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First of all, everyone should read the newspaper, quite often news about the EZLN struggle, and Mexico in general, will appear in the back of the front page section or, if you live in New Mexico, Texas, California or Arizona, you might get Mexico news in the middle of the front page section. And while we1re at it, we all realize that the news is skewed towards a certain political perspective, right? Well, knowing that, we can judge the impartiality of the news (there may be a hint of sarcasm there folks) while gathering news from other sources.
What other sources? Well, we can start with Love And Rage (now defunct), an anarchist newspaper that was found in alternative bookstores and through mailorder.
Or you can check out the info on the web and visit several Zapatista websites. In fact, when I did an AltaVista web search for the keyword Zapatista, I came up with 1777 hits (or web pages). Some of the better ones are listed below:
http://www.eco.utexas.edu:80/Homepages/Faculty/Cleaver/chiapas95.html
This is a veritable clearing house of information on the Zapatista struggle, with links to many of the other sites reviewed in this article, and probably a lot more (that I haven't had time to check out). At times this site is down, please check again and again. Oh yeah, and they are back up again.
http://www.ezln.org/
Obviously, this is the homepage for the EZLN and although it is in Spanish, it links to a lot more information and all the up to date stuff (Go here if you want to subscribe to the Chiapas-95 listserv or the Chiapas-95 Lite listserv.) How to subscribe to a listserv? Well, the instructions are on the web page.
http://www.actlab.utexas.edu/~zapatistas/zapatista.html
This site provides a more theoretical look at the Chiapas 95 uprising, and revolution in general. This page needs a plug-in (a helper application to run video). I have seen this site when all the video and audio stuff was operational, and I could have stayed there for hours.
http://www.oocities.org/CapitolHill/3849/zap.html
This site is for the Melbourne Zapatista Solidarity Collective and it deals mostly with their preparations for the Second International Encuentro (which occurred in Spain 1997). This site provides a different world perspective on a struggle that I only get from one angle.
http://www.utexas.edu/students/nave/
This is the site for the Austin, TX group Accion Zapatista. I think that this is an excellent place to start out, along with the other U Texas sites. Some of the information at this site is also posted at the Chiapas 95 site.
http://www.hellspice.com/soc442/
This is a posting of a paper on the EZLN for a University of Tennesee Sociology course. The paper is huge (in scope and in length) and if you are unaware of the early days of the EZLN, then this is the place for you to get that information.
gopher://mundo.eco.utexas.edu:70/11/mailing/chiapas95.archive
This is where you can access all the chiapas95 mailings without actually signing up for the listserv. An amazing archive dealing with the Zapatistas and Chiapas.
http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/zapatista.html
I haven't checked out this site yet. Tell me what you think....
Six of One is the official Prisoner Appreciation Society, boasting between 2000 and 3000 members worldwide. They hold an annual convention at Portmeirion, where much of the series was filmed, in Wales. Events at the convention include the human chess game and election speeches (both of which took place in the series). Throughout the weekend there are debates, quizzes, exhibitions, a fancy dress ball, screenings in the very theatre where McGoohan viewed the daily rushes, guided tours and, of course, more episode screenings.
According to the Six Of One newsletter here are some of the questions most often asked:
Who is the Prisoner?
A man in a position of some importance, in possession of knowledge essential to the security of the State, invaluable to an enemy. John Drake, Super Agent? George Markerstein claims it to be so, McGoohan denies it.
Who is No. 1?
Number One-the evil force behind the village, is never seen until the final episode. McGoohan explains: "What is the greatest evil? Is it the bomb? The greatest evil that one has to fight constantly, every minute of the day, until one dies, is the evil side of oneself. That's what I did, and I'd do it again. There were many alternatives that went through my head, but I didn't consider them for a second."
Who runs the Village?
Is the village run by "us" or "them"? There is evidence to support both theories. But as No. 2 in (the episode called) Chimes Of Big Ben says, "Both sides are becoming identical. What in fact is being created is an international identical. What in fact is being created is an international community-a perfect blueprint for world order. When the sides facing each other suddenly realize they are looking into a mirror, they will see that this is the pattern for the future."
But what does this all have to do with conspiracies (the theme for this issue)? Well, first of all, The Prisoner was the first revelation (on television) that there is a deeper order in control of the world, not Jews as white supremacists believe, but the interest of multinational corporations, which if applied to The Prisoner can put a whole different twist on a lot of the content of the television show.
