May Day!!!!
Mayday, mayday, the system is going down!!! And, it's about FUCKING time!!!
May 1st, from now on! Spread the word!!!!!
Celebrate your humanity, and your fellow beautiful human beings, in their newfound freedom, their newfound life, a life of Anarchy!
The following is a list of suggestions that can be rearranged to suit you, added to, or completely ignore for your May Day celebrations.
1) Start at midnight. Better yet, start preparations the day before! Make sure that you can be an uninhibited, benevolent, and absolutely free human being for at least 24 hours: think of it as a respite from slavery. :)
2) Begin the night by stealing a flag. Yes: steal it. It wouldn't be a very decent thing to contribute time and resources to somebody so you can lawfully obtain a flag, would it? Steal a flag of your former nationality. Each liberated being should be represented. Now steal a bunchload of fabric dye: black... Pitch. Fucking. Black. If you can make it yourself, even better!!!!! Get a large enough container to dye your flag in, and usurp the future of your nation symbolically, as will one day happen when humanity is liberated from its tools. It takes a long time to dye things, so you may want to take turns. Make it an activity for the group, not a chore, and enjoy the process.
3) Find a place in nature, or created by your own hands, to celebrate the day. Wage-slave labor and blood, corporate industrial facilities, or government institutions are no fun, and their existence is an affront to man. Enjoy life in the midst of life. Or go somewhere you're not supposed to be, and claim the territory for your own, liberating the place made from sweat and tears from the slavemasters themselves.
4) Ditch the radios and televisions! Sing songs made by people you know and love; watch life play itself out not through a screen, but right next to you! Sing, dance, play music, etc. Even better: take the time to create a masterpiece with your friends right there! Get rid of the feelings of embarassment that society and religion have caused you to feel: you fucking rock! I'm telling you!
5) Use this time to get to know everybody: this is the anarchist community, or if somebody hasn't joined the free yet, they hopefully soon will. This is a great time to network. Better still, this is a great time to sit everybody down, plan an impromtu low-medium risk guerilla direct action and execute it! Yay for more group activities!
6) Food. What is a 24+ hour festival without food? It's probably a malnourished, fatigued, hunger-pang ridden festival, that's what! Provide food for your festival: potluck style!!! Of course, since any good anarchist refuses to promote the subjugation of any form of sentient life, vegan/vegetarian all the way! Respect your life and the life of other creatures. Of course, respect plant life to, but take them for what they are.
7) Fire. Lots of fire. Get a fire going all day long. Burn remnants of a once-enslaved you, burn the bounty of nature that has come to a natural end, burn the safe-to-breath things that the fires of industry created. Recycle what you can, burn what deserves to be burnt, but realize that heat needs to be obtained somehow. If you are very environmentally conscious, make sure that if you have a fire, you are okay with how you've created it.
8) Make some art. For the kiddies, maybe have a workshop or arts-and-crafts area? Give them a bunch of "these can't hurt you" supplies of any and every sort and see what comes up! Kids can be amazingly creative sometimes.
9) Make some art of your own too! Find a wall and let some spraypaint and stencil artists work their magic, bring some frames and canvas for your painters, bring everything you might need and then some: you never know! Make it into another group project! Human interaction is amazing.
10) Post a couple of voluntary lookouts, maintain a perimeter, deter surveillance. People don't like freedom lovers for some reason....
Have any other suggestions or ideas? Let me know: I'd love to post them.
2.5.07
A homework assignment...
Give yourself no more than 2 weeks to do this.
So you want to go out and participate in revolutionary, or at the very least radical, actions. But there are good ways to do this, and bad ways. Seeing as how revolution is illegal for the most part, you may want to take precautions.
One of the most brilliant precautions developed so far is the black bloc. This is where everybody dresses up the exact same and participates in an action: no leaders, no followers. If you have a leader, they will be targeted, and your movement will die. However, if you have no leader, and everybody works together, then you can't be stopped until everybody is stopped, and that won't be easy.
If you want more detail, ask for it in a comment.
Here's what you'll need:
1) Something to keep the tear gas, etc., from searing your lungs. Optimally, you would want a military gas mask with a tube that attaches to a canteen so you can still drink and breathe safely. If you can't get one, seeing as how they are expensive and all, then you can do this... Get a bandanna (preferrably a black one) and a small bottle of apple-cider vinegar or lime juice. If you fear a gas attack, then (hopefully you already had it on...) put your juice of choice on the bandanna and breathe through it. This will save you a lot of pain.
2) A black hoodie. A simple, solid, blacker than the night, unmarked hoodie. This gives you the ability to cover most of your head and all of you hair. This is important to make sure that they can't give a description, can't easily distinguish your gender (if you are a well-endowed woman... well, at least they can't describe your hair style or facial features! That, and what if you're a guy with long hair!! :P ), and it will protect you from some of the harsh chemicals they tend to douse you with...
3) Black jeans. I'd tell you to go out and get black military fatigues made out of canvas, but I don't know how easy that would be, and everybody would need the same ones! Jeans are easier, and still provide some protection from the elements and chemicals.
4) Boots. www.budkww.com has some good military combat boots for twenty-five bucks. Any black boots will suffice, but I really recommend those (or some military boots that are similar). They are made for wading through the elements. Doc Martin has some good boots. Try to make sure they are similar though, still! The reason the budk boots are good is their soles. Those things lasted me two years with heavy wear. They have a small piece of steel to give them some semblance of support (called a "shank". Look it up.), the soles are semi-hard rubber that doesn't let much through, the nylon is pretty sturdy (the army has some now with more leather, and if you can get solid-leather ones that are waterproof, those are ideal, especially since they look similar to other military boots!), and they'll serve you well.
