valentine and mid-february selection: Dwelling Portably Sept. 2004
Dwelling Portably has been around since 1980, which proves it has something worthwhile to say. This is really an incredible publication written by the editor(s?) and letter contributions sent in by the people experiencing it. This is all about living out of the grid - camping, alternative housing, RV or campers, and many tips on self-sustaining. The people involved call it shared, mobile, improved, underground, hidden, and floating. This is not your average zine, writing staff, or dwellers. In this issue the contributors cover experienced camping in BC, how one couple chooses and prepares seasonal base-camps, a lengthy tip section on solar cooking, and harvesting wild herbs and plants. My favorite was the story of a man working as a carpenter and living underground on Nantucket Island. There was some major controversy once his home was found and it was an odd backlash.
D.P. has years worth of back issues and summaries if you need help deciding which ones you will get the most from. This is an important resource for anyone that camps or is/may live portably, but is also a very informative read for anyone that may not be able to commit to it yet is still interested in learning more about this alternative lifestyle. This is the definitive guide and everyone should be inspired by it.

I cannot read the name. Is it Bert?
PO Box 190-L
Philomath, Or 97370
$1 per issue

february selection: My Fat Irish Ass #(-)5
I think I missed the boat on this one. This odd collection includes your standards - zine and concert reviews, letters, and comics - but with a crude twist. The most entertaining was the reworked Family Circus and Dennis the Mennis strips, which were the bulk of the issue. There were also some concert reviews for the Murder Junkies and Misfits. If you enjoy jokes about drugs, abuse, and aging punk rockers then maybe you'll want to check this out. Really you will probably only enjoy it if you have been a constant reader close to the author's life. I did not the surprisingly professional layout for the subject matter. It was word processed, easy to read, and contained bordered images. There may be hope for this and interested parties know if they will enjoy the crass humor.

P.O. Box 65391
Washington DC 20035
$2 each issue

notes
Topic: update
new listings:
the dream whip review appeared in the newest issue of eye candy

the suburban gothic, shopping queen, and soon living proof and lost kisses are/will be in bibliotheque. there is a site redesign and it will be back up soon.

the elephant mess review appeared in poopsheet around late november.


reviews that are retired (used twice besides the blog):
mister fujiyama loves you
child that mind
girl swirl
aubergine
east village inky


to be reviewed:

for poopsheet -
dwelling portably
my fat irish ass

for bibliotheque -
you idiot!
trunk stories

in general -
she's not a morning person 6
fertile ground 7
rebel in magenta 1
soap
oh dear
gretchen 4: the pieces of jennifer's body
jagged pixie 4: beautiflicker
dirty jeans 1
happy birthday, a novel by jozril

i know these "in general" ones are behind but anything from poopsheet or bibliotheque comes first. if you're anxious drop me a line and i'll move it to the top of the list. 3 were missing when i moved but were found a mear 10 minutes ago. yay!


what i'm still waiting on and will probably not receive:
always fresh 1
my winter blanket
holding hands 11
imaginary life 5
(amend to previous heading)from neil for i.w.r.:
life in the bike lane
s.c.a.l.p.
bitchfest

for sew true, once the review section is opened. all are written, some are typed and have been submitted:
Bent Lens #2: The First Issue
Brainscan #19
The Illustrated Guide to DIY Screenprinting
Orange & Blue #0
Nonsensical #6


any zines that i have picked up for the distro will no longer be reviewed. if i wrote the review prior that's fine but i feel it might be a conflict of interests to write a review after the fact. for synopsis of zines at the distro check it out. i obviously enjoyed it if i spend time getting it out to people ;)
http://geocities.com/bottlesonthesill/distro.html

to stay current on what's coming in, check my livejournal: scootymcbottom

mid january selection (a little late) - lost kisses by brian john mitchell
This is a tiny stick figure comic that is pretty funny at times. We follow a stickman's thoughts on physical and emotional scars relating to a past love, his job, and silly tangents. The size is a bit too small, as I found it springing out of my hands while reading. I think this unexpected action actually added to the comedy of the mini. Though it may not be a life-altering read it's worth a quick laugh.

