How did feminism become knowing how to knit yr boyfriend a skull and crossbones scarf?

-Layla Gibbon, who I see is now an MRR columnist and that's the first I've seen of her for years though there's a rumour of a new issue of Chimps on the way. When she still lived in London in the '90s, I tried and failed to make friends with her and her riot grrrl chums.

I'm going to have to subscribe to MRR since it's the sole survivor of the scary zine purge of 2006/7 and the last 2 issues, which I took with me to Spain last week, were ace.  No one in the scene misses me, but I miss it a lot.  Coincidentally, one ish had not one but two columns about the @ scene in Barcelona. It's all a bit depressing, really and my tourist contribution doesn't help. There was this amazing gig one night:



which I was on my way to when I realised it was off my map, I didn't know how to get there, and also didn't have a way back so I missed it. As part of the city's music festival though I did get to see Sage Francis outdoors under palm trees and for free - terrific gig. He made a cheeky veiled reference to the straightedge tattoo on his back at one point that I assume most people didn't get because they've never seen it. Some things have gone a bit wrong with the vegan restaurants in BCN since I was last there. At least Juicy Jones is still dependable. My back is all itchy tonight from my sunburn. So a v. good holiday overall that will hopefully stave off SAD somewhat. Not exhaustion though since the moment I got back I found an invitation to a job interview. There are many things I need to put on hold and take a rest from at the moment, but the job hunt is probably not an option.

To sow seeds in barren fields
When there's no more fertile ground
To bear the fragile worlds within
Through the ruined one that surrounds
Break the shackles of my past
Give me precious things that do not last

 - Catharsis, Obsession

I got an email:
This year's London Zine Symposium will be happening at the HORSE
HOSPITAL, just off the East side of Russell Square, London. Saturday
April 21st, 12pm-6pm.

Think I've got too much on this Spring to make this as well. Good venue choice though.

londonzinesymposium.org.uk

Toronto looks so great for teh veggies:
http://www.veg.ca/directory/print.html
Apparently the bloke at this shop: http://leftfeet.ca/site/index.html will help advise where to go from that bewildering array of goodies.

A couple of months ago I mentioned the call for submissions to a womens self defence zine being done by Isy Morgenmuffel et al. My copies arrived today! Just in time for me to distro to the world yay. Looking forward to reading it.

The hc music scene isn't dead, phew. Having made a tiny effort to look for a bit of good stuff to listen to, there turned up an awesome scene of French screamo in Lyon and links led me on to loads of other great stuff. Egs:
http://www.purepainsugar.com/
http://www.daitro.com/
http://www.apemustnotkillaperecords.com/

Omg I think I just heard the lyric, 'There is no happy here'. True emo lives!!!

Brighton ABC have a great newsletter. I'm not surprised there isn't an ABC in London, just not certain what combination of reasons is behind it. If I ever go to gigs again, I'd fancy bringing cards to prisoners for people to sign like Brighton ABC do at the @ Bookfair. Here's their site:
http://brightonabc.org.uk

Now I've read the exciting new issue of Morgenmuffel (15). This one is about Isy's summer adventures which are many. Like me, she's been taking proper holidays (in addition to the catering at activist festivals she usually does) and discovered Wainwright for the first time on a visit to the Lake District. I'm not surprised his stuff would appeal to her. I like it too. She's also been to Cornwall & Latvia the latter of which sounded less appealing. I need to be reminded that in other parts of the world, nazis at gigs is the norm. Updates about the Cowley Club were interesting - the zine starts with an illustrated page on the ace free skool they've got going. There is a familiarly depressing section on the current situation of Brighton's Cowley Club social centre which is struggling in many ways and has faced everything from volunteer theft to attacks by teenagers and financial difficulties. It sounds like a lot of learning has gone on as well. I'm in awe of all they've achieved and weathered.

Free school coming up at the Cowley Club in Brighton. I want to do the 9th December one - a women only class in mechanics!

