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---------------------------------------------------- PRACTICAL ANARCHY ONLINE ---------------------------------------------------- July 1992 ---------------------------------------------------- Number 1.1 ---------------------------------------------------- a bi-monthly electronic 'zine featuring: * international anarchist news * anarchist scene reports * tips on "practical anarchy" * living anarchy everyday * 'zine, music, and book reviews * essays and articles Publication schedule: January, March, May, July, September, November. Submissions due the last day of the preceding month. Every new issue will be sent out to anarchy-list, so if you're allready a subscriber of that mailing list you don't need to subscribe to Practical Anarchy Online distribution list as well. -------------------------------------------------------------------- All material will be anti-copyright unless copyrighted by a contributor. Recipients can do what they want with a downloaded version as long as they credit the source. We encourage folks in countries other than the US and Sweden to create their own paper versions of this 'zine and distribute them to their friends. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Send stuff to the editors (subscription requests to cardell): Chuck Munson: Internet: cmunson@macc.wisc.edu Bitnet: cmunson@wiscmacc.bitnet Postal address: Practical Anarchy PO Box 173 Madison, WI 53701-0173 USA Mikael Cardell: Internet: cardell@lysator.liu.se Fidonet: Mikael Cardell, 2:205/223 Postal address: Practical Anarchy c/o Mikael Cardell Gustav Adolfsgatan 3 S-582 20 Linkoping SWEDEN **************************************************** Important Note: Chuck will be on vacation from July 24-August 9, so please send questions, requests, and submissions during that time period to Mikael. **************************************************** QUESTIONING TECHNOLOGY by Chuck Munson What is technology? How much of it is good for us? Is technology neutral? Is my office PC that benevolent? Is my home PC a tool for democratic change? These questions and many more are ones that we all should be asking and discussing. It is quite obvious that most of our culture/society praises technology uncritically--it even praises technology that hasn't even been invented yet. More and more writers, including anarchists, have recently been writing on this topic. I hope to touch on some of this debate as well as discuss my own gut reactions. Personal Reactions ================== Around the office I'm something of a computer guru. I troubleshoot software and some hardware problems, train people how to use software, help staff create computer databases, and do lots of library- related work. The staff has varying degrees of computer experience. I would say that each is comfortable with the software and hardware they use everyday. When problems develop staff members come to me (most of the time). This is interesting for several reasons. The first is that it makes me (not my job) more important--as long as people don't make a more concentrated effort to learn more about computers they will keep coming to me. About half the time I don't mind this need--I like to tinker with problems. But the rest of the time I feel uncomfortable and frequently annoyed--I'm seen as an the expert that I'm really not. Technology in my personal life? =============================== At home I have access to a computer and CD/record-/tape deck (neither are mine). My roommate and I use a microwave. I spend a lot of time listening to the radio. Don't own a car-haven't owned one since the spring of 1989. I have often felt a sense of liberation since I sold my car. No payments, car insurance, registration fees, fuel expenditures, and so on. There is no TV in my apartment. Last time I had access to a TV was when I lived in the co-op, from which I moved last August. Before I moved to Madison, I lived for a year without a TV. I really don't miss TV very much (although my friends will point out that I'll watch a lot when I have access to one--gotta keep up with popular culture, know what I mean). These days I watch about one hour of TV each week--Star Trek--and I go over to the co-op to watch with friends. Friends have often asked what I think about technology such as computers. I'll have to admit an ambivalence. On some days I hate computers, on other days I tolerate them. For one thing, computers enable me to put out this publication. Sure, I could do it by hand, but I'm a stickler for quality and presentation, so here you have it done by computer. Also, if the society we lived in was much more anarchistic, I wouldn't bother putting out this zine. Knowing something about computers is useful to my responsibilities as a librarian. But I do counsel librarians to be skeptical of new technology. Why do I hate computers? Wrist pain, eyestrain, things that go wrong with hardware or software, having to answer stupid questions from other people who can't figure things out for themselves, and so on. I'm no computerphile! What is Technology? =================== Some anarchists and ecology-minded people have developed a critique of technology, industrialism, and civilization. This critique is often mistaken by others as being against all technology. What then is technology? boog highberger once wrote that "to be human is to use tools." Technology certainly includes