Of course, when we consider "Danger Man" ("Secret Agent" in North America) preceded this TV show, we can automatically see similar themes showing through (never mind the same actors and similar content). Nevertheless, the ideas and discussion continues, which is what impresses me most of all, that television (the enemy of communication and higher thinking processes) could cause such an effect. Well done.
First there is undoubtedly a relationship between the two characters, as there are between any other two characters in the film. BUT, consider this, if C3PO and R2D2 are indeed a stereotypical gay couple, and not comedic relief (ala Abbot and Costello or Laurel and Hardy) then they must have been put there for a reason. What is that reason, to have the acceptance, or further rejection of homosexuality? Maybe that is going far too far. So here is the evidence that, possibly unintentionally, C3PO and R2D2 fit the very stereotypical, mainstream view of gay couples. Just as a side note, Diet Society does not condone the use of stereotypes, as any generalization is grossly inaccurate. We (as a society) rely on these stereotypes to allow ourselves to pre-judge other groups of people, and that serves as a barrier to having a genuine communication between people with different ethnic, racial and sexual makeup. Enough preaching, here is the facts.
C3PO is most definatly the more effiminate one of the couple, with his constant worrying and melodramatic antics. Even the voicing (Anthony Daniels) is lilting and effeminate. In the dialogue, C3PO is always asking, R2D2, where are you? and Hang on tight R2, you 've got to come back. You wouldn t want my life to be boring. He cares for R2, he really does.
As for R2D2, he is the butch, the head strong, devil-may-care stereotypical gay male. Always jumping into the escape pod, rushing off to see Obi-Wan Kenobi, getting in trouble with the Empire, all in a typical days work for the droids.
Which brings up another small incident in Star Wars, in the Mos Isley cantina, when Luke and Obi-Wan enter the cantina, they are told- We don t serve their kind in here. Your droids they ll have to wait outside, we don t want them here.-a shocking parallel to real life? Remember that 1977 was not as liberated as today (pardon me while I choke on my sarcasm). We have a whole range of second class citizens, good enough to translate, good enough to be bounty hunters (IG-88) but not good enough to be allowed into a bar? Hmmm, maybe that gay thing makes a little more sense now, eh? Why are the droids not allowed in the cantina? Because they will set off the metal detector?
NO! I think it is a little, subtle way of Lucas giving a morality play so that some of the younger generations feel sympathy for gay couples, and will not fall into the religious right and moral majority cock and bull stories of the devil persuading people to be gay, and to be saved they need your prayer (and cash) to send out a mission to the gay population. Currently there are ministries that claim to cure homosexuality. Too bad they do not have a ministry to cure AIDS.
It's odd when professional wrestling uses the prevailing mood of the culture as storylines for this testosterone filled two (or sometimes extending past the two hour point in each federation's grab for ratings) hours of essentially a homoerotic, male soap opera, complete with dastardly villains, drama, and more often than not, comedy.
For instance, currently in WCW (Ted Turner's baby) there is a rival faction (NWO or New World Order) including the most recognized wrestler Hulk Hogan, who is now a heel. The NWO have beaten people up and spray-painted their enemies, brought new wrestlers in to double cross other wrestlers, all under the control of Eric Bischoff, who still is VP of WCW. Having this secret wrestling group work from within the structure of WCW parallels a lot of what militia groups are currently saying (or have said). Life imitates art imitates life.
The other federation (WWF) uses more than the one storyline, making it less dramatic but more interesting. The main storyline revolves around essentially job satisfaction. Vince McMahon, who owns the WWF and acts as commentator, has been spit on (by Bret Hart who lost the title in a storyline last minute re-write, just before he signed a $7 million contract for four years to wrestle in WCW), assaulted (by at least four or five wrestlers) and verbally abused (by just about everyone else). Family dysfunction is a secondary storyline, with Goldust leaving his wife, for a sex-slave status (one week he came out with a ball-gag in his mouth), the Undertaker's long thought dead brother coming back to haunt him and the Hart family "breaking" up over how the WWF screwed Bret out of the title.