And for the love of GOD, no flip-flops or sandals please!?
4)A really good backpack. If you can obtain them, the best you can get is called and A.L.I.C.E. They were once the bags of choice used by the military, and you may have seen a homeless person with one. The acronym stands for: Aluminum Lightweight Infantry Carrying Equipment. It has an aluminum frame that spares your back, and a strap that goes behind your waist that spares your shoulders and lower back quite a bit of strife. It has a waterproof main pouch, and places to attach your own gear. Attachments you can obtain include: a first-aid kit, a canteen, a sleeping-bag, a rifle-cleaning kit (though why would you want a rifle?), and a mess-kit (a little thing that is and contains a pot/pan or more, bowls, spoons, forks, and cups, all compacted together). If everybody could get this, a group could effectively go out for weeks in the wilderness. It will house your supplies. Otherwise, get yourself a good backpack. If worst comes to worst, you'll be ditching it anyways.
5) The aformentioned First-aid kit. Make sure it's something you know how to use. The ones for A.L.I.C.E. packs are awesome and strap right onto the bag!
6) A change of clothes that will fit over your black bloc clothing without looking too conspicuous. That means you might want to make sure your gear was thin (ghetto-bagging probably isn't the best idea). You want to make sure it will fit in your bag, too.
7) A comfortable sized piece of Lexan with a comfortable and impact friendly handle. This is what will save you. Preferably rig a way to get the shields to lock together too, and you can have a shield wall or shield charge. Lexan is kinda heavy, but I'm pretty sure it's stronger than the crap riot-pigs use and it is clear. Lexan is 50 times stronger than steel.
8) Goggles. If your gas mask has it, great. If it doesn't, you will need some. Chemical weapons are nasty. If you get ANY chemical substance on you, don't touch anything, anybody, and get to a cold shower (NOT hot: it'll just open your pores...) to get it off of you, wash your clothes several times... Be careful.
These are just a few things for a nearly-all-riot-situation type kit. If you're planning something special, make sure everybody is outfitted and you know how to work together as a unified whole.
Hopefully in the future, I'll be able to give you some tips and tricks for training yourself. Until then, may you confront danger and return unscathed so we can meet your beautiful face under the stars once more.
So you want to go out and participate in revolutionary, or at the very least radical, actions. But there are good ways to do this, and bad ways. Seeing as how revolution is illegal for the most part, you may want to take precautions.
One of the most brilliant precautions developed so far is the black bloc. This is where everybody dresses up the exact same and participates in an action: no leaders, no followers. If you have a leader, they will be targeted, and your movement will die. However, if you have no leader, and everybody works together, then you can't be stopped until everybody is stopped, and that won't be easy.
If you want more detail, ask for it in a comment.
Here's what you'll need:
1) Something to keep the tear gas, etc., from searing your lungs. Optimally, you would want a military gas mask with a tube that attaches to a canteen so you can still drink and breathe safely. If you can't get one, seeing as how they are expensive and all, then you can do this... Get a bandanna (preferrably a black one) and a small bottle of apple-cider vinegar or lime juice. If you fear a gas attack, then (hopefully you already had it on...) put your juice of choice on the bandanna and breathe through it. This will save you a lot of pain.
2) A black hoodie. A simple, solid, blacker than the night, unmarked hoodie. This gives you the ability to cover most of your head and all of you hair. This is important to make sure that they can't give a description, can't easily distinguish your gender (if you are a well-endowed woman... well, at least they can't describe your hair style or facial features! That, and what if you're a guy with long hair!! :P ), and it will protect you from some of the harsh chemicals they tend to douse you with...
3) Black jeans. I'd tell you to go out and get black military fatigues made out of canvas, but I don't know how easy that would be, and everybody would need the same ones! Jeans are easier, and still provide some protection from the elements and chemicals.
4) Boots. www.budkww.com has some good military combat boots for twenty-five bucks. Any black boots will suffice, but I really recommend those (or some military boots that are similar). They are made for wading through the elements. Doc Martin has some good boots. Try to make sure they are similar though, still! The reason the budk boots are good is their soles. Those things lasted me two years with heavy wear. They have a small piece of steel to give them some semblance of support (called a "shank". Look it up.), the soles are semi-hard rubber that doesn't let much through, the nylon is pretty sturdy (the army has some now with more leather, and if you can get solid-leather ones that are waterproof, those are ideal, especially since they look similar to other military boots!), and they'll serve you well.
And for the love of GOD, no flip-flops or sandals please!?
4)A really good backpack. If you can obtain them, the best you can get is called and A.L.I.C.E. They were once the bags of choice used by the military, and you may have seen a homeless person with one. The acronym stands for: Aluminum Lightweight Infantry Carrying Equipment. It has an aluminum frame that spares your back, and a strap that goes behind your waist that spares your shoulders and lower back quite a bit of strife. It has a waterproof main pouch, and places to attach your own gear. Attachments you can obtain include: a first-aid kit, a canteen, a sleeping-bag, a rifle-cleaning kit (though why would you want a rifle?), and a mess-kit (a little thing that is and contains a pot/pan or more, bowls, spoons, forks, and cups, all compacted together). If everybody could get this, a group could effectively go out for weeks in the wilderness. It will house your supplies. Otherwise, get yourself a good backpack. If worst comes to worst, you'll be ditching it anyways.