I've got the brand new issue of Isy's Morgenmuffel Zine in my distro now. It's issue 15 and it's .60p. In fact, I realise now my distro list hasn't been updated since the new postal rates. It probably will stay not updated until I get the new zine out which isn't coming along well at all.

Also Isy's women's self defence zine is on the way next month and can be pre-ordered for £1.50 each from AVF, c/o 12 London Road, Brighton BN1 4JA.

Like all other Londoners (I suppose) I regularly get post at my address from est*te *gents asking me to sell them my home. I used to want to wodge it up and chuck it into the senders' shops, but fortunately I don't actually pass many of them in my day-to-day life. Consequently I've taken to scrawling 'fuck off-you greedy motherfuckers' on their letters and posting them back. Gods, I loathe that lot.

Whyohwhy have I just joined the new londonriotgrrrl e-group. It's bound to be pants. I see there is going to be another Ladyfest London. I wonder if it'll be at a Mean Fiddler venue hmmmm...

Inactive as I am I still get sent interesting zines by wonderful folks. This time Emma in Sheffield has sent the pocket-sized Spat Back and her little cookzine Fatty Boom Boom. FBB is old school student food. Each meal must cost .07p to prepare and taste like it too. SB is typewriter & cut&paste. Emma writes about getting into punk, gives instructions for making a bag from a pair of trousers, reminds us that punk is diy or die, gives us a recipe for pancakes, recalls a breakup, gives advice about stencilling, and gives a bit more about reading & learning. I enjoyed reading this on the train.

Next week I should be back on my bike to work. These last weeks I've been hyper aware that time is money. When I cycle everywhere I never get any reading done. I find myself weighing the benefits of buying reading time by sticking to the train. How wrong is that?

Broken zine has now been printed in A6 format with A5 possibly on the way. I'm taking individual and bulk orders now. The bulk rate is .60p for 3 or more copies not including postage.

Loads of people came to yesterday's London Zine Symposium. It was good seeing lots of old friends. Where the Manchester Zine Fest was characterised by poetry & art zines, this one had a high proportion of comics. They aren't really my thing so I didn't pick up any though I got a few other new zines that I'll have to review. Some additions to the distro as well including the Morgenmuffel Compilation with the best of a few back issues (.80p). I also saw a few new zines about menstruation, eg www.chartyourcycle.co.uk/. There were lots of other things happening during the event, but I was at my stall the whole time. While sitting there though I got an invitation to Ladyfest Newcastle which I probably can't make but it looks interesting judging from the amusing FAQs.

In other news, tonight I'll be cooking a squash for the first time in my life.

Here are some zines I’ve had a look at:

( Reviews )

Nameless years since first conception and after 4 days of intensive mucking about with half a dozen different programmes and re-uploadings and updating a few web pages, I have a new zine online. It is called Broken and it will be available online only for the foreseeable future. Enjoy!

http://www.xsynthesisx.org.uk/broken.html

Been going through what I've written for Synthesis 6 in preparation for the Manchester Zine Fest and it is just awful stuff. I'm afraid to reread S5 now in case my writing was as naff and mawkish in that as well. So it's back to square one with that.

About a dozen people have downloaded each of my podcasts now. Speaking of podcasts, a fabulous music one is Rudee's.

I've been invited to the http://www.manchesterzinefest.org.uk/!!! It sounds really cool.

In other zine news:
NEW AUTONOMOUS PLACE IN BELGRADE

Since we have failed in couple of attempts to keep the
squatted places in Belgrade occupied, Subwar
Collective together with some other individuals, bands
and friends, have decided to rent a place for
different subcultural and libertarian activities. One
of the main purposes of that autonomous place is to
open an infoshop, as this city doesn?t have one.
We ask every group/individual who can and is willing
to help us by donating some printed material, like
books, fanzines, pamphlets, posters, etc..., or in any
other way. Any help is more than appreciated!
Contact us on this e-mail: shavedwomen216@yahoo.com
for the details.
Thanx in advance for your support!
Subwar Collective