But both federations are not making a statement about politics, just using culture as a ghost writer. Ten years ago, when Ronald Reagan was president and the Cold War was in full swing, Nikita Koloff, Ivan Koloff, Nikolai Volkov were the bad guys (along with the Iron Sheik).
When the Cold War was over, some of the "Russian" wrestlers "defected". And when the Gulf War started, the Iron Shiek recruited America's own (and the only real person to be made into a G.I. Joe figure) Sgt. Slaughter to fight for the Iraqi side, and thanks to the quick turnover in viewers, no one remembers the fact that the Iron Sheik was from Iran.
What about the eerie coincidence that most African American wrestlers are either bad guys or preliminary ham-and-eggers? What about wrestlers like Gorgeous George, Adrian Adonis and more recently Goldust and Shawn Michaels being called "faggots"? Then again, we never were talking about high-brow entertainment.
And this cultural appropriation by the wrestling business extends down to smaller and lesser known groups like Luche Libra from Mexico. I only saw about a year and a half of Mexican wrestling from actual Mexican TV stations, but I do remember one character, El Zapatismo, based on, you guessed it, Subcomandante Marcos of the EZLN. I couldn't tell if the reaction for him was cheers or boos, but the character was perfect, down to the scarf, wrestled in the balaclava, and entered the ring smoking a pipe. An interesting difference between Mexican wrestling and American wrestling is that the Mexican wrestling seems far less interested in moving a storyline as it is in showing off the acrobatic and sometimes insane wrestling moves that the wrestlers use. Maybe this is the way the American wrestling should go. Well, except for the beating up the boss thing, I think that the storyline is pretty cool, and has real potential for some great entertainment. Who wouldn't like to see their boss put in a figure four leglock or a cobra clutch? Or how about that co-worker who steals your best work? Hit 'em with a thundering bodyslam.
FOUR HUNDRED YEARS-Suture LP
I was scared by the first part, I mean, piano?? FUGAZI-esque riffing?? I had thought that ripping off what FUGAZI did years ago was totally over. Thank god that the band picked it up a notch or four (and I also discovered it was meant to be played at 45 RPM). Harsh, melodic, very bass guitar heavy, all very good things in my book. Comparisons? Well, SHOTMAKER seem to be a close comparison, but this band is less intent on the abstract (ie the lyrics are more political and more understandable than SHOTMAKER). Now to make mention of the packaging. All of the GASR releases are works of art (even the UNION OF URANUS demo), but in the recent past (UNION OF URANUS 2X7 inch and the ONE EYED GOD PROPHESY LP) the lyrics, while printed, were incredibly hard to read. Not so in this case. Emo? Yeah you could call them that, but FOUR HUNDRED YEARS do not deal in gobbledy-gook.
(Great American Steak Religion...try Ebullition distro)
V/A-Food Not Bombs Benefit LP
You should own this for two reasons: 1. It is a good cause. 2. PALATKA are a great band. The comp kicks off with ANOMIE who alternate between chugga-chugga and melody, it works for them, two songs both in their native tongue, French. PALATKA as said above are great. Three songs, played in the same general region as ASSFACTOR 4. KATHODE would have been a bad death metal band in 1988, there is no exception today. Punk/hardcore kids should stop playing anything with metal in it!! INSO GREY contribute two songs which are not my cup of tea (I guess that is a nice way to say I think they suck). Why a song about broken promises would be on a benefit for FNB escapes me, but that is why emo music is 90% crap. HOLOCRON is in that vein of sweeping hardcore (ONE EYED GOD PROPHESY, DRIFT), having said that, I do think the song is good, but nothing special. SIXPENCE are from Denmark and rock side 2 with two STACK/ASSFACTOR 4 type ditties-both are well done with good lyrics. SWALLOWING SHIT have CHARLES BRONSON-style song titles (I Maybe PC, but your a fucking poseur!) and are grindy with a lack of bass-end sound. CONSTANTINE SANKATHI have a happy little song-which is good for them, I guess. I mean if I wanted to listen to happy music, I would listen to SPICE GIRLS or something. Even when CONSTANTINE SANKATHI do try to make it ugly-it still sounds too happy. DRIFT are a great anthematic or sweeping hardcore band. This song is no exception. Listening to DRIFT is like walking through life with thick mud up to your knees. Overall, a good comp (despite my distaste for INSO GREY and CONSTANTINE SANKATHI). The packaging is inventive, the booklet is really well laid out, and thoughtful in a way that is representative of both the bands involved and FNB.