5) The aformentioned First-aid kit. Make sure it's something you know how to use. The ones for A.L.I.C.E. packs are awesome and strap right onto the bag!
6) A change of clothes that will fit over your black bloc clothing without looking too conspicuous. That means you might want to make sure your gear was thin (ghetto-bagging probably isn't the best idea). You want to make sure it will fit in your bag, too.
7) A comfortable sized piece of Lexan with a comfortable and impact friendly handle. This is what will save you. Preferably rig a way to get the shields to lock together too, and you can have a shield wall or shield charge. Lexan is kinda heavy, but I'm pretty sure it's stronger than the crap riot-pigs use and it is clear. Lexan is 50 times stronger than steel.
8) Goggles. If your gas mask has it, great. If it doesn't, you will need some. Chemical weapons are nasty. If you get ANY chemical substance on you, don't touch anything, anybody, and get to a cold shower (NOT hot: it'll just open your pores...) to get it off of you, wash your clothes several times... Be careful.
These are just a few things for a nearly-all-riot-situation type kit. If you're planning something special, make sure everybody is outfitted and you know how to work together as a unified whole.
Hopefully in the future, I'll be able to give you some tips and tricks for training yourself. Until then, may you confront danger and return unscathed so we can meet your beautiful face under the stars once more.
8.4.07
Lending a hand... Read through to the end please!!!
A couple thursdays ago, I attended the "Exploited" concert at the University Theater.
It was an amazing show. A couple bands I've seen before attended (So Unloved especially), and I got to listen to some local psychobilly as well. As the show wore on, the crowd became more and more involved, things heated up, and the room got warmer, and warmer, and warmer...
A couple of interesting facts about the University Theater. It is sponsored by the Xpose Coalition. For those that aren't familiar with this organization: it is an organization targeted toward removing business and therefore profits from big tobacco. What was REALLY interesting was the fact that a lot of people stepped outside for a smoke between bands. Even MORE interesting: a smokeshop just opened next door. Irony at it's best.
An interesting event took place also. You know when fights break out, people crowd around it? Well, I think fighting is retarded, so I ignore it. This was the case this time around. Turns out, I actually knew the chick that got jumped. I had just met her, and she's dating my friend Scooch. She was set upon by a girl with a grudge and 3 other girls took a couple cheap kicks at her. It was after I found this out that I realized I was being apathetic. Now, understand, apathy is my greatest enemy. I didn't care about the event. But now I think about it... Every fight involves somebodies friend. Every murder involves somebodies child. Every war involves the death of a rational human being. So, I will make an effort from now on to attempt and break up fights, regardless of how much bodily harm I may receive... It may be advisable for me to also get a group of friends to dedicate themselves to this purpose, now that I think about it. Oh well... Think about it.
So, as I was saying, the show wore on and the crowd wound up. When "The Exploited" came onstage I had my first taste of live British punk rock. It was amazing. The song "Sex and Violence" got the biggest crowd involvement, excepting what happened after the show.
At the designated time, the house lights came on: it was time for people to leave. But nobody left. Nobody so much as moved to leave. So "The Exploited" played another song. Then, one more song, after which some people went on stage and told the band that they weren't to play anymore. Still, nobody left. The singers microphone was unplugged, and nobody left. A chant started: "One more song!!! One more song!!!" A voice came over the house speakers, informing people that they should leave peacefully and now. The chant faded and then rose again, this time stronger. I was near the sound booth at this time, so I looked inside and saw the ominous house voice, and heard them cursing the stupidity of the people. I watched as one of the people inside flicked a switch, at which point my gaze went up to the stage where the band was still standing and a guy was holding a camera to catch a glimpse of the enthused crowd. They finally gave in. The microphone was plugged back in, and the band started up their last song.
The ENTIRE room became a pit, and a good one too. For those not familiar with Mosh Pits, I'll explain it to you, and then tell you why it isn't just a bunch of stupidity. At punk shows especially, and at metal shows sometimes, a circle forms. In the center of this circle is a crowd of people moving in a sort-of rhythm with the music, crashing into each other and pushing in any direction. It's painful and violent, but if you fall then everybody near pulls you back up, often so fast you actually are in the air for a second. If you need out, you are often pulled out if people can recognize that that is your intention. Sometimes you get real assholes in or around the pit that ignore you on the ground or push you back in when you're trying to get out. I ran into a guy that tried to push me in again sometime during the show, and I'm pretty sure he's the one I broke a (sharpened :) ) nail on: he pushed, I grabbed his arm and pulled myself out using his body.... Asshole.... So, anyways, that is the gist of the circle pit. Sometimes it doesn't move in a circle at all, but usually that's the case. During a good song, you actually get to a slow run with everybody. (There are different types of pits. At a psychobilly show, the buff guys get into what looks like a "punch-in-the-stomach-war" until somebody gives up. At hardcore shows, people aim to do damage and swing their arms, fists, elbows, knees, feet, legs, etc., in circles trying to hit something sharp and hard. In metal shows you normally get a circle pit, but I've heard of all out melees too. Scary!). People lose stuff all the time, too, but you usually see it being held above the crowd waiting for somebody to reclaim it. :) How courteous!
