Changing the world is often full-time work--work with lousy pay, no benefits, and no safety net except each other. It's time for us to kick it in.

Curtis Chapel, an ETS! volunteer and distributor (as well as Green Party board member and decades-long all-around activist) has been battling throat cancer; he recently underwent surgery that cost him his voice, and so not only needs a voice synthesizer, but money for medical costs and lost income (he's a self-employed electrician).

ETS!'s Valerie Rose organized, and a lot of people came out for, a fabulous fundraiser May 31 (thanks, Valerie--and to Take Another Look Books for donating the space and their proceeds!). But Curtis needs more. He's accepting donations through the Turning Institute (so that reported income doesn't endanger his efforts to get on Social Security disability). Make checks out to the Turning Institute, and send them c/o ETS!, PO Box 85541, Seattle WA 98145.

Help is also needed for local legend--and frequent benefit performer for countless good local causes over the years, including us--Artis the Spoonman. Artis, who is essentially homeless and makes his living busking (often with fellow local legend Jim Page at Pike Place Market), suffered a serious heart attack May 16. As with Curtis, Artis faces both serious medical costs and lost income. Take some money to a Key Bank branch, give it to the teller and tell her/him that it's for "The Artis the Spoonman Fund," and it'll go to help cover the costs of his medical bills. If you live outside of Washington State, you can still donate at Key Bank, but let the teller know that it's for the Key Bank of Washington State Artis the Spoonman Fund. Jim Page and other local musicians and artists will be doing a benefit for him in the near future; keep your eye on Jean Buskin's calendar for more details (www.scn.org, click on "Activism," then click on "Calendar"). A benefit concert is rumored to be in the works for mid-June.

Finally, there's Eat the State! itself. Happily, for a change, we're not on our deathbed--in fact, as you hopefully have noticed, we're getting bigger--up to 12 pages in each issue, and more being printed and distributed. And we've added both new donors and new local advertisers who've generously helped make that happen. Given all the crap happening here and around the world, there's no shortage of material! But it's a gamble--we're hoping that the additional material and exposure will also increase our revenue (so we can pay for it). To sustain this takes you, too. If you like what you see, help us keep it going by subscribing and/or sending your donations (ETS!, PO Box 85541, Seattle WA 98145). Or, if you want to be part of what you see, we really are a pretty open and informal outfit--come check us out at our next meeting, Wed., June 12, 7 PM at the Univ. Baptist Church in the U-District (see calendar for details).