forks, hammers, levers as well as microwave ovens, nuclear reactors, and automated tellers. I like to think that there are different kinds of technology. Gene splicing and computers are examples of "high" technology. The anthro- pological definition according to the American Heritage Dictionary is: "the body of knowledge available to a civilization that is of use in fashioning implements, practicing manual arts and skills, and extracting or collecting materials." I am critical of technology, but I am not against it. We need to develop a process of questioning new technology. How About Libraries? ==================== What observations do I, as a librarian, have about technology? The main technological change in libraries in recent years has been computer automation. In most libraries these days the card catalog, circulation records, and indices are on computers. To a great extent, these changes have been beneficial. Many menial tasks have been eliminated. Circulation is more convenient for library patrons and library staff. To a large extent, the jobs eliminated by automation have been replaced by new positions related to automation. What are some disturbing trends? New systems are being developed and implement- ed where a library can order books directly from the publisher/vendor via a computer. Why is this disturbing? The publishing industry is centralized enough as it is--do we need a new process which will shut out small/alternative press materials even more? Another problem is the attitude of some librarians. They have an uncritical, almost reverent attitude toward new technologies. Some of these people are opinion-makers within the profession--and some are being paid by companies whose interests are at stake. Other librarians are big futurists and advocate such nonsense as electronic books. Still others sacrifice public services and materials for fancy, often unneeded, automated systems. And a last disturbing trend is the changing focus from public service to profit-oriented "information" services. What this means is that you might soon see the disappear- ance of that great socialist institution, the public library. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ====================== Ask the people, often women, who spend all day at work using a computer, what they think of computer technology. Do they have wrist pain? Do their eyes hurt at night? Computers are supposed to be wonderful toys, but what about the folks who have to work with one constantly? Would you like a free case of repetitive-motion syndrome with that next Windows upgrade? Office surveillance sucks. A lot of the new computer technology and software allow the bosses to nose about your work habits. At places like AT&T, the higher ups can monitor the operator's work habits. If you don't take care of a customer in say, 18.3 seconds, you are in trouble. I noticed a curious feature of the Microsoft Word for Windows I use at work. One feature keeps track of how many minutes you spend editing a document. I would imagine in less- enlightened workplaces (with networks) that middle management could gather precise statistics on how you spend your time. No thanks! Origins ======= In any questioning process, there are important factors that are left out. When one questions technology one can talk about the effect of that technology on its users, but what about the others involved in the process? In order for you to enjoy your personal computer some- body has to manufacture it. This involves people working in factories, putting together the computers or making components. Then there are those who make the metals and plastics from natural materials. Further along the line are those who mine the materials. At any of these stages ask yourself the following questions: 1) Is the person involved, working under hazardous conditions? 2) Do they enjoy what they are doing? 3) Are they forced into this line of work because of economic conditions such as lack of education, race or gender? 4) Do they have a say in the process? Continuing down the path we see that the mining companies have often stolen the materials from native and indigenous peoples. In most cases, the companies are mining illegally; in some cases things may look legal, but the companies have used some devious tactic to "buy" the land. Most of the time, these native peoples don't even want the stuff mined. Is it Democratic? ================= Some folks have said that such technological devices as fax machines were essential to last year's resistance to the Soviet coup. Are the new technologies such as PCs, fax machines, laser printers, photocopiers and so on, conducive to grass-roots organizing and democracy? Is something given up in the process of using these technologies? My opinion is that these devices are somewhat helpful to people on the grassroots level. The prices are still somewhat out of reach for the average person, but these technologies are so accessible in so many places. Of course, fax democracy might be effective in Russia, but here in the U.S. people will ignore you anyway. A different kind of political control, perhaps. I was recently impressed with the first- hand accounts I received over E-Mail during the L.A. riots. Seeing something on my computer screen seemed to me to be more immediate and concrete than hearing on the radio or seeing it on TV. The accounts were probably more accurate too. I also received a message from some people who were occupying the parliament building in Bosnia. All of this technology can possibly forestall a dictatorship or other such bad situation, but remember, as long as the power supply is centralized, the higher powers can always pull the plug! Resources ========= If you would like to find out more about questioning technology check out the following materials: In The Absence of The Sacred. Jerry Mander. Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television by Jerry Mander. William Morrow, 1978. The "Questioning Technology" issue of Whole Earth Review. Winter 1991, no.73. Fifth Estate magazine often has articles critical of technology. 4632 Second Ave., Detroit, MI 48201. **** A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON THE COMPUTER REVOLUTION by cardell The monetarian units we now use as currency are merely symbolic in their value, the only thing that makes the money we carry worth anything is the comparison to other currencies. This very comparison is done with computers, and with computers alone. Every check written, every credit card transaction, every transaction of money that takes place is done by computers. The same, vulnerable, computers that every cracker with self-respect say they can get into, at least according to media. Since most of the economic system of today is controlled by computers and since these computers appears to be so vulnerable, why haven't we had a second computer revolution? And I do mean revolution, not like that predictable technology advancement we had a few years ago when so many people acquired personal computers. Reports from the media makes us believe that around the world there's a lot of crackers that anytime they want to can get themselves into any system of their choice. So why haven't they allready started the revolution by collapsing the economic system of the world? Almost every article or news broadcast I have seen about crackers also mention the anarchistic nature of these individuals. That makes it even more strange that the revolution hasn't been started yet. Either the newspapers tells us lies or the crackers isn't as good as they say they are. There is one more alternative though; the crackers might not be revolutionaries. Perhaps not even anarchists. What is then to be done? We have to educate ourselfs about the enemy! About the computer systems of the enemy in particular, so we can become the dreaded anarchist crackers of the media. We can then start the true computer revolution. What would happen if the computers that controls the flow of money suddenly collapsed? For one, it would make a lot of people very angry, in particular people in very high places, but also the worker on the factory floor will be angry -- angry because his wages won't be there on pay day. The first thing that must be done is therefore to inform people about what currency really is, and that there are alternative economic systems without wage labour. This information distribution could be carried out by individuals or groups of anarchists so that when the day of the revolution, the computer revolution, comes, people will know what to expect. To coordinate these groups and individuals I suggest the use of electronic media, i.e. electronic mail and newsgroups, not forgetting electronic 'zines. But there's more out there as well. Have a look in another article in this issue for more information about the net. **** THE ANARCHIST'S GUIDE TO THE INTERNET (part 1) by cardell The Internet is a collection of computer networks that interacts as a whole on a direct basis, i.e. the computers are directly linked to each other all the time. On the net there is lots and lots of information to collect, and lots and lots of people to meet. The following is the first part of a guide for the anarchist to this collection of networks. In it you will find information on how to get access to the net, what you can do when you're on and where to find the information you want. This guide also includes information concerning Fidonet, a hobbyist computer network for electronic mail, and how you can reach Internet from Fidonet. Introduction ============ If you're reading this on the net you might as well skip the entire article. In coming parts there might be some useful information for you, but this is for the netless persons out there. There's lots and lots of information on the net that can be useful to us in different situations. If we want legal advice in a sensetive matter, there's the online library catalogs to give us the help we need by recommending books and written material. If we need more practical advice to make certain things go *BOOM* we can easily find that too. Perhaps you just need to get in touch with the right people. Well, that can be arranged over this marvellous net as well. There's chatting capabilities, either individual person-to-person (talk), or group chats (IRC). There's also public forums called newsgroups that discusses various topics, e.g. drugs, anarchy, activism etc. You can also find information, or at least references, through huge public databases. There's even more -- stay tuned. If you find errors or incomplete information please send me corrections or more information so I can update this file for future re-publication. Write to: Internet: cardell@lysator.liu.se Fidonet: Mikael Cardell, 2:205/223 Snailnet: Mikael Cardell Gustav Adolfsgatan 3 S-582 20 LINKOPING Sweden