MSRRT Newsletter's alternative news, views, and resource listings were sent via snail mail to members of the Minnesota Library Association Social Responsibilities Round Table (MSRRT). Others subscribed by making a donation ($15 suggested) payable to MLA/MSRRT. Editors: Chris Dodge/Jan DeSirey.
Will increased reliance on fees "leave out those users of the library who can't afford to pay for basic library services?" Recently retired Baltimore County Library Director Charles Robinson says, "Probably." How does he feel about that? "I feel the same way about it that McDonald's does about those people who can't afford its hamburgers." Library Journal, September 1
What gives, anyway? At one public system (not in Minnesota), administrators are asking librarians to sign statements that they are "at will" employees who can be fired "without notice, cause or compensation." Another institution heavily into "teamwork" (the "Dilbert" comic strip is all too true), explicitly ranks the selling of decisions to staff as more important than soliciting feedback in advance. A middle manager there dissenting a proposed doubling of the children's fine rate was threatened with discipline. Taking a step backward in Brooklyn, its public library now offers a restricted access card for the children of parents who don't want them checking out adult material. Finally, the state of Hawaii has now contracted out--to Baker & Taylor--the selection, cataloging, and processing of materials for all the state's public libraries. According to the June issue of School Library Journal, B & T has assigned a team of eighteen to do collection development, of which, says company president Jim Ulsamer, "quite a number" have library degrees. Honolulu-based librarian Marguerite Ashford writes, "Believe me, there is significant concern here over the...decision to outsource...not only among the librarians, but in the general population." Some collection development must take place locally, she says, "particularly in Hawaii where there are strong regional and ethnic interests that may vary widely from branch to branch." Concerned MLS student Pat Wallace--currently a public school teacher in Texas--reports, "When I attempt to discuss this in my graduate classes, most just roll their eyes, aghast at the thought of bypassing the convenience of using jobbers." Perhaps library school classes in "managing your boss" ought to be mandatory these days. With bosses like these, who needs bosses?
"The 'Big Mom' theory of management puts the emphasis on the top administrator, or a small handful of top administrators who make all important decisions and then instruct the subordinate employees to 'like it or lump it' or 'shape up and ship out.' Those daring to question 'Big Mom's' authority or judgment are labelled 'negatives' and only 'positive' comments on decisions from above are to be expressed during staff meetings at any level. The first step in putting 'Big Mom' into practice is to require that staff produce increasing numbers of reports, community surveys, and programs. These keep staff very busy, wear them down, and leave them with no energy to question authority. Another technique is to squelch independence and creativity, because then all credit for innovation can be taken by the 'Big Mom' at the top. And, of course, all decisions need to be made at the top--otherwise why would a library need a 'Big Mom'? The final step in creating the 'Big Mom' ideal is to institute many changes and reorganizations at once so that staff are constantly in turmoil and confused about procedures, always needing to ask 'Big Mom' for guidance...." --The Communicator, November/December 1995
Is a Web site next? A self-professed hermit, Pathetic Life editor Doug Holland is starting a new review publication this fall in league with Bill Brent (Black Sheets), Loki Quinnangelis (Bummers & Gummers), Kelli Williams (Twenty Bus), and others. Intended to come out quarterly, Zine World will focus exclusively on "micro-scale, self-published books and periodicals," Holland reports. If it's anything "fancified" enough to have a UPC, ISBN, or ISSN, Zine World won't touch it. The project is a response to news that Factsheet Five will now appear only twice a year. For info about classified ads and bookstore consignment, or to reserve a copy of the first issue ($3, cash or stamps; $5 overseas): 537 Jones St., #2386, San Francisco, CA 94102.
The Spring/Summer 1996 edition of Feminist Collections features an article titled "Com e on, join the conversation! 'Zines as a medium for feminist dialogue and community building." Focus is on Bust, Herd, Hip Mama, My Last Nerve, Pasty, and Verboslammed.
MSRRT member Cathy Camper's "crop art" regularly wins ribbons at the Minnesota State fair. Her oeuvre includes portraits of Jimi Hendrix, Leonard Peltier, Frida Kahlo, and Bessie Coleman. Most recently she has illustrated the cover of the Twin Cities Reader (September 18) as a lead-in to an article about a Minneapolis-based drawing school known for its ads inviting prospective artists to "Draw Tippy." Camper's "Tippy" portrait is "drawn" using yellow peas, wild rice, mung beans, and other seeds.