issue, premier: 44p odd size (2X2)
cost: $1?
address: Silber Records . PO Box 18062 . Raleigh NC 27619
website: www.silbermedia.com/lostkisses
email: silberspy@silbermedia.com

holiday and end of december feature: livingproof by andrew mall
Mood:  party time!
this review's not just for christmas, but any holiday this season. if you're not the holiday person, it's for a little winter fun. see you in the new year!


In the third issue of Living Proof Andrew recorded his thoughts and then transcribed everything afterwards. Quite a task, though an audio version of this may be a good companion if not hold it's own. This is a hefty, text-filled zine with various photographs here and there so if you're looking for a lot to read for your money this is it.
The first of three parts includes an essay on the evils of mass communication, specifically MTV, reality shows, and cable television. Personally I really have an academic passion for this topic, but the writing is at a level that anyone with a slight interest could enjoy. In the end the author decided that "as long as you accept [all of it] you will not be truly free." I have to wonder what this freedom is, because there was no explanation given, just the idea for readers to ponder. You can decide how you feel about the subject.
The second and most informative part is an interview with Daniel Sinker of Punk Planet. Readers are introduced to the ins and outs of running an independent magazine. There is also a lot of Sinker's personal ruminations on the music industry and the influence of the internet on the new wave of zine writers. There was one idea that is often overlooked but very important in the modern zine community,
"The harshness of the internet can kill some people's ambition to do stuff. If you were to do something for the first time out there... and you get crucified, there's very little chance that you're going to go back and do it again." If you gain nothing else from this zine at least consider Sinker's informative answers.
The third part, and nearly half the zine's bulk, is dedicated to Andrew's summer abroad in Spain. This is a really great experience, but I found myself loosing interest over the length of the author's time there. It's tough to edit a travel experience, but without ever being in Spain it's also tough to follow along. I was disappointed by the ending, which was unsatisfying after so much time spent. Overall you may need to wade through occasional pretension and name-dropping, but you will find engaging arguments and interpretations.

issue 3: 64 half-size pages
cost: $3ppd
address: andrew mall
po box 14211
chicago, il 60614
website: http://www.itsmysite.com/chinesesweatshop
email: livingproof@atm4.net

supposedly mid-december feature: shopping queen's diary by elsie sampson
The Shopping Queen's Diary is part comic, part travelogue, and part listing of Elsie's favorite deals. It's cute, and by that I mean the writing has curls on the ends and the clothes are from specialty shops in New York. This may not be everyone's style, though this is something fairly unknown in zines and could connect people in their love of shopping. Elsie encourages boys to be shopping kings, but this is mainly for the ladies. She uses the "shopping addiction" analogy often and had a good time writing and drawing her week of nearly non-stop shopping.
It's tough to justify a short, quarter-sized zine for $4ppd, BUT upon checking her website you'll find lots of other projects with original artwork and more. This addition is a sort of preview if you aren't a total shopping queen, but if you are a big fan and enjoy artistic details, there is a more expensive artist edition that may be more worth your while. If you do go with the standard version you'll find hints of color drawn on the cover and a purple sparkle rubber band binding the pages together. This is a unique project with precise illustrations, perfect for reading along the poolside on a warm summer day.