(Anima)
MY LAI-Pony Soldier-7"
Four songs, mid to fast tempo, screechy vocals, disjointed guitars, an excellent example of everything I like in hardcore punk rock. The handmade cover for the single blow the shit out of the covers I see for other releases. Originally I was worried about the name, but the band writes about political things and appears to be aware of the significance of My Lai. They are fast becoming one of my favorite bands.
(Lengua Armada Discos)
LOWER CLASS BRATS/DEAD END CRUISERS-7"
OK, I know some of the BRATS and the people who put this out, so I will be a bit biased. The BRATS side is meaty, gruff and mean sounding-everything a streetpunk/Oi! band should be. Two great songs, for those who like their punk in punk rock. And despite Bones (singer) saying that they are apolitical, I believe that saying all politics are the same bullshit is a political statement. The CRUISERS side would have been better if it was faster, but I like it the same. 77 punk ala STIFF LITTLE FINGERS or BUZZCOCKS or STRANGLERS, good stuff. Blue vinyl, $4.
(Second to None)
UNDERCLASS-7"
A lot of people compare this band to BORN AGAINST, which makes it hard to give UNDERCLASS a fair shake, because BORN AGAINST was such a great band. This comparison, while unfair, is not untrue. Seven songs at 45 RPM. The lyrics are sarcastic as fuck, and are bent into that political/personal style. I think that this set of songs clearly defines UNDERCLASS as a band unto themselves. Get this as a testimony to rage, politics and damn fine punk rock.
(Refusenik Records)
HARD TO SWALLOW/MANFAT-7"
The first HTS song is awfully wanky on the guitar-not in the good way either. The next tune has a kung-fu sample, which makes up for the wanky stuff earlier, and the last tune is like an early RORSCHACH tune with more melody, then it promptly turns into a 1986 era thrash metal tune. Then the noises stop. The MANFAT side on the other hand, are a dash of modern metal (PANTERA) and a healthy dose of hardcore with fuzzed out vocals. It seems that this would fit in with SICK OF IT ALL, at least it sounds nothing like WINGER. And MANFAT have the most nihilistic lyrics ever.
(Flat Earth Records/Bradford Music)
HAIL MARY-Crashing Down-7"
Yeah, BORN AGAINST sighting in Albany, NY. This fucking slowly rips you apart. Mid tempo BORN AGAINST-esque feeling, down to the packaging, lyrics, music, everything. This band knows how to play, and chooses to play the BORN AGAINST songs on the split with MITB. That is to say they are one great band.
(Vermiform)
TOWEL-7"
Uhhh, maybe I am just burned out on self-indulgent music, or maybe I do not understand more avant garde music, but folks, please throw in the towel. While this is not unlistenable, I would not listen to it.
(Vermiform)
SUBINCISION-CD
Well, what the hell to say about this. It sounds as if Jello Biafra were to front a RANCID cover band. Really guys, we do not need another RANCID, one will do just fine. Anyways, seeing as this band seems to want to be RANCID, we will compare them to RANCID. RANCID has a better bass player, they rip off 77-era punk bands better and are better produced. Perhaps if this was the length of a single it might be more tolerable. Oh yeah, they have a song called Holocaust, but the lyrics are about being, um, lost. That is real dumb.
(Beach Recordings)
JOE HAPPY-Redneck-7"
You can tell that most reviews here are just stuff that I pick up at the record store that I tell everyone to get because I like it, or think that they will enjoy. There are things that are reviewed that are in here just in the hopes that I could swing a free single from a label that I would normally buy from. Then there is this. I received a letter from the band asking if they could send a promo, and I replied that hey, this is what I like (grind, crust, heavy, moody stuff) if your band is like this, send it and it will probably get a good review, if not... This sounds like a PRIMUS demo.
(Bufo Marinus Records)
LIQUEFY-7"
As with the case with the above single, this comes closer to my tastes, but falls a little short of very good. New metal sound, like PANTERA but I would rather listen to something other than something influenced by alternative rock/metal. If you like SICK OF IT ALL, PANTERA, new METALLICA, this might float your boat.
(Bufo Marinus Records)