Voicenet: + 46 13 12 31 01 Access to the net ================= Get a computer or a terminal. Got that? Great, now get a modem (modulator/demodulator), a neat little thing that translates the bits of information from the computer into tones that can be sent over telephone lines. Connect it to the computer, fire up your communications program, and you're on. Well, not quite, you must have somewhere to call too. The most important thing, of course, is to have access to the Internet. There are several ways to go: * Call a Bulletin Board System (BBS) near you that has a connection to Fidonet (a hobbyist computer network). These BBSes are usually free of charge or very cheap to use. Ask around among friends with computers to get the numbers. * If you're on a university or a college, be sure to get access to the computers. You'll need an account, ask the people in charge of the computers. * Join a computer club that has access to Internet or to Fidonet. Again, ask around among friends with computers for more information. You might also contact some big corporation that want your monetarian units, but that's a different matter completely, so I won't even go into examples. Furthermore these corporations usually just offer you their proprieraty electronic mail service that leaves you out in the cold since you cant get out from their system. If you're allready on Fidonet you can reach the Internet through gateways like Chalmers Datorforening (2:203/125) here in Sweden. Write to UUCP at the node specified above and put the Internet address, usually in the form user@site.country (as in my address cardell@lysator.liu.se), on the first row in your message. Take a look in the nodelist for gateways closer to you. On the other hand, if you haven't heard of either Fidonet nor Internet and your wondering what I'm babbling about you can ask around among friends and I'm sure you will get the information you need to get on. Ask for bulletin board systems and if they have access to Fidonet. In Sweden at least there's lots of computer clubs with different degrees of access to the Internet. The academic computer clubs at the universities, e.g. Lysator at Linkoping university, Stacken at the Royal Technical Institute in Stockholm and Solace at the University of Harnosand/Sundsvall, usually has full access, but you need to be a student at the university to become a member. But then again, there's a lot of other clubs, e.g. ABC, proxxi and AUGS in Stockholm, that would be glad to have you as a member for a small fee. I'm sure Sweden isn't the only country to have a lot of computer clubs like these. Come on -- get online! **** A Sane Revolution If you make a revolution, make it for fun, Don't make it in ghastly seriousness, Don't do it in deadly earnest, Do it for fun. Don't do it because you hate people, Do it just to spit in their eye. Don't do it for the money, Do it and be damned to the money. Don't do it for equality, Do it because we've got too much equality And it would be fun to upset the apple-cart And see which way the apples would go a-rolling. Don't do it for the working-classes. Do it so that we can all of us be little aristocracys on our own And kick our heels like jolly escaped asses. Don't do it, anyhow, for international Labour. Labour is one thing a man has had too much of. Let's abolish Labour, let's have done with Labouring! Work can be fun, and men can enjoy it; then it's not Labour. Let's have it so! Let's make a revolution for fun! D. H. LAWRENCE ***** SCENE REPORTS, MADISON by Chuck0 The anarchist scene here has been heating up this summer, although the weather has not. A couple of anarchists (one of those myself) had just met in May. At the beginning of June they held the first meeting of Some Madison Anarchists and it has been meeting weekly since. It appears we have a core, enthusiastic group of about ten people. Our big project right now is getting the "Anarchist Resource Center" going, a room somewhere where we can hold meetings, network, hang out, and have a library. Looks like this will become reality soon. We are also trying to get our own radio show and making plans for an upcoming picnic. Madison has a lot of potential when it comes to creating an anarchist "scene." I'll keep everybody posted about our activities. ***** ----------------- PRACTICAL ANARCHY ----------------- Join the local Rails-to-Trails organization. If one doesn't exist in your area start one. There are many abandoned railroad right-of-ways across the globe. Why not put them to a constructive use? Start a pirate radio station! Brew your own beer. Compile a list of local businesses and employers that spy on their employees or test them for drugs. Spread the word among your friends. Let the businesses know what you are doing. Support the Buffalo Commons. Bike to work, the softball game, the gym, a party, your friend's house, the grocery coop, the park. Bike to the next town. Support Act Up, Queer Nation, and other Gay/Lesbian/Bi groups. The STATE exists in your head! Quit policing yourself! If you are the male in a heterosexual relationship: Do the Dishes! Take What Is Yours: You, the laborer, produce all of the "benefits of civilization" under the authority of a corporation who takes your goods and services and gives you a pittance in return. You, the consumer, then use this pittance, in the form of "money," to buy these goods and services at an inflated price. Everything