Why on earth would anybody do this? Well, first of all, you throw yourself into an environment of pure emotion: you feel the music, you feel the crowd, you feel passion... You feel. It feels amazing. You have a place to put the energy the music raises within you. You also put yourself into a purely chaotic environment where you gain the respect and comradery with those in there with you. After each song you'll shake hands, pat on the back, and link arms with people you've only seen blurred, jarred glances of. Then the next song starts, and you find yourself arm-over-shoulder with some guy you just met, creating twice the chaos and having a generally good time. Friendship, comradery, and a cluster of emotion and motion...
The negative impacts of this go beyond the obvious. The obvious negative impacts are: bruises, cuts, broken clothes, rivalries, animosities, etc. The not so obvious impact is that you are keeping the emotion created in the concert in the concert!!! That same energy could be used for a march or riot, a protest or firebombing, a demonstration or "reclaim the streets." Instead, it's all conveniently contained in the venue, and not reachin the masses as it should!
But I should get to the real reason for the post. After the show the entire area was surrounded by police. There were more police at the house concert that got busted, but this was almost as bad. There were 2 police by each store entrance, and many more by the entrance to the venue. After a while, the place cleared out, and all that was left were those of us waiting for a ride. I saw a lady outside with a latex glove and a trashbag picking up the broken glass and empty cans from the sidewalk and parking lot. This is when I finally, intentionally followed Inascent's recommendation to offer somebody some help. "Would you like any help?" "That would be wonderful, if you didn't mind..." And so I walked with her, pulled the latex glove Inascent had given me for painting, and proceeded to help clean up. Drinking is a disgusting practice.... It felt nice to help. During these rounds, a guy (clearly drunk) rode by and fell next to us. I helped him up, and he attempted to get back on his bike. I recommended against... What was really nice was that he said, "If I wasn't so wasted, I'd offer to give you guys a hand..." It's the thought that counts, but I'll write later as to why one should avoid mind-altering substances.
It really does pay off to lend a hand. Turns out, this woman was the owner. I talked with her about past and upcoming shows (how I wished I could have and plan to attend shows), the venue, the evenings events, the craziness of it all. It was fun. I think I might apply to work there until school gets out.
Well, that's enough from me tonight.
Enjoy life... Go out and make something of it.
It was an amazing show. A couple bands I've seen before attended (So Unloved especially), and I got to listen to some local psychobilly as well. As the show wore on, the crowd became more and more involved, things heated up, and the room got warmer, and warmer, and warmer...
A couple of interesting facts about the University Theater. It is sponsored by the Xpose Coalition. For those that aren't familiar with this organization: it is an organization targeted toward removing business and therefore profits from big tobacco. What was REALLY interesting was the fact that a lot of people stepped outside for a smoke between bands. Even MORE interesting: a smokeshop just opened next door. Irony at it's best.
An interesting event took place also. You know when fights break out, people crowd around it? Well, I think fighting is retarded, so I ignore it. This was the case this time around. Turns out, I actually knew the chick that got jumped. I had just met her, and she's dating my friend Scooch. She was set upon by a girl with a grudge and 3 other girls took a couple cheap kicks at her. It was after I found this out that I realized I was being apathetic. Now, understand, apathy is my greatest enemy. I didn't care about the event. But now I think about it... Every fight involves somebodies friend. Every murder involves somebodies child. Every war involves the death of a rational human being. So, I will make an effort from now on to attempt and break up fights, regardless of how much bodily harm I may receive... It may be advisable for me to also get a group of friends to dedicate themselves to this purpose, now that I think about it. Oh well... Think about it.
So, as I was saying, the show wore on and the crowd wound up. When "The Exploited" came onstage I had my first taste of live British punk rock. It was amazing. The song "Sex and Violence" got the biggest crowd involvement, excepting what happened after the show.
At the designated time, the house lights came on: it was time for people to leave. But nobody left. Nobody so much as moved to leave. So "The Exploited" played another song. Then, one more song, after which some people went on stage and told the band that they weren't to play anymore. Still, nobody left. The singers microphone was unplugged, and nobody left. A chant started: "One more song!!! One more song!!!" A voice came over the house speakers, informing people that they should leave peacefully and now. The chant faded and then rose again, this time stronger. I was near the sound booth at this time, so I looked inside and saw the ominous house voice, and heard them cursing the stupidity of the people. I watched as one of the people inside flicked a switch, at which point my gaze went up to the stage where the band was still standing and a guy was holding a camera to catch a glimpse of the enthused crowd. They finally gave in. The microphone was plugged back in, and the band started up their last song.
The ENTIRE room became a pit, and a good one too. For those not familiar with Mosh Pits, I'll explain it to you, and then tell you why it isn't just a bunch of stupidity. At punk shows especially, and at metal shows sometimes, a circle forms. In the center of this circle is a crowd of people moving in a sort-of rhythm with the music, crashing into each other and pushing in any direction. It's painful and violent, but if you fall then everybody near pulls you back up, often so fast you actually are in the air for a second. If you need out, you are often pulled out if people can recognize that that is your intention. Sometimes you get real assholes in or around the pit that ignore you on the ground or push you back in when you're trying to get out. I ran into a guy that tried to push me in again sometime during the show, and I'm pretty sure he's the one I broke a (sharpened :) ) nail on: he pushed, I grabbed his arm and pulled myself out using his body.... Asshole.... So, anyways, that is the gist of the circle pit. Sometimes it doesn't move in a circle at all, but usually that's the case. During a good song, you actually get to a slow run with everybody. (There are different types of pits. At a psychobilly show, the buff guys get into what looks like a "punch-in-the-stomach-war" until somebody gives up. At hardcore shows, people aim to do damage and swing their arms, fists, elbows, knees, feet, legs, etc., in circles trying to hit something sharp and hard. In metal shows you normally get a circle pit, but I've heard of all out melees too. Scary!). People lose stuff all the time, too, but you usually see it being held above the crowd waiting for somebody to reclaim it. :) How courteous!