Yvonne Farley, MSRRT friend and reference librarian at Kanawha County Public Library, has been named West Virginia "librarian of the year", winning the state's annual Dora Ruth Parks Award. We met Yvonne six years ago, when she came to Minnesota to participate in an MSRRT/MLA conference program organized by Claire McInerney. Farley's bio notes that she was instrumental in hosting the state premiere of West Virginia's first homegrown psychotronic film, "Teenage Strangler", a singular accomplishment, to be sure. The editor of West Virginia Libraries for over ten years, Farley has also chaired the state library association's Intellectual Freedom Committee, taken heat for political commentary published in the Charleston Gazette, served as a judge for the American Film Festival, and currently sits on the board of the American Friends Service Committee's West Virginia Economic Justice Project.
Was anyone else struck oddly by the Library Journal review of James Ridgeway and Sylvia Plachy's Red light: inside the sex industry (June 1)? Describing what is "essentially a book of black-and-white photography", it criticizes the edition for what it lacks (data and analysis) and for its "overlong" text, then says "not recommended, in spite of the compelling and often affecting photography" [our emphasis]. Got that? An interesting photo book, but don't buy it. Thanks for the tip, LJ.
Music Reference Services Quarterly, v.4 #4 (1996), contains an excellent article by Leta Hendricks, "Getting hip to the hop: a rap bibliography/discography." Included is historical background, a delineation of rap genres, and solid information about rap criticism, reference works, biographies, and periodicals. To contact the author: Ohio State University, Human Ecology Library, 325 Campbell Hall, 1787 Neil Ave., Columbus, OH 43210, 614-292-4220.
NBC's monopolistic television coverage of the 1996 Olympics was so bad that even reactionary columnist Charles Krauthammer was moved to complain about it. Krauthammer's July 30 syndicated column ran in Long Island's Newsdaywith the headline "A Tasteless Orgy of Chauvinistic Olympic Gloating." According to radio program "CounterSpin," Krauthammer found the coverage "so absurdly biased, it made him feel 'pro-Russian'--and that's saying something."
Speaking of the Olympics, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported in June about the city's move to standardize newspaper vending boxes. Among the changes: a $20 monthly rental fee for each box and the requirement "that all boxes carry advertising for Coca-Cola Co." We're serious! According to Councilwoman Mary Davis, the ordinance's sponsor, "We wanted a safe and aesthetically attractive environment..."
ASIAN AMERICAN RESOURCES includes magazines (e.g., Giant Robot), organizational links, etc.
DANTE'S PRISON PAGES is a site with links to publications and advocacy organizations, as well as information on such issues as police accountability and criminal justice in general.
INTERACTIVE DEMOCRACY features email links to elected officials and the mass media.
LATINOWEB includes links to publications, organizations, and event information.
LONG HAUL INFOSHOP has links to radical and progressive e-zines and electronic discussion groups.
MINNESOTANS FOR A UNITED IRELAND (newsletter, event info, action alerts)
ROMANI RIGHTS WEB ("Gypsy" history, culture, and human rights)
Zines! Volume 1. Edited by V. Vale. V/Search, 1996. 181p. What sort of people write and publish zines, why do they persist, and what effect are they having? The answers range widely in this collection of interviews with the creators of Beer Frame, Crap Hound, Fat Girl, and other self-published magazines. While some are more accurately described as hobbyists (e.g., Al Hoff, editor of Thrift Score), the most interesting characters here are those who are politically motivated and--like Outpunk's Matt Wobensmith--inspired at least partly by being "a thorn in someone's side." The young feminist makers of Housewife Turned Assassin and Meat Hook turn anger and frustration into testaments of girl power and Chicana pride. In their struggle against fat oppression, the lesbians in the Fat Girl Collective wield humor and strong sex-positive attitudes. Even the apparently apolitical Crap Hound, we learn, is greatly informed by a desire to counter undue corporate influence on popular culture. Included here are an interview with AK Distribution's Ramsey Kiernan, a history of zines focusing on pre-20th century influences, quotations, and a zine directory. In no way comprehensive (the focus is heavily West Coast), this collection still provides interesting testimonies, as well as useful ideas for potential do-it-yourself publishers. (20 Romolo, #B, San Francisco, CA 94133, 415-362-1465, FAX: 415-362-0742; $18.99, paper, 0-9650469-0-7).