in a corporate-owned store has been stolen from you through wage slave labor. Take it all back. Steal a pack of bubblegum, or baseball cards. Wreak havoc on the capitalist machine and throw sand in its gears. Never steal from small shops, only from factory chain stores. It's yours, take it. Shoplifting is practical anarchy. --Mike Thain **** SUPPORTING ALTERNATIVE RADIO by Mike "Video Sex Pope of the High Plains and 60-below Tundra of Minnesota" Fuhlhage There's something about change and difference that draws us all, like windshields toward flies. Diversity, a change of pace, a new voice opening your ears to a different world, a different way of thinking and living, this attracts me. I'm drawn to alternative radio for the same reason I'm not drawn to Harlequin romances or Stephen King novels. Mainly, I like to think of myself as an alternative person. So much stuff on the airwaves sounds like just a lot of static ... the voices of a lot of people I don't want to know talking to me when I don't want to hear them telling me things I don't want to hear or asking me to buy things I don't want to own. I'm already surrounded by Stephen King news anchors, relating the news of the world to me as the networks deem I should hear it. Well. okay, their view of world events is just as important as mine: but only when you accept the idea that everybody is a propagandist, everybody has an ulterior motive, however sincere it may be. We can learn just as much from the parts that are left out of the news as we can from the parts that are included. But to understand what has been left out, you've got to step back from the networks and take a dip in the little rivers that feed the mainstream. That, to me, is what makes alternative radio so important, because it is the only way many of us in remote areas have of sampling life out- side the mainstream. There are those of you out there who are in more remote places than I am - Russia, Montana, the Cayman Islands, whatever. I live in St. Cloud, Minnesota. It may be only 70 miles from the Twin Cities, but it could easily be a thousand. The main media around here are a Gannett newspaper (where the emphasis is on the "net"), a CBS- affiliated TV station and a radio station run by a pompous, whining conservative who spends most of his time bemoaning the decline of America since the Eisenhower era. Some might call that diversity - those who think Neapolitan is a daring ice cream flavor. Fortunately, I can tap into both a student radio station and the Minnesota Public Radio Network for a dose of reality beyond Central Minnesota and the major TV networks. Some will say MPR isn't much better than the Big Three networks, particularly those with access to Pacifica Radio of the Bay area, but at least through it you can hear the BBC World Service and the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. Through those, you get to hear voices from Australia, Japan, Germany, Kenya, etc. And yes, I realize that by doing so, you are only tuning in to the mainstream of those respective countries. But even the mainstream abroad is more thoughtful than what we get here. The problem much of the time in theUnited States with the news we hear from overseas is that by the time we hear what has happened in, say, Nigeria, it flows through five layers of editors - a main bureau editor in Cairo or Cyprus, who mainly tries to translate what he thinks the reporter was trying to say (often the reporter speaks no English or is only familiar with it as a second language). That goes to another editor in, say, London who sends it overseas to New York or Washington. Finally, one of your local radio stations or newspapers gets hold of the story. As one who works in the newspaper business, I can tell you that many editors have this compulsion to alter whatever story is stuck in front of them. The good ones leave it alone if they have questions until they can verify with the source that something is amiss. But I can say from experience that there are plenty of bad ones out there, from the lowliest weekly paper to the loftiest East Coast dailies. I once heard the story of an editor at the Wall Street Journal, terrible with math, who double-checked the arithmetic on a stock buyout offer- incorrectly, I must add--and changed the information in the story. SO someone saw the mistake and called the paper, but not before chaos started swirling in the trading pits. When the New York Stock Exchange caught wind of this, it shut down for an hour after the stock had been involved in frenzied trading for a couple of hours because the paper overvalued it. That's an example of how much just one editor can mess things up. My choice always will be to get the info from as close to the source as possible, and few things besides being an eyewitness can beat the BBC World Service. Bear in mind, however, that a trend has been recognized toward a more mainstream approach at National Public Radio. As the book Unreliable Sources explains it, because of corporate underwriting, NPR seeks a broader audience (as well as more affluent) to ensure that the donation dollars keep rolling in. So the sources from abroad may begin to dwindle in favor of Pentagon and other Capitol Hill spokespeople. Enjoy what you're getting while you can. Fortunately, there are few corporate sponsors at your friendly, local college station, at least not where I am. The main ones would be a department store