Why on earth would anybody do this? Well, first of all, you throw yourself into an environment of pure emotion: you feel the music, you feel the crowd, you feel passion... You feel. It feels amazing. You have a place to put the energy the music raises within you. You also put yourself into a purely chaotic environment where you gain the respect and comradery with those in there with you. After each song you'll shake hands, pat on the back, and link arms with people you've only seen blurred, jarred glances of. Then the next song starts, and you find yourself arm-over-shoulder with some guy you just met, creating twice the chaos and having a generally good time. Friendship, comradery, and a cluster of emotion and motion...
The negative impacts of this go beyond the obvious. The obvious negative impacts are: bruises, cuts, broken clothes, rivalries, animosities, etc. The not so obvious impact is that you are keeping the emotion created in the concert in the concert!!! That same energy could be used for a march or riot, a protest or firebombing, a demonstration or "reclaim the streets." Instead, it's all conveniently contained in the venue, and not reachin the masses as it should!
But I should get to the real reason for the post. After the show the entire area was surrounded by police. There were more police at the house concert that got busted, but this was almost as bad. There were 2 police by each store entrance, and many more by the entrance to the venue. After a while, the place cleared out, and all that was left were those of us waiting for a ride. I saw a lady outside with a latex glove and a trashbag picking up the broken glass and empty cans from the sidewalk and parking lot. This is when I finally, intentionally followed Inascent's recommendation to offer somebody some help. "Would you like any help?" "That would be wonderful, if you didn't mind..." And so I walked with her, pulled the latex glove Inascent had given me for painting, and proceeded to help clean up. Drinking is a disgusting practice.... It felt nice to help. During these rounds, a guy (clearly drunk) rode by and fell next to us. I helped him up, and he attempted to get back on his bike. I recommended against... What was really nice was that he said, "If I wasn't so wasted, I'd offer to give you guys a hand..." It's the thought that counts, but I'll write later as to why one should avoid mind-altering substances.
It really does pay off to lend a hand. Turns out, this woman was the owner. I talked with her about past and upcoming shows (how I wished I could have and plan to attend shows), the venue, the evenings events, the craziness of it all. It was fun. I think I might apply to work there until school gets out.
Well, that's enough from me tonight.
Enjoy life... Go out and make something of it.
The Call...
This is the call. A call for what you might ask? A call to start establishing underground communities from city to city… Your community is the group of people you associate with. When you go to a friend’s house, enjoy a night on the town, have a picnic, go to the park, or even participate in a church service, you are interacting with your community.
To most people this seems like nothing special. On the contrary: this is something extremely important. In doing this, you are acting contrary to societal norms, getting out of your steel and whitewashed boxes, treating other individuals like human beings, and going so far as to enjoy yourself. But, even better, you are making it possible to share, cooperate, and organize. Now is the time to join the ranks of Marxists, Anarchists, Activists, and other like-minded individuals, raising the cry: “Organize, organize, organize!”
Most people hear “organize,” and think to themselves , “Oh, no, we have another no good, goddamned, green-peace, save the whales, let dogs vote, tree hugging hippie calling for a picket line.” Well, shut the fuck up. When you organize, you can share your resources (paint collective, food, craft tools, etc.), you can improve your environment (beautify your city, do some ALF [Animal Liberation Front] work, good-ole direct action, and much, much more), and create a much more effective way for you and those like you to get something actually done for once…
I’m starting here in fabulous Las Vegas. This, even in my mind, is a daunting endeavor. With the transient nature of this city, few people have a care for their community, or nearly any other human being, for that matter. Few people that were born here stay. Fewer people that move here make it their permanent residence. Admittedly, I’m going to college away from here, but don’t doubt I’ll be returning frequently to visit friends, enjoy life, and organize.
So, here’s what I’m doing.
1) Gather people. I have friends. Finding real people in this city that actually care about their life, much less anyone else’s, wasn’t easy, but I’ve managed to find 140 plus. How many of these are staying is yet to be determined, but one can hope.
2) Introduce people to other people. Even though a community can consist of 2 or more people, wouldn’t it be so awesome to have a community of 100, 200, or 300 people? Keep aware, though, that the more people you have in a group, the more conflict there is bound to be. I’ve been doing this, but truth be told, some people don’t like others. I’m a social butterfly of sorts (mainly the MJROTC doesn’t like me), and jump between groups with ease. But groups exist, personal animosities are there, and I deal with these in stride.
3) Develop affinity groups within your community. 300 people are hard to get together all at the same time and get anything done. But, within your community, there will groups of friends that work well together. Chances are your community will start out as an affinity group. Then you have several groups that can plan and perfect something, and a whole community to bring it to fruition. My personal group has a couple projects going on.
4) Pay attention to the community. Without constant maintenance, a community WILL fall apart. That’s the reality. Once people stop getting together, talking, interacting, people will lose touch, and the community will dissolve. Do you have the willpower to keep your community together? Does somebody else? Is there a group of people dedicated to making your world a better place to live in? I’m having an especially hard time with this. There are just too many people and just not enough time!