Dead meat. By Sue Coe. Introduction by Alexander Cockburn. Four Walls Eight Windows, 1995. 136p. Illustrated with unpaged color plates. Nightmarish graphics spill from these pages--a bloody tide of carcasses, live baby chicks plowed into the ground as fertilizer, children playing football with a hog's head. Accounts of almost unbelievable filth, brutality, and degradation accompany them. Is this what it was like for Sue Coe growing up next to a slaughterhouse, where the smell of hogs "seeped into everything--clothes and hair"? An artist known for her unflinching willingness to tackle uncomfortable social issues, Coe's examination of the meat industry--from factory farms to stockyard to killing floor--is actually sensitive and nuanced. She talks with packing plant workers, with whom she relates on a class basis, themselves misused. Neither shrill nor polemical, Dead meat instead depicts difficult truths which go hidden to most, leaving readers to think for themselves about ethical animal treatment and mindful meat eating. An important visual update to Upton Sinclair's The jungle , it articulates a complex vision of pain, struggle and caring. Six billion animals are killed each year in the United States for human consumption. (39 W. 14th St., Room 503, New York, NY 10011; cloth, $40, 1-56858-050-9).
Grief dancers: a journey into the depths of the soul. By Susan Zimmerman. Nemo Press, 1996. 245p. Once a self-professed member of a "fix-it culture...that thinks we are masters of our environment," Susan Zimmerman's philosophy has been profoundly altered. In this compelling account about her experiences as mother to a severely disabled (Rett Syndrome) daughter she describes a long, rocky period of curative efforts, "what if" thinking, and family stress. With her supportive husband she devoted years to therapy, special diets, patterning, and visits to the Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential, but no miracle cure took place. Instead the change was from within herself, a slow and painful lesson toward acceptance and the transformative power of unconditional love. Illustrated with artwork by two of the author's other three children, Grief dancers importantly demonstrates the human capability to get beyond pain and difficulty. A portion of the book's proceeds will go to support the work of the nonprofit International Rett Syndrome Association. (593 Mt. Evans Rd., Golden, CO 80401, 303-526-9658, 75717.444@compuserve.com ; $14.95, paper, 0-9652695-2-3).
Reuben Snake, your humble serpent: Indian visionary and activist . As told to Jay C. Fikes. Foreword by James Botsford. Afterword by Walter Echo-Hawk. Clear Light Publishers, 1996. 287p. Respect, compassion, honor. These were the attributes that guided the life of Reuben Snake, Ho Chunk (Winnebago) political and spiritual leader. Snake's first person story--prepared posthumously from the transcription of oral history interviews conducted shortly before his death--is a triumph of determination and humble service for the benefit of others. Snake's life (1937-1993) was an affirmation of his native name, Kikawa Unga ("to rise up") as he met and overcame poverty, alcoholism, and homelessness. Snake made two momentous decisions in the 1960's: to adopt an activist approach to promoting traditional culture and to commit himself to the teachings of the Native American Church. (NAC). He subsequently served as a Roadman or leader for the NAC and played leading roles in organizations and events including the American Indian Movement, Congress of the Inter-American Indian Institute, National Congress of American Indians, and Trail of Broken Treaties. This charming and optimistic personal history will be of interest to those following the struggles of contemporary Native peoples, and especially those who care to know more about Ho Chunk culture and the ways of the NAC. Includes a bibliography, along with a brief Ho Chunk glossary and pronunciation key. (823 Don Diego, Santa Fe, NM 87501-4224, 505-989-9590; $24.95, cloth, 0-940666-60-X). --Loriene Roy
Chicano! The history of the Mexican American civil rights movement. F. Arturo Rosales. Arte Publico Press, 1996. 304p. In this time of anti-immigrant action, what is direly needed is a better knowledge of history. Imagine having an armed border patrol between Minnesota and Iowa and you have a hint of what it means to be Mexican in the Southwest, to live in an occupied territory. Based on the four-part PBS documentary broadcast last spring, this significant book brings to the Zoot Suit Riots, MECHA and La Raza Unidad Party attention previously accorded the Freedom Riders, NAACP, and SNCC. As with the Black Panthers and others in the 60's, Chicano organizations were infiltrated--and their members shot--by police, but their history has not been done justice till now. Along with material on Chicano land rights struggles, farm worker organizing, and student strikes, the book adds a good deal of historical background about Mexican-American repression and resistance in the early 20th century which was left out of the documentary. Their land taken by military force, the citizens of Aztlan (from California to Texas) have struggled for human rights while trying to strike a balance between assimilation and retaining cultural identity. Chicano! does a thorough job of covering this effort. Included are black-and-white photos, chronology, and index. (University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-2090, 713-743-2841, FAX: 743-2847; $45, cloth, 1-55885-15206).