and a burrito joint--both locally owned. The presentation of local news and local views has less polish, but the lack of slickness gives it appeal--if there are ulterior motives, they are not easily seen, and at least they're not obviously money-motivated. Most folks who run such stations are suspicious enough of mainstream influences that they are kept to a minimum. And because of that, they can be counted on to keep the voices diverse. Alternative voices in the immediate community are more important than the ones from abroad. While the news of the world keeps us informed and vigilant about similar happenings on the home front, the sounds of ethnic music helps non-Anglo citizens keep in tune with each other. Hearing one's native tongue and music lets people know they are not alone, that they are part of a community. That knowledge gives them confidence and the power to act in a society that may seem hostile to their ways. And local stations do their part to promote musical diversity by supporting local artists, thereby keep- ing the creative wellsprings flowing from people like you and me. While driving across the Flint Hills of Kansas recently, I had the pleasure of hearing a musical community calendar for the South Central part of the Midwest--that lasted at least a half hour. It seems like the first college stations were devoted to classical and jazz, then in the '70s shifted to punk and new wave. The list is still growing, with reggae, world beat, industrial and other experimental music getting air time as well. The diversity of political thought extends to the musical spectrum. One of the best things about such stations, however, is that they welcome listener involvement. Sure, they appreciate getting cash during fund drives, but many take the philosophy that they are there for the listeners to step in and run if they are so inclined. The one in St. Cloud invites listeners to become DJs and talk show hosts as well as engineers, and they offer training to boot. That is probably why college stations are so endearing to their listeners--the listeners often are the radio station. The higher the level of participation, the better. The best way to cast your vote in favor of these stations is involvement. If you feel strongly enough about what the station is doing for you, call 'em up and volunteer. And if you don't like the way things are run, do the same thing. It's the perfect way to assert your power. If you don't feel that strongly about them, just tune in, and let them know you're out there listening. Don't be bashful. We all need a warm fuzzy. **** MUSIC SCENE by Fred Weaver Constant Change is a fanzine/record label based in Middleton, Rhode Island. Aside from selling their own stuff, Constant Change also sells records by other bands that have put out records and need better distribution, which Constant Change offers. This way of doing business helps bands that wouldn't be heard outside of their region, to be heard around the country. It also seems to be a much nicer way of dealing with bands than minor labels do. I spoke to Brian Simmons, the founder of Constant Change, to see what he had to say about the current Indie scene and what it takes to start and run an independent label. When, why and how did you start Constant Change? BS: It was 1986 and I was a senior in high school when I first started working on Constant Change. The inspiration behind doing a fanzine was basically because of my love for music, but also because of the lack of any-thing going on in Rhode Island. At the time, I had gotten into writing people from all over the country and this whole network was created with all these people who were doing their own fanzines and record labels. It was a very inspirational time for me and it proved to me that anyone could do anything if they put their mind to it. When did you start doing records? BS: I first got involved with doing records about three or four years ago when some friends of mine were doing a studio project and didn't want to have it put out on any of the hip straight-edge labels. Since doing a label was something I had always wanted to do, I said I'd do it. At the same time two other friends were putting together a compilation seven-inch and since neither knew a thing about putting out records we decided to team up and we formed the Flux Foundation. Last year I sort of hooked up with Seven League Boots from Boston because I knew their singer from the last band he was in. They had already recorded some stuff and I was into it so I decided, because of business differences with the people I did Flux with, to expand Constant Change into a record label. Do you do all the stuff by yourself? BS: Nobody can ever do anything by themselves. I have always had help from my friend Jodi with the fanzine from the start. She's helped out with everything from interviews to pictures. The label is pretty much myself as far as money and decisions, but I have help from my friend Karla and her brother, Kenny, with stuffing records and mail order. How many copies of your magazine are printed? BS: With the third issue, we changed over to newsprint so there was a minimum order of 1500 and that is how many were done. Before that we had only done 500. How much of a response have you gotten? BS: The response has been great so far. You can always tell when people like an issue because they start ordering back issues and I've sold almost all of