This is something that needs to happen in all of the cities. My personal project, though, is to establish a community here that attracts people from around the country. The desert will once again have it’s free spirits, I dream.
Show some heart, care for your fellow humans, and enjoy life as it can only be enjoyed with good company.
See you under the stars…
In danger….
To most people this seems like nothing special. On the contrary: this is something extremely important. In doing this, you are acting contrary to societal norms, getting out of your steel and whitewashed boxes, treating other individuals like human beings, and going so far as to enjoy yourself. But, even better, you are making it possible to share, cooperate, and organize. Now is the time to join the ranks of Marxists, Anarchists, Activists, and other like-minded individuals, raising the cry: “Organize, organize, organize!”
Most people hear “organize,” and think to themselves , “Oh, no, we have another no good, goddamned, green-peace, save the whales, let dogs vote, tree hugging hippie calling for a picket line.” Well, shut the fuck up. When you organize, you can share your resources (paint collective, food, craft tools, etc.), you can improve your environment (beautify your city, do some ALF [Animal Liberation Front] work, good-ole direct action, and much, much more), and create a much more effective way for you and those like you to get something actually done for once…
I’m starting here in fabulous Las Vegas. This, even in my mind, is a daunting endeavor. With the transient nature of this city, few people have a care for their community, or nearly any other human being, for that matter. Few people that were born here stay. Fewer people that move here make it their permanent residence. Admittedly, I’m going to college away from here, but don’t doubt I’ll be returning frequently to visit friends, enjoy life, and organize.
So, here’s what I’m doing.
1) Gather people. I have friends. Finding real people in this city that actually care about their life, much less anyone else’s, wasn’t easy, but I’ve managed to find 140 plus. How many of these are staying is yet to be determined, but one can hope.
2) Introduce people to other people. Even though a community can consist of 2 or more people, wouldn’t it be so awesome to have a community of 100, 200, or 300 people? Keep aware, though, that the more people you have in a group, the more conflict there is bound to be. I’ve been doing this, but truth be told, some people don’t like others. I’m a social butterfly of sorts (mainly the MJROTC doesn’t like me), and jump between groups with ease. But groups exist, personal animosities are there, and I deal with these in stride.
3) Develop affinity groups within your community. 300 people are hard to get together all at the same time and get anything done. But, within your community, there will groups of friends that work well together. Chances are your community will start out as an affinity group. Then you have several groups that can plan and perfect something, and a whole community to bring it to fruition. My personal group has a couple projects going on.
4) Pay attention to the community. Without constant maintenance, a community WILL fall apart. That’s the reality. Once people stop getting together, talking, interacting, people will lose touch, and the community will dissolve. Do you have the willpower to keep your community together? Does somebody else? Is there a group of people dedicated to making your world a better place to live in? I’m having an especially hard time with this. There are just too many people and just not enough time!
This is something that needs to happen in all of the cities. My personal project, though, is to establish a community here that attracts people from around the country. The desert will once again have it’s free spirits, I dream.
Show some heart, care for your fellow humans, and enjoy life as it can only be enjoyed with good company.
See you under the stars…
In danger….
6.4.07
New stencils.
I've put the new stencil set up for you to play with. Some of these I haven't even cut myself. But there you are. The link is to the right.
Here is an excerpt.
Authors of "Recipies for Disaster"
"Disaster?
Yes, disaster.
When you think of disasters, perhaps some secret part of you thrills at the idea of something happening, something interrupting the tedious routines that comprise existence for so many of us. You might not be ready to own up to actually desiring one, but a disaster would at least offer a chance to escape your cage and explore the unknown for a little while. What anguish, to live in longing for a reprieve from your own life, never knowing when or if it might come!
Or perhaps you cringe at the word, thinking of all the senseless tragedy and loss of life that real disasters entail. In that case, it may have already occurred to you that we are in the midst of the most terrible slow-motion disaster in history, as the natural environment is utterly laid to waste and the diversity of human experience is steamrolled into the monoculture of capitalism. In such a disaster, you can’t cook out of the books your ancestors developed for more peaceful times.
Whether disaster is something you privately pine for or desperately hope to escape, one thing is for certain—the old recipes won’t suffice anymore. We need recipes for disaster."
"Disaster?
Yes, disaster.
When you think of disasters, perhaps some secret part of you thrills at the idea of something happening, something interrupting the tedious routines that comprise existence for so many of us. You might not be ready to own up to actually desiring one, but a disaster would at least offer a chance to escape your cage and explore the unknown for a little while. What anguish, to live in longing for a reprieve from your own life, never knowing when or if it might come!
Or perhaps you cringe at the word, thinking of all the senseless tragedy and loss of life that real disasters entail. In that case, it may have already occurred to you that we are in the midst of the most terrible slow-motion disaster in history, as the natural environment is utterly laid to waste and the diversity of human experience is steamrolled into the monoculture of capitalism. In such a disaster, you can’t cook out of the books your ancestors developed for more peaceful times.
Whether disaster is something you privately pine for or desperately hope to escape, one thing is for certain—the old recipes won’t suffice anymore. We need recipes for disaster."
20.3.07
Some easy reading...
It has been a while since I've last been able to post, so I thought it would be kind to at least give people something to feast their eyes on. This document was legally taken from Crimethinc., and has some interesting information. Though the views of people may be different from what is expressed in this text, nearly any intelligent source will tell you to read something over and take from it something for yourself: very few people completely adhere to any ideology, even if it is their own personal one. Feel free to use all that I post as a resource, adapt it to suit your personal situation and beliefs, and do with it what you will.