Angry women in rock, volume one. Edited by Andrea Juno. Juno Books, 1996. 222p. Juno's important Angry women (RE/Search, 1991) featured interviews with women on the cultural cutting edge, from Diamanda Galas to Susie Bright. Now the focus is women rock musicians, including both progenitors who began recording in the 70's (June Millington and Joan Jett), as well as lesbian punkers and "riotgrrls" like Tribe 8 and Bikini Kill's Kathleen Hanna. Discussions range from identity politics as a stage in development, to learning to play bass by intuition rather than "how fast you can play scales." Actually, the anger level varies greatly here; for example, the performer known as Jarboe positively seethes, while Joan Jett seems downright content. Illustrated with black-and-white photos (e.g., "Lynn Breedlove getting her rubber dick sucked"), the book also includes discographies, equipment lists, and--in a few cases--contact data. (180 Varick St., 10th Floor, New York, NY 10014, 212-807-7300, FAX: 612-807-7355; $19.95, paper, 0-9651042-0-6).
Representing a coalition of thirty women-owned independent presses, the Women's Presses Library Project is offering a special 40% discount to libraries between now and December 31, 1996. This offer is good on any title from publishers who participate in the Project, among them: Astarte Shell, Aunt Lute, CALYX, Chardon, Conari, Down There, Feminist Press at CUNY, Firebrand, gynergy books/Ragweed, Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press, Lavender Crystal, Madwoman Press, New Victoria, Papier-Mache, Polestar, Post-Apollo, Press Gang, Rising Tide, Rowbarge, Second Story, Sister Vision, Spinifex, Third Side, Torrance, Trilogy, Woman in the Moon, and Women's Press (Canada). To take advantage of this deal, libraries must use a special order form, and send orders directly to the publishers. Orders must be received by the end of the year. A subject catalog listing the publishers' titles is also available. To receive a copy of the order form, contact Mev Miller, Women's Presses Library Project, 1483 Laurel Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104-6737, 612-646-0097, wplp@winternet.com
CLUES (Chicanos Latinos Unidos en Servico) is a nonprofit agency which includes a Chicano/Latino Resource Center, open Monday-Friday, 9-4. For more information: Gloria Burt-Zubia, Resource Center Specialist, 220 South Robert St., #103, St. Paul, MN 55107, phone: 612-292-0117, FAX: 612-292-0347, kspading@prevline.health.org
The Islamic Center of Minnesota reference library and bookstore is open Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Located in Fridley, it is especially worth noting due to the recent immigration of Somalians to Minnesota. Organizer Nahid Khan seeks volunteer help from librarians or people with retail bookstore experience. For more information: 1401 Gardena Ave., Fridley, MN 55432, 612-571-5604.
A number of North American booksellers have faced intimidation efforts over the past few years. Canadian Customs officials seized shipments going to Little Sister's in Vancouver, confiscating gay and lesbian erotica, along with such titles as Hot, hotter, hottest--a book about cooking with chili peppers. An obscenity case against a bookstore in Bellingham, Washington, went to a ten-day jury trial despite the desire of the original complainant that charges be dropped. Now it's come to our attention that an outrage is going on across the Atlantic. According to British law, anyone claiming to have been libeled in a publication may sue not only its author and publisher but also bookshops, distributors and libraries which stock it. This is especially problematic because the costs of legal defense can be devastating. Currently two progressive bookshops, Housman's and Bookmarks, are being sued for selling the allegedly libelous anti-fascist magazine Searchlight. While a defense fund has been organized, the more important effort will be in reforming Britain's libel laws. For more info: Housman's Bookshop, 5 Caledonian Rd., Kings Cross, London, N1 9DX, England and Bookmarks, 265 Seven Sisters Rd., Finsbury Park, London, N4 2DE, England.
Video Librarian ("The video review guide for libraries") is a pricey but important bimonthly which has gone glossy since last we've seen it. Edited and published by Randy Pitman, the 50-page September/October 1996 edition (v.11 #5) contains over 150 concise reviews, with an emphasis on children's, general nonfiction, and documentary videos. Included are shorter reviews of feature-length "major, independent, and foreign video movies," a sidebar highlighting "new videos on the Internet," news briefs, and a list of distributor addresses. (P.O. Box 2725, Bremerton, WA 98311, 360-377-2231, vidlib@kendaco.telebyte.com; $47, $52 in Canada, $69 "other foreign"; ISSN: 0887-6851 ).
Hope (Humanity making a difference") is a new glossy magazine intended for bimonthly publication. The 96-page March/April 1996 premiere issue includes a profile of the Cleveland Ballet Dancing Wheels (a dance troupe of people "with and without disabilities"), an article about five inner city anti-violence programs, and an account about "the Cellist of Sarajevo" ("Playing for love in the war zone"), as well as upbeat news briefs (one about a club for "big, beautiful ladies and their male admirers"), an essay on scavenging ("Cultivating the magpie eye"), book and video reviews, and networking data. (P.O. Box 160, Naskeag Rd., Brooklin, ME 04616, phone: 207-359-4651, info@hopemag.com; http://www.hopemag.com/hope.html ; $24.95; ISSN: 1085-228X).