those. One thing I'd like is more critical input, which is something that that I can really use. That and more people offering articles and other written input. How do you do your distribution? Is it just mail order? BS: I do a lot of my own distribution by calling stores and stuff, but my favorite way is by selling them at shows myself. I go through a lot of distributors ranging in size from just kids selling at shows to Cargo, who is the biggest I will deal with. In Europe, I go through several different distributors like De Konkurrent and X-Mist. I've been screwed by a couple of the bigger distributors but so far I've been happy with the way Cargo does business. I do quite a bit of mail order and always try to answer my mail as soon as possible. What is the advantage of a smaller label? BS: That's tough ... I love doing it! I've learned more from this than in the 15 or so years of school I had. From the band's point of view, a smaller label is more likely to let them do whatever they want as opposed to trying to mold them into some kind of marketable product. Plus, with a small label everyone is friends with everyone else. I think I can honestly say Seven League Boots would never have to worry about me ripping them off. Everyone is involved with every step of the process. Do you book the bands, also? BS: I do my best to help out in every way possible but I try to stay out of the whole business of booking tours and what not. It is better to have a third party come in and do it if the band doesn't want to do it themselves. Seven League Boots have a great "manager," I hate to use that term because she is more of a friend working with them. I do promote shows in Rhode Island so I try to always include the bands whose records I put out in the shows that I do. Do you help with the recording and pressing of the records? BS: I always pay for all the pressings and everything involved with that. I'm trying now to get in the gist of paying for the bands to record, just to help out. Does Constant Change deal with politics at all? If so, what kinds of stands do you take? BS: Politics is a broad term to me but it is mostly just the way people try to put guidelines on how they deal with everyone else. I don't intentionally avoid politics in my 'zine, it just sort of happens that way. In some ways I think it is because I'm not a very self righteous person, I am the way I am and just because it works for me, doesn't mean it works for every one. Not to sound hokey, but everyone has to choose their own paths in life. I don't want to put rules on how I'm going to deal with people I don't even know. As for the issues of the day ....it's interesting because it is an election year and it makes me think even more how much politics suck. Rhode Island is very fucked right now. A lot of people are taking advantage of the positions they are in to further their own agenda, which in most cases seems to be making money. Politics rely on human nature and as far as I'm concerned that is not a good thing to bet on. Powers corrupts ultimately... I know you mentioned this before, but how do you feel about Nirvana being #1? Do you feel they have sacrificed something by signing to a major label? BS: It's funny because I think the thing that bothers people in punk rock is the fact that other people like them [Nirvana]. It's kind of a selfish attitude but I admit I'm like that to an extent. I like the new Nirvana album; not as much as I liked "Bleach," but it is still a great record. I guess it is the rebellious nature of punk rock that makes people not want others to listen to what they do and that's very cool. One of my favorite bands of all time was the Clash and look how they turned out. Someone said recently: "In ten years no one will care what label they were on. It's the music that counts." That makes a lot of sense and to an extent it is true. In 1992 the Clash are still one of the most inspirational bands I have ever listened to. Is Constant Change your full time job or do you have a "real' job? BS: I wish I could do it full time but unfortunately it doesn't really work that way. Maybe someday, who knows? that's not what I'm striving for right now. I work at a florist's full time and then do record stuff at night and on the weekends. Do you think it's important to support independent labels? BS: Definitely! Independent labels have taken something that was once a big business industry and brought it down to the level where the people running things are the ones who love the music. It eliminated a lot of unwanted outsiders just in it for the money. In closing, any advice for someone wanting to start a label or a magazine? BS: Just do it! Don't be afraid to ask someone who has already done it. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, just make sure you learn from them. Music is one of the most powerful art forms out there; let's keep it in the hands of the people who really love it. Constant Change sells 7"s for the low price of $3 postpaid. Available is the 7 League Boots' "Big Book/Man about Town" single and many others. Write for a full catalog. Constant Change c/o Brian Simmons 2028 West Main RD Middleton, RI 02840 USA **** ZINE SCENE zines received, bought, or found reviewed by Chuck0 If you send away for one of these zines, send at least a S.A.S.E. or some stamps. Better yet, send some bucks so these folks can continue publishing! Co-op America Quarterly (Spring 1992) An excellent resource zine. This issue focuses on agribusiness, genetic diversity, and biotechnology. Includes the useful Boycott Action News. Co-op News Network "A Networking Newspaper for Coop- erative Food Stores" ...pretty self-explanatory. Conscious Choice "Resources for Responsible Decision Making" A tabloid newspaper published in Chicago. Has a heavy New Age feel to it, but this issue has some interesting articles on animal rights. I'm keeping this issue so I will know where to find vegetarian restaurants the next time I'm in Chicago. Dumpster Times (March 1992, Single-$2, Sub-$10) Wendy S. Duke editor PO Box 80044 Akron, OH 44308 A cool arts- oriented anarchy zine. Good stories and great graphics. I've sent copies of the Chia-Christ ad to all my friends. Noisy Concept (#14, March/April 1992) c/o Mike Thain, 621 Basset Rd., Bay Village, OH 44140 A zine that has features on punk, veganism, hemp, and other anarchist stuff. Send them some bucks. Lard Gore #3 PO Box 8722, Minneapolis, MN 55408 A free-form, eclectic, militant anarchist zine. Topics include veganism, animal rights, treaty rights, gentrification, and Emma Goldman. Perennial Books Catalog Attn: John PetrovatoBox B14, Montague, MA 01353 A distributor/seller of anarchist books and materials. Good selection. Anarchy #32 C.A.L.PO Box 1446, Columbia, MO 65205-1446 The excellent quality of this publication is widely known. Anarchist news, reviews of zines and books, and letters. This issue's topic is libertarian fiction. Instead of A Magazine (Number 53 & 54) PO Box 433, Willimantic, CT. O6226 Special double issue. Topic: Anarchy & Sex. The new changes look good! OVO (#14)Trevor Blake PO Box 23061, Knoxville, TN 37933-1061 The last issue of this eclectic and thoughtful anarchist zine. This issue devoted to "Suffering." Eating Joe's Mango Unnamed Rag PO Box 3207, Bloomington, IN 47402 A collage-oriented layout really makes this zine a lot of fun. Put out by some cool anarchists in Bloomington. Ah yes, the "who takes out the garbage" question answered. Wind Chill Factor (No.5 & 6) PO Box 81961, Chicago, IL 60681 One of the coolest zines to show up in my mailbox lately. An electic, militant anarchist zine with excellent collage layout. Features on Star Trek, Black Blocs, Zoos, prisons, gentrification, and Chicago area anarchist news. Best of luck! ABAPA Freer #1 Pat Underhill PO Box 759, Veneta, OR 97487 An apa (assured publication arrangement) "forum about boosting freedom, especially within promising locales." If you are interested in living freely, cheaply, or on the land, get in touch with these people. New World Rising #18 71 Hope St., Box 33, Providence, RI 02906 Great layout and illustrations. Looks like network- ing news for the Grateful Dead crowd. A-Infos #19 (Humeurs Noires, Edition, B.P. 79, 59370 Mons- En-Baroeul, France) Anarchist news from France and Europe. Rolling Stone (May 28th, 1992) An interview with Noam Chomsky titled "Anarchy in the U.S.A." Is Noam an anarchist? **** BOYCOTT AND BUYCOTT Boycott ======= Coors This company in the past has funded right-wing groups and promoted racism and homophobia. Their ads are always sexist. And their beer sucks! Anheiser Busch I've called this boycott because they dominate the market, which gives them unbelievable amounts of money to finance ad campaigns that promote sexism, the objectification of women, patriotism, and George Bush's War (the Gulf War). General Electric This boycott called by INFACT continues. GE continues to participate in the manufacture of weapons of mass destruction. Don't buy their light bulbs! Table Grapes The United Farm Workers have called this boycott to protest the pesticides sprayed on grapes which are harmful to farmworkers. Table grapes are those light green grapes. I've been honoring this boycott for over five years-- sure do miss those tasty grapes. McDonalds Who cares if their crap comes in environmentally- friendly packaging? Their advertising entices youngsters to embark on a lifetime of bad eating. The consumption of hamburger and other meats is one of the main props that support a meat industry that is out of control. I do use their restrooms when I travel. Let's put them out of business for billions and billions of years. Buycott ======= Jockey This company provides sensible underwear for women. I saw this in Susan Faludi's book. They sound cool enough, so buy underwear and other stuff from them. **** BULLETIN BOARD Slaves in Ancient Greece and Rome had 115 holidays a year! Hey, wait a minute, that makes us more slaves than them! - Antler @ Some anarchists in Indiana are holding a picnic! Anarchist Picnic Bloomington, Indiana October 2nd, 3rd, 4th (fri-sun) Open to all with a midwestern flavor numerous punk and folk bands foodstuffs workshops on practical doable anarchist organization lit tables barter and exchange tables for music, recipes, zines, etc. for information and to be put on the contact list, write: joSepH & trash o'brat po box 3207 bloomington, IN 47402-3207l USA The folks at Xexoxial Endarchy have moved to their Dreamtime Village project. Their address: Xexoxial Endarchy Route 1, Box 131, LaFarge, Wisconsin 54639-9601 USA (608) 528-4619 Practical Anarchy projects The newly revised "Intro to Anarchy" bibliography will be available soon. This annotated bibliography lists books, zines, and other materials of interest to the prospective anarchist. Send $2. Also available on disk.