So, without further adieu, voici.
Eight Things You Can Do To Get Active
1. Pay attention to where and how you spend your money. Is your money going to support companies that don't care about you? Are they destroying the environment, killing animals, treating your friends who work for them like shit? Are they trying as hard as they can to sell you a product that gives you cancer? Are their advertisements designed to manipulate you, to make you feel insecure or make their product seem like more than it really is? You don't need to give those motherfuckers your money! For that matter—do you buy many things that you don't need? Soft drinks and junk food at convenience stores, for example? Do you end up spending a lot of money whenever you want to relax and have a good time? There are a thousand things you and your friends can do that are fun, creative, and don't cost anything (having intense discussions, exploring hidden parts of your town, making music—instead of drinking at bars or going to movies and restaurants) just as there a thousand ways you can eat and live more cheaply (Food Not Bombs, building furniture instead of buying it, living in big houses with a bunch of friends). Once you experiment a bit, you'll probably find that you enjoy life a lot more when you're not always shelling out cash for it.
2. Now that you spend less, you can work less, too! Think about how much more time that gives you to do other things. Not only will it be easier to do things that help you spend less, like volunteering at Food Not Bombs (the less you work, the more time you have to make sure you don't need to), you'll also be able to do all the things you never had time for before: you can travel, exercise, spend more time with your friends and lovers. When it's sunny and beautiful outside, you can go out and enjoy it!
3. And you'll have time to do the other things you need to do to take back control of your life and your world. First, start reading. It doesn't really matter what, so long as it makes you think about things and gives you new ideas of your own. Read novels about human beings struggling against their society, like J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye or George Orwell's 1984 or Joseph Heller's Catch 22; read the beautiful, dreamers' prose of Jeanette Winterson or Henry Miller. Read history: learn about the Spanish revolution in the 1930's, where whole cities were run by the people who lived in them, rather than by governments; learn about the labor union struggle in the USA, or the Free Speech Movement in Berkeley in the 1960's. Read philosophy, read about environmental issues, read vegan cookbooks and underground 'zines and comics and everything you can get your hands on. Here's a hint: if there's a university in your town, you can probably get a membership for about $10 a year—and most libraries include videos, too!
4. Reading isn't the only way you can expand your horizons and clarify your ideas. Talk to people about the things that interest you, arguing when you don't agree, so you'll get to know your own beliefs better. Write to the people who are doing the 'zines you like, discuss and debate things with them, ask them for directions to find out more about your interests. Try writing about your own ideas, and sharing that with people, until you feel confident doing this. Travel to different places, try to learn about other cultures and communities, so you'll have more than one perspective on the world and you can start to imagine what the world is like through other people's eyes.
5. Now you'll know what you want, and you can go about getting it. Seek out other people and groups with similar goals, and figure out how to support them or participate in what they're doing. Maybe you can copy fliers and give them out at shows; maybe you can organize benefit shows for organizations you want to support (women's shelters, radical bookshops, local groups protesting against the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal or lobbying for protection of the environment). Maybe there are public protests and demonstrations going on that you want to be part of. Try to help find ways to make these more challenging and fun than just a bunch of people holding signs; everyone's so bored with doing that that there must be a more effective and exciting way to go about it.
6. You can start your own projects, as well, you know. If there's no Food Not Bombs in your area, get a group of people together and find some local businesses that will donate their leftover food. If there's something fucked up at your high school or college or workplace, try organizing a walkout to force the "authorities" to do something about it... and to show everyone that those "authorities" only have as much power as we let them have. If the main street of your town lacks life and excitement, try organizing an unexpected festival to take place in the middle of it one weekend. Shake up everyone's lives and expectations, shake them out of their apathy and boredom so they'll start thinking about things. Establish networks with other people who are also interested in having an effect on the world around them, so you can help each other do this.
7. Through all of this, don't stop questioning yourself and your assumptions. Try to see through all the social programming you've received throughout your life: consider how gender roles constrain the way you act, how your own relationships with people reproduce the same hierarchical order that your fighting in mainstream society. We're not going to really change anything unless we can create new ways of living and interacting, new values that show themselves in the way we treat each other. Show your friends how much you care about them. Consider doing things you never thought you should or could do: dancing, singing, admitting things that you've been taught to be ashamed of.
8. Now look to the future. How can you stay involved with these things as you get older? How can you construct your life so you will always be free to do what you want to? Talk to people older than you who haven't given up and gone back to the daily grind of eat-work-sleep-watch TV. With a little input from them and a lot of resolve on your part, you can maintain your activities and your lifestyle as long as you want to. Idealism, adventure, and resistance don't have to be reserved for youth alone. History is filled with men and women who refused to compromise or calm down, who went all out from the cradle to the grave. They are the artists, the leaders, the heroes and heroines even people from the mainstream respect. We can all have lives like theirs, if we're brave and idealistic enough.
If all of us demand control over what we do and what goes on around us, if all of us do what we can to make life exciting and fair for everyone, things are bound to change. A lot of people know that we don't live in the best of all possible worlds, but persuade themselves that it's hopeless to try to improve things because they're afraid to commit themselves, to take any risks. But it's that lack of ambition that is the biggest risk of all—for what if you do nothing, and nothing happens, and we lose our chance to make this world the paradise it should be? Don't be shy or timid—there's nothing more exciting than taking an active role in the world around you, and there's nothing more worthwhile!
this message brought to you by the CrimethInc. Special Forces
So, without further adieu, voici.
