at Washington Mutual Bank, the latest failure in an aggressive three month effort to sell out. Rupert swore that he would never join the “McLifeStyle” as he called it on a sign that he proudly carried through the 1999 Seattle WTO protest. Rupert, a veteran of five rainbow gatherings and three trips to the burning man festival, now refers to himself as Trevor, a dramatic change from his former alias “Wild Spirit”.

“I think the government might be tracking me for past political activities” explains Rupert in response to questions about his latest employment prospects. Rupert, who has applied for twenty three jobs in the last three and a half month, has only been called back for one interview despite a resume boasting a history of leftist political activism and a successful small business in the rapidly growing “hemp jewelry” market. “It amazes me that the same type of exploitation I have been fighting against in Indonesia is happening right here in the good old US of A.” says Rupert pounding his fist in the air. Rupert descibes his change of heart as a "way of fighting the exploitative capitalistic system from the inside." Rupert vehemently denies that it was in any way connected to the repossession of a late model Volkswagen Vanagon covered in progressive political bumper stickers, by the legal owner one James Rupert. James Rupert, a promenade Indianapolis attorney and former financial patron of the hemp jewelry arts, describes his relationship with his eldest son as “estranged”.

“I don’t know what happened to him. I mean, we tried to be supportive parents. When he dropped out of the University of Washington to enroll in the Seattle Art Institute and study Glass Blowing we paid the tuition and all living expenses.” explaines the elder Rupert. Trevor expressed surprise at his continued failure to join the global sell out community. Trevor has recently modifying his appearance to expedite the start of his new life amongst sell outs, choosing a shorter business oriented hair style, a stark contrast the from the dead-locked and beaded tribal hair of the last six years. His former obsession with body piercing is also now a relic of youthful exuberance. Additionally, Rupert believes that he no longer views the cocapelli tattoo no his left calf as a strong statement of his support of his people (Rupert's maternal great grandmother was a quarter Cherokee Indian), but as an impediment to future employment opportunities.