The CIA Makes Science Fiction Unexciting #2

Chemical biological weapons, CIA documents about the AIDS virus, and "cures" killing faster than AIDS. The origin of AIDS has always been shrouded in mystery. How did a test group of a Hepatitis B vaccine get AIDS in very high proportions in 1980? How come there is such a high prevalence of AIDS in Africa? What do biological and chemical warfare research in the U.S. have to do with AIDS? What is considered to be AIDS, really? This zine tries to shed light on shadowy issues related to the spread, discovery and curing of AIDS.

Size: half-letter, 32 pages, $2.50

 The CIA Makes Science Fiction Unexciting #1

The Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Who really killed Dr. King? This zine attempts to compile evidence that shows that James Earl Ray might have been a foil, framed by other interests. Why were there two identical cars? Was there another gunman? Were U.S. agencies involved? Who is the mysterious Raoul? Is Ray today saying all that he knows? The answer to all these questions is yes, They killed him. Learn how...

Size: quarter-letter, 24 pages, $2

 Imagine #7

Another issue of Imagine chockful of intelligent writing. After the extensive debates in the Letters, section, John debunks some pro-war bumper stickers and the assertion that you have to "stand by your government." Then John jumps into The Case for Anarchism, through the lens of game theory and the impact of the "Prisoner's Dilemna" in fostering community, self-policing, with real-world examples to show how it's been done for a very long time. After that, John reviews a Doug Stanhope stand-up comedy show, interviews V. Vale of RE/Search fame about being at Kent State University when the army came shooting in 1970, and continues his Anarchist Parenting series. Finally, recounts to life story of cover woman Sarah Winnemucca, who decided to get the White Man's education, but ended being repeatedly betrayed, betrayed, betrayed again and finally huiliated again decades after her death. There are some other features, along with reprints of funny political cartoons as usual.

Thanks to the falling U.S. dollar, newer issues of Imagine are now cheaper! Speaking of newer issues, Imagine #6 is also available even though I haven't profiled it yet, at the same price as issue #7.

Size: half-letter, 60 pages, $4.50

 Imagine #5

The two anarchist-specific features in this issue are the debate over primitivism (are humans better off without civilization?), in particular John Zerzan's version, and over whether Jesus was an anarchist or not. The funniest feature in this issue is a reprint of some material from stand-up comedian Douglas Stanhope. There are a few features about sexism and Mormons, some ancient Chinese and Japanese poems as translated by an anarchist, some wisdom from George Bush, and some more. There is as usual a lengthy letters section, reviews and Life in These United States, a list of stupid things than happened in that glorious country, especially coming from those enforcing law and order.

Size: half-letter, 68 pages, $5

This is the Post-September 11 issue. While he's still anarchist, John Johnson now calls Imagine a skeptical journal of politics and philosophy. Imagine has a long Letters section, with replies from John, which makes for interesting two-way discussion. Topics in this issue: the tao of anarchism, lessons to learn from the first Gulf War, Why I am not a Muslim, Why I am not a Mormon, and the government using "anarchists" to break up protests. Finally, there's the post-911 content. Some of it is starting to feel a bit stale (especially if you've been obsessively reading Znet like me) but it's still highly interesting. Reports about restrictions of freedom, propaganda, CIA involvement in Afghanistan, being convincted for thought-crime and other bad things that the U.S. government has done since the terrorist attacks (both against and by them...)

Size: half-letter, 68 pages, $5

 Long Live Mutiny! Pirate Tactics

Borrowing from what I assume to be traditional pirate customs, the authors of this guide explain how to create secure conditions for Black Bloc activists to get together to organize and carry out direct action. Topics addressed include "How do pirates organize", "Radical Defense", "How do I become a Pirate", "What the hell is a swagger", and more. The guide gives good directions on how to maintain anonymity and avoid infiltration by state agents and others, how different groups should connect together, how information can be safely distributed, etc. If you want to get involved in covert direct action, this is a good place to begin.

Out of stock already! Will be available again in the future, feel free to write to accelerate the process.

 Race Riot #2

Mimi Nguyen started Race Riot in the mid-1990s, which became "an experiment 'by, for, and about' people of colour in, around, or on their way out of punk rock." I have never seen the first issue, but this one continues on that topic. Many seem to have made their way out of punk rock, since there is not actually that much focus on the punk rock scene in this issue, although you can feel the punk influence in many articles. Instead the wider world is the stage, but this is not meant to be a feel-good exercise. From the introduction:

I do not want the compilation to be a mere exercise in "telling our stories" or "sharing" in the "richness" of diversity, and especially didn't want to be "discovered" -- as in, "Look, there are people of colour in punk!" I'm not necessarily into "discovering identity" as I am "deconstructing social relations and the exercise of power." This is not food to be consumed -- how many analogies to a "happy multiculturalism" refer to dining in exotic restaurants? --or a show or a spectacle to be enjoyed. This is sharp, sharpened--needles and splinters to be pushed under the surface of skin, experiences as punctures and upheavals. I don't want to make this comfortable, or comforting--this is supposed to be fucking with you.

Over 40 different writers contributed articles over topics such as trying to pass as white, attempts at being run out of the neighbourhood for being black, indifference to racism, hatred of white people, the fuzzy edges of Filipino culture, being invisible and ignored, getting white people to become inclusive, the Filipina Barbie Doll and the commodification of cultural/racial identities, being one of few people of colour in a sea of white people at a show, and a lot more... The range of topics and perspectives is as astouding as is the quality of the writing, blending raw anger and intellectual engagement with race and punk rock. A must have for anyone who wants to reflect on the place of race in punk rock and in general.

Out of stock already! Will be available again in the future, feel free to write to accelerate the process.

 Race Riot Project Directory

This is a companion zine to the main Race Riot zine. A partial inventory of zines and other projects by people of colour in the 1990s, made by Mimi Nguyen to remember, in her words, "that we were here", to undo the constant erasure that POC face from punk rock history.

Size: half-letter, 36 pages, $1

"What's Radical in Economics!" This particular issue draws the history of the Great Depression: what could have been done to prevent it, what could have been done to mitigate its effects, and what could have been done to send the economic system on a sustainable path... All things that the powerful few decided to skip on. It's a fascinating and instructive depiction of one of the darkests periods of the 20th century.

"The real truth of the matter is, as you and I know, is that a financial element in the large centers has owned the government since the days of Andrew Jackson" --Franklin Delano Roosevelt

"If the people of the nation understood our banking and monetary system, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning" --Henry Ford, Sr.

Size: half-letter, 60 pages, $2.75
This issue is not in stock anymore, but other issues are available, write for details.

 Ye Drunken Sailor #5

Insurrection in Algeria! This issue of YDS documents the complete rejection of state power that the people of the region of Kabyla in Algeria have achieved, and the thoroughness through which people have managed to create a bottom-up power structure, as opposed to top-down as is usual. Now if only that had lead to anything constructive... Still, this is very instructive. Other than that, there is an article about the autonomous workers collectives that have sprung up in Argentina after the economy collapsed there, how that has affected work conditions and how can these collectives last, instead of being brought back to "normal". The Rocky Road to Busking is an entertaining account of one person' trip to England and life in a squat house there, and adventures thereafter. Also entertaining but of dubious origin is the first draft of Engels' preface to Marx' Das Kapital. Some more updates and articles flesh out this other excellent issue of this anarchist zine that hasn't forgotten Emma Goldman's "If I can't dance, I don't want to be part of your revolution." Which reminds me, this issue features, as always, one cute "Sunshine anarchist"!!

Size: letter, 28 pages, $3