Eight Things You Can Do To Get Active
1. Pay attention to where and how you spend your money. Is your money going to support companies that don't care about you? Are they destroying the environment, killing animals, treating your friends who work for them like shit? Are they trying as hard as they can to sell you a product that gives you cancer? Are their advertisements designed to manipulate you, to make you feel insecure or make their product seem like more than it really is? You don't need to give those motherfuckers your money! For that matter—do you buy many things that you don't need? Soft drinks and junk food at convenience stores, for example? Do you end up spending a lot of money whenever you want to relax and have a good time? There are a thousand things you and your friends can do that are fun, creative, and don't cost anything (having intense discussions, exploring hidden parts of your town, making music—instead of drinking at bars or going to movies and restaurants) just as there a thousand ways you can eat and live more cheaply (Food Not Bombs, building furniture instead of buying it, living in big houses with a bunch of friends). Once you experiment a bit, you'll probably find that you enjoy life a lot more when you're not always shelling out cash for it.
2. Now that you spend less, you can work less, too! Think about how much more time that gives you to do other things. Not only will it be easier to do things that help you spend less, like volunteering at Food Not Bombs (the less you work, the more time you have to make sure you don't need to), you'll also be able to do all the things you never had time for before: you can travel, exercise, spend more time with your friends and lovers. When it's sunny and beautiful outside, you can go out and enjoy it!
3. And you'll have time to do the other things you need to do to take back control of your life and your world. First, start reading. It doesn't really matter what, so long as it makes you think about things and gives you new ideas of your own. Read novels about human beings struggling against their society, like J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye or George Orwell's 1984 or Joseph Heller's Catch 22; read the beautiful, dreamers' prose of Jeanette Winterson or Henry Miller. Read history: learn about the Spanish revolution in the 1930's, where whole cities were run by the people who lived in them, rather than by governments; learn about the labor union struggle in the USA, or the Free Speech Movement in Berkeley in the 1960's. Read philosophy, read about environmental issues, read vegan cookbooks and underground 'zines and comics and everything you can get your hands on. Here's a hint: if there's a university in your town, you can probably get a membership for about $10 a year—and most libraries include videos, too!
4. Reading isn't the only way you can expand your horizons and clarify your ideas. Talk to people about the things that interest you, arguing when you don't agree, so you'll get to know your own beliefs better. Write to the people who are doing the 'zines you like, discuss and debate things with them, ask them for directions to find out more about your interests. Try writing about your own ideas, and sharing that with people, until you feel confident doing this. Travel to different places, try to learn about other cultures and communities, so you'll have more than one perspective on the world and you can start to imagine what the world is like through other people's eyes.
5. Now you'll know what you want, and you can go about getting it. Seek out other people and groups with similar goals, and figure out how to support them or participate in what they're doing. Maybe you can copy fliers and give them out at shows; maybe you can organize benefit shows for organizations you want to support (women's shelters, radical bookshops, local groups protesting against the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal or lobbying for protection of the environment). Maybe there are public protests and demonstrations going on that you want to be part of. Try to help find ways to make these more challenging and fun than just a bunch of people holding signs; everyone's so bored with doing that that there must be a more effective and exciting way to go about it.
6. You can start your own projects, as well, you know. If there's no Food Not Bombs in your area, get a group of people together and find some local businesses that will donate their leftover food. If there's something fucked up at your high school or college or workplace, try organizing a walkout to force the "authorities" to do something about it... and to show everyone that those "authorities" only have as much power as we let them have. If the main street of your town lacks life and excitement, try organizing an unexpected festival to take place in the middle of it one weekend. Shake up everyone's lives and expectations, shake them out of their apathy and boredom so they'll start thinking about things. Establish networks with other people who are also interested in having an effect on the world around them, so you can help each other do this.
7. Through all of this, don't stop questioning yourself and your assumptions. Try to see through all the social programming you've received throughout your life: consider how gender roles constrain the way you act, how your own relationships with people reproduce the same hierarchical order that your fighting in mainstream society. We're not going to really change anything unless we can create new ways of living and interacting, new values that show themselves in the way we treat each other. Show your friends how much you care about them. Consider doing things you never thought you should or could do: dancing, singing, admitting things that you've been taught to be ashamed of.
8. Now look to the future. How can you stay involved with these things as you get older? How can you construct your life so you will always be free to do what you want to? Talk to people older than you who haven't given up and gone back to the daily grind of eat-work-sleep-watch TV. With a little input from them and a lot of resolve on your part, you can maintain your activities and your lifestyle as long as you want to. Idealism, adventure, and resistance don't have to be reserved for youth alone. History is filled with men and women who refused to compromise or calm down, who went all out from the cradle to the grave. They are the artists, the leaders, the heroes and heroines even people from the mainstream respect. We can all have lives like theirs, if we're brave and idealistic enough.
If all of us demand control over what we do and what goes on around us, if all of us do what we can to make life exciting and fair for everyone, things are bound to change. A lot of people know that we don't live in the best of all possible worlds, but persuade themselves that it's hopeless to try to improve things because they're afraid to commit themselves, to take any risks. But it's that lack of ambition that is the biggest risk of all—for what if you do nothing, and nothing happens, and we lose our chance to make this world the paradise it should be? Don't be shy or timid—there's nothing more exciting than taking an active role in the world around you, and there's nothing more worthwhile!
this message brought to you by the CrimethInc. Special Forces
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)