Research and Doing Art Right

Research.  Research, research, research, research.  Research.  Oh gods, I don't know what I'm doing!  Write what you know...  But I don't want to write what I know, I want to write about a sociopath who takes over the world as we know it.  I want to write about a nation corrupted and laid to waste from the inside out.  I want to write about wars and power struggles and places I've never been and occupations I've never had.  *whimper*

So... research.  Research, research, research.  Anybody know how to research destroying one's own government FOR FICTIONAL PURPOSES without showing up on some kind of Homeland Security watch list?  Love the paranoia.

Hehe...  heh.

In other news, Amanda Fucking Palmer (sorry for the language, kiddies), has done it once again.  Her Kickstarter project for her next full length studio album has been funded by fans, both new and old, 10 Times Over.  You read that right.  Her goal was $10,000 and we, the people, with no help from any record label, have raised/donated over a million dollars to make this album a reality.  And there are still 51 hours to go (from the time of this writing).  I signed up and donated my meager five bucks, just to get all the extra stuff.  And because I believe in what she's doing--making music, on her own, supported by no one and nothing but fellow musicians and her fans.  This is how art is supposed to happen.  And it's why I'm sharing it with you here.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/amandapalmer/amanda-palmer-the-new-record-art-book-and-tour