Second Guess is a cogent (and nicely produced) zine featuring "the latest in punk philosophizing, commentary and attacks." The 76-page Spring/Summer 1996 edition (#13) includes editor Bob Conrad's interesting account of his personal work history (with sidebar report on applying for food stamps) and a lengthy rant on the Oklahoma City bombing, a new Reno casino (the "Death Star"), the "so-called 'alternative' Nevada Weekly," cops, "punk as a political forum," and a zine that censored Conrad's ad for Dr. Strange Records. Also: Xan Karn's "Cyberspace: the new feudalism," reviews, coverage of 44-day/43-show band tour (editor Conrad is part of a group called Zoinks!), and a letters section featuring responses on Factsheet Five, education, and "selling out." (P.O. Box 9382, Reno, NV 89507-9382; $10 cash/4 ).
Bad Subjects is intended to promote "radical thinking and public education about the political implications of everyday life." The 38-page January 1995 issue (#18) focuses on the Internet, and includes an essay on "selling Brooklyn Bridges in cyberspace" (criticizing the concept of virtual communities"), a piece examining online identity issues, an article on USENET spamming, and Zoe Druck's "The information superhighway, or The politics of a metaphor." The 34-page September 1995 edition (#21) looks at "Faith and propaganda," and contains an article on Burning Man, an E-mail debate on rape, and material on drug culture and the "War on Drugs," as well as an interesting report on a trip to Turkey ("Bad tourist gets well: fancy fish food or miracle cure?") and "'Viral chic': the propaganda of health care in the United States." (322 Wheeler Hall, UC-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, bad@uclink.berkeley.edu; http://english-www.hss.cmu.edu/BS).
Eye is a magazine devoted to coverage of such topics as "drugs, trippy tech, retro TV, atrocities, underground networking, fringe culture...conspiracies...[and] vintage film." Sensationalistic in tone and appearance, each issue nevertheless includes an important story or two. One recent edition (#6) featured a cover story on zombies ("Vintage film stars based on fact?") and an article on prosthetic eyes (complete with gory illustrations, calculated to titillate or offend), along with a more notable article on coping with threats to privacy and a report on the Child Protection Restoration and Penalties Enhancement Act which requires strict record keeping for identification of models in sexually explicit photos and videos. Another issue (#7) features vampires, a tawdry "Diary of cocaine-induced paranoia," and material on "Lost in Space" fandom, as well as a more significant piece on the arrest of Opium for the masses author/Pills-a-go-go editor Jim Hogshire (charged with possession of poppies). Also regularly included: book, zine, video, and catalog reviews. (153 E. Lindsey St., Suite 108, Greensboro, NC 27401-3007, 910-370-1702, FAX: 910-370-1603, eye@nr.infi.net; http://www.infi.net/~eye; $9.95/4).
Prevailing Winds magazine is devoted to "exposing hidden history, intelligence abuses, political scandals, corruption, [and] medical and environmental abuse." A mixture of conspiracy theory and astute criticism, the 111-page issue examined (#3) contains commentary on the V-Chip, excerpts from Michael Parenti's forthcoming Dirty truths (City Lights) and a recent book on the MLK assassination, a transcript from Norman Solomon and David Barsamian's radio program "Making Contact" (featuring three guests on the topic of NAFTA and global trade), and articles about mind control, the World Trade Center bombing, and covert drug operations in the Middle East, as well as a catalog of related tapes and publications. Also: "Operation Mockingbird: the CIA and the media." Previous editions have covered such topics as the health hazards of NutraSweet, hemp politics, and "Japan's Waco." Akin to the more established and credible Covert Action Information Bulletin (MSRRT Newsletter, Apr 89) and to Britain's Lobster (Feb 92). (P.O. Box 23511, Santa Barbara, CA 93121; $20/4).
Whirl is a new zine intended as "a forum for expressions of peace, justice, ecology, and the cosmic whirl of life." The Summer 1996 initial issue features an excellent article--complete with resource listings--about problems with the corporate economy and ways to create a "people's economy" using collective action, credit unions, local currency, cooperatives, and other strategies, as well as "Hemp facts" and a piece about U.S. complicity in the deaths of 200,000 East Timorese people. Also: a report on "seed politics" (with addresses of organic seed companies and seed exchange programs), material on the risks of plutonium-fueled space projects, and information about herbal medicine for women. (Diana Gibson/Brendan Conley, 331 Erie Dr., Naples, FL 34110; $2 donation/issue ).