one shot: 36 quarter-size pages
cost: $3 + $1 shipping
address: elsie sampson
po box 987
white plains, ny 10602
website: http://www.itsmysite.com/chinesesweatshop
email: elsie_sampson@yahoo.com

end of november feature: elephant mess by daniel murphy
I have been mailing letters back and forth with Dan for a while but #11 is the first issue of his zine, Elephant mess, that I had the chance to read. I think this is a good place to start because it is a best-of issues 1 to 10. The pieces included are surprisingly complimentary. For a range of four years I would expect a lot of change but it's smooth enough to have been written all at once. Every emotional clip blends from one to the next and it makes the reader feel like they're catching up. The introspective look at relationships, youth, and growing up feel like a cold winter afternoon with thoughts jumping through your head. My favorite part was the way he highlighted each issue by showing the cover, release date, and which story was included. Also the intro and outro are compiled quotes from past into/outros and that was a really fun way to include the best of all issues. Look forward to a variety of formats such as cut and paste, handwritten, typewritten, and word processed work, plus a simple block print on varied single color cardstock covers. Most importantly look forward to correspondence with this friendly Idahoan author.

issue 11: 1/4 pages
cost: $1
address: dan murphy . po box 6352 . boise, id . 83707
email: messyelephant@yahoo.com

early thanksgiving feature: suburban gothic by rae
Rae's writing is always melancholy with her own signature style that has created a group of faithful readers. Her newest issue, Variation on a Theme (Corazon: Diablo), slips away from her usual content to focus on past loves. The majority of this is closure letters unsent to let her ex,s know how she feels (mostly boys but also girls). I'm sure this was very therapeutic to write and this will help dumped readers know they aren't alone. There are other stories as well, such as a little history behind especially intense relationships, a rant on sexuality labels, a want for the perfect relationship, and a handful of zine, book, movie, and music recommendations. Great for a bitter Valentine's Day, complete with red vellum covers and slinky black ribbon binding. It also includes dramatic Victorian-style illustrations, a few photographs, and a special drawing by AR. If you are unfamiliar I would recommend past issues first, but if you've read Suburban Gothic before or if you are just interested in love and animosity, then check this out.

issue 4: 48 quarter-size pages
cost: $2 in US and Canada, $3 elsewhere
address: Rae . P.O.Box 1381 . Bellevue, NE . 68005-1381
website: http://www.freewebs.com/suburbangothic
email: suburbangothic@livejournal.com

update
Topic: update
check the last update for continued changes in what's new and what's coming. this update is to say that my reviews are ending up all over the place and i wanted to create a list where you could find them.

eye candy

winter 2004
child that mind 3
honeypot

september 2004
mister fujiyama loves you 5

august 2004
aubergine
east village inky 19 and 22



bibliotheque

coming soon
coldhandsdeadheart 18

11-12-04
suburban gothic 4

8-27-04
child that mind 3
geek the girl 10 and color of my eyes
girlswirl 11
also see a review of the midwest comp project by AR

visit the website:
http://www.lunar-circuitry.net/bibliotheque/index.html



poopsheet

october 12, '04 - Tritcheon Hash novel
september 3 '04 - Xerography Debt
july 12 - 16 '04 - Media Whore
july 4 - 10 '04 - Low Hug
august 17 - 23 '03 - Rabid Transit
august 10 - 16 '03 - Tanglefoot



altar magazine (and online)

i can't find all the info but there were four book reviews by me and one or two cd reviews by steve. i don't think they are up online anymore so sorry i can't be more exact.



independent word review

aubergine
Murder Ballads #1
high school girls
mister fujiyama loves you #4

november feature: coldhandsdeadheart by mike twohig
Coldhandsdeadheart is somewhere between comic and political zine. Artist Mike has a skilled style all his own. You'll find Hollywood politicians Reagan, Ventura, Schwartzenegger, and the Rock (to become the future "Grand Master Ruler of Mars"). Also the story of the author's paperboy job, some work with flyers and band art, and emotional caricatures. Cardstock covers, stapled and black tape bound, and a small red block print on the back make this kind of nice to hang on to. Mike is very talented and though it's a quick read it is quality. I'm glad I've come across this and I think you will be too.

issue 18: quarter sized
cost: $1 or 2? not listed
address: not listed, email or check back for an update
email: m_twohig@hotmail.com
website: angelfire.com/ill/miketwohig