Eat the State! is a new "forum for anti-authoritarian political opinion, research, and humor," edited by the irrepressible Geov Parrish (also involved in Nonviolent Action Community of Cascadia and feminist men's activism). Intended for weekly publication, the initial issue features straightforward commentary on "why the U.S. bombing of Iraq was stupid, pointless, and illegal," as well as information about San Jose Mercury News articles on CIA crack trafficking (http://www.sjmercury.com/drugs/start.html), satirical mission statement, and a Seattle-area calendar of events. (P.O. Box 85541, Seattle, WA 98145; $24, free via email: ets@scn.org).
Infusion ("Tools for action and education") is a publication of the nonprofit Center for Campus Organizing . The 24-page Winter 1995/96 issue (v.1 #2) contains an article about student surveillance conducted by the City University of New York, reports on nationwide actions for democracy in Burma and "against the current state of siege against...affirmative action," and an interview with David Dellinger on "the lessons of the 60s," as well as commentary on "Mumia Abu-Jamal and the politicization of faculty" and a list of "rules for engaging the radical right." Also: "Social responsibility and the challenge of Black Women's History" and "Consciousness raising as a tool for organizing." (P.O. Box 748, Cambridge, MA 02142, 617-354-9363; $25, $15 student activists, $10 low income, $35 institutional; ISSN: 1084-659X).
Say is a bimonthly Amnesty International USA magazine aimed chiefly, it seems, at young adults. The 16-page March/April 1996 issue (v.4 #4) contains articles on Illinois prisoner Guinevere Garcia whose death sentence was commuted in January, a report on "the first...International Youth Festival on Human Rights" (held in the Philippines), and coverage of "official violence and impunity" in Chiapas, Mexico, as well as human rights news briefs (e.g., "Pakistan: women's rights denied despite promises"), action alerts, and info about an AIUSA archives project. Also: a piece about Brazilian Human Rights Award winner Caio Ferraz, now a refugee in the U.S. (Editorial: Ron Lajoie, AIUSA, 322 Eighth Ave., New York, NY 10001, 212-807-8400; subscriptions: AIUSA, 1118 22nd St. NW, Washington, DC 20037; $15 ).
Energy Wire, a new newsletter of the Energy CENTS Coalition, is intended to communicate "the sporadic buzz about low income energy issues." The 4-page initial issue (undated, but postmarked September 1996) contains information about the Reach Out for Warmth program, commentary on "the risks of deregulating the electric utility industry," and news about the formation of a public interest Restructuring Alliance. (1916 Second Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55403).
The Dignity Report, a quarterly publication of the nonprofit Coalition for Human Dignity, provides "investigative reporting and critical analyses of the activities of the religious and racist right," with a focus on the Pacific Northwest. The 24-page Fall 1995 issue (v.3 #3) contains a state-by-state review of right-wing ballot measures in the Northwest, a case study in confronting Holocaust denial (in the person of David Irving), and a report on the Christian Coalition in western Washington, as well as news briefs about a racially motivated assault, the Wise Use movement, and protests against an anti-gay ad. (P.O. Box 40344, Portland, OR 97240, 503-281-5823, chdpdx@aol.com; $25, $50 institutional ).
New Mobility is a significant glossy bimonthly covering "disability lifestyle, culture & resources." The 66-page March/April 1995 issue (#20) focused on "doctors with disabilities" and also included commentary on "lockstep politics" ("Are we a one-issue minority?"), a survey of new specialty wheelchairs, profiles (one of New Jersey talk show host Maria Clark), and a preview of the 1996 Paralympics. Also: letters from readers, news briefs, and an editorial on the implications of genetic testing. (Editorial: 23815 Stuart Ranch Rd., P.O. Box 8987, Malibu, CA 90265, 1-800-543-4116, FAX: 310-317-9644; subscriptions: P.O. Box 15518, N. Hollywood, CA 91615-5518; $18; ISSN: 1065-2124).
New Voices ("News from a Native youth perspective") is a new tabloid spin-off from The Circle (MSRRT Newsletter, Jul 88) intended for publication three times a year. The 12-page September 1996 initial edition contains an article about Native American teachers and a report on a trip to Cuba ("Socialismo o muerte"), as well as music reviews (e.g., criticism of the Honor the Earth benefit CD), comic strips, event information, and a humorous list of "50 reasons to stay in school." (1530 E. Franklin Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55404, 612-879-1759, FAX: 612-879-1712, circle@usinternet.com).
The Latino Voice ("Reaching out to Hispanic America") is a tabloid published six times a year. The 24-page July/August 1996 edition (v.3 #4) includes a report on a study assessing the value of immigrants in California, news of a Supreme Court ruling which threw out racially drawn congressional districts in North Carolina and Texas, and an article about Chicano poster art in San Antonio, as well as coverage of protests against police harassment in Denver and material on the Latino jobless rate, United States-Mexico relations, and race-based law school admissions. (40575 California Oaks Rd., Suite D2-282, Murrieta, CA 92562, 1-800-726-6228; $15).
4080 Hip Hop Magazine is a glossy published monthly except July and August. The 72-page April 1996 issue (#29) contains a tribute to Bay Area rapper Mr. Cee (Kyle Church) who was shot to death on New Year's Day, an article about aspiring video director Andy Kowanami, and coverage of a "Memorial to Eazy E" concert and Latinfest '96, as well as profiles, interviews and reviews. Also: a self-help law column ("Legal shit"), a report on Texas hip hop, and an editorial about Nike and the dreams of African American high school basketball players. (2550 Shattuck Ave., Suite 107, Berkeley, CA 94704, 1-800-823-4080, FAX: 510-848-2425, go4080@aol.com; $24).
The Door, a Christian satire magazine first published in 1971, contains laugh-out-loud funny items. Providing "a humorous avenue for the expression of the less flattering aspects of the institution, while still embracing the legitimacy of the ideals behind Christianity which are the foundations for faith," the 44-page July/August 1996 edition (#148) includes a cover story which make a case for Bob Dole being the Antichrist, exegesis (of Mark 7: 14-23) by B-film maven Joe Bob Briggs, and some odd religion-related news clippings ("Truth is stranger than fiction"), as well as hilarious "pastoral subliminal letters" and a "church communion comment card," comparative conservative and liberal Christian hierarchical sin scales, and a rear cover featuring "Jesus of Nazareth's Snappy answers to stupid Christians." Also: "Why 'family values' is not a good idea," by Duke University Dean of the Chapel William H Willimon. (Editorial: P.O. Box 1444, Waco, TX 76703-1444, thedoor@flash.net; http://www.npcts.edu/~aolson/door ; subscriptions: P.O. Box 616, Mt. Morris, IL 61054-0616, 1-800-597-3667; $22.95; ISSN: 1044-7512).
Lesbian Health News is a newsletter published six times yearly. The 14-page January/February 1996 issue (v.4 #1) contains reports on the first Ohio Lesbian Health Conference, networking info, and an essay on African American lesbian mental health ("Sister truths"), as well as material on the estrogen/lupus link, studies on body weight and STDs in lesbians, violence against women, and breast exams, while the March/April edition includes an interview with the leader of a GLBT youth group, an article about a Big Brothers/Big Sisters program for "children from same-sex families," and information about the 13th annual Women in Medicine Conference of lesbian physicians and medical students. (P.O. Box 12121, Columbus, OH 43212, 614-481-7656; $12-25, sliding scale; "free to womyn who are institutionalized or incarcerated").
Women's Studies Quarterly is a journal publishing "new feminist scholarship and theory applied to teaching and the curriculum." The daunting (and unindexed) 470-page Spring/Summer 1996 double issue focuses on the Fourth World Conference of Women held in Beijing last year and on the NGO Forum on Women which preceded it. Included is the complete text of the Beijing "Platform for Action," excerpts from two speeches by Hillary Rodham Clinton, commentary by Robin Morgan and Laura Hershey (the latter on women with disabilities), and a plenary statement by Bella Abzug, along with selections from talks given by women leaders and grassroots activists from Singapore to Norway on such topics as sustainable development, women's human rights and education, global poverty, and sexual orientation. Also: individual reports on women's studies in twelve different countries, dating from programs founded in the 70's (Germany) to recently established efforts in Hungary, Latvia, Ghana, and Uganda. Upcoming theme issues include "Working-class studies" and "Teaching about violence against women." (Feminist Press at CUNY, 311 E. 94th St., New York, NY 10128, 212-360-5790, FAX: 212-348-1241; $30, $40 institutional; ISSN: 0732-1562).
Different Drummer ("Taking a fresh look at natural resource issues") is published quarterly by the nonprofit Thoreau Institute. The 64-page Winter 1996 issue (v.3 #1) focuses on "the endangered Endangered Species Act," and includes related historical material, articles about particular species, analysis of topics like species decline and property rights, coverage of legislative alternatives, and proposed solutions. (14417 S.E. Laurie, Oak Grove, OR 97267, 503-652-7049, http://www.teleport.com/~rot; $21.95; ISSN: 1075-1653).
Aluminum Anonymous ("Beer cans that go bump in the night") is a free quarterly newsletter documenting editor Dennis Brezina's effort to "address the issue of how to reduce the unbelieveable number of beer cans scattered along the roadsides." The 8-page Spring 1996 initial edition contains excerpts from a beer can picker/birdwatcher's daily journal, a call for a national highway traffic safety/environmental initiative, and a cumulative count/analysis of cans collected, as well as "beer can profiles", poetry ("Lament of a fallen beer can"), and statistics on alcohol-related highway fatalities. (331 Cecil St., Chesapeake City, MD 21915, alumanon@aol.com).
Fire Fly (MSRRT Newsletter, May/Jun 96) has moved again: 213 Argonaut, #57, El Paso, TX 79912.
off our backs (MSRRT News, Sep 88) has a new address: 2337B 18th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009, 73613.1256@compuserve.com
Safe Food News (MSRRT Newsletter, Apr 94), publication of the nonprofit Food & Water, Inc., is now titled Food & Water Journal. Note also new contact data: R.R.1, Box 68D, Walden, VT 05873, 802-563-3300, 1-800-EAT-SAFE, FAX: 802-563-3310.
Sojourner: The Women's Forum (MSRRT Newsletter, Mar 90) has new contact data: 42 Seaverns Ave., Jamaica Plain, MA 02130, phone: 617-524-0415, sojourn@tiac.net; http://www.tiac.net/users/sojourn.
Sulu Arts and Books supplies English-language books and tapes from Southeast Asia, especially the Philippines. (465 6th St., San Francisco, CA 94103, 415-777-2451, mred@3wc.com; http://www.3wc.com/sulu).
New titles from Black Classic Press include The Black Panther Party reconsidered and Huey P. Newton's War against the Panthers: a study of repression in America. (P.O. Box 13414, Baltimore, MD 21203, 410-358-0980).
Maissoneuve Press new titles include Creating surplus populations: the effects of military and corporate policies on indigenous peoples and Positively postmodern: the multi-media muse in America. (Institute for Advanced Cultural Studies, P.O. Box 2980, Washington, DC 20013-2980, 301-277-7505, FAX: 301-277-2467, merril@mica.edu).
Rising Tide Press specializes in lesbian science fiction, fantasy, and romance novels. New titles also include Feathering your nest: an interactive guide to a loving lesbian relationship. (5 Kivy St., Huntington Station, New York, NY 11746, 516-427-1289 ).
New Victoria Publishers recent titles include a collection of previously unpublished poems by Barbara Deming (I change, I change) and Jorjet Harper's Tales from the dyke side. (P.O. Box 27, Norwich, VT 05055, 800-326-5297, newvic@aol.com).
New from Ellipsis Arts: CD/book sets featuring mbira music (Spirit tongues), international accordion music (Planet squeezebox), work songs worldwide (Harvest song ), cross-cultural collaborations (Planet soup), and Tuvan throat singing. (P.O. Box 305, Roslyn, NY 11576, 1-800-788-6670 , elliarts@aol.com).
Anti- distributes punk and alternative rock, ska, and surf music, along with related videos, books, and zines. (P.O. Box 1765, Burbank, CA 91507, 1-800-599-ANTI, custserv@anti.com; http://www.anti.com).
Zino Press Children's Books new titles include Sweet words so brave: the story of African American literature and Be a friend: the story of African American music. (P.O. Box 52, Madison, WI 53701, P.O. Box 52, Madison, WI 53701, 1-800-356-2303, FAX: 608-831-1570).
Children's Book Press new titles (1996/97): Carmen Lomas Garza's In my family/En mi familia and Michele Wood's Going back home: an artist returns to the South. (246 First St., Suite 101, San Francisco, CA 94105, 415-995-2200, FAX: 415-995-2222 ).
Books for Our Children, a distributor specializing in African American books for children, also offers recent adult titles like Scott Minerbrook's Divided to the vein. (P.O. Box 1347, Venice, CA 90291, 310-390-4907, FAX: 310-398-5343).
The Academy of Family Mediators catalog offers books, videos, and audiotapes on divorce, family mediation, and conflict resolution. (1500 S. Highway 100, #355, Golden Valley, MN 55416, 612-525-8670, FAX: 612-525-8725).
The Native Experience distributes books and other resources about Native Americans. Recent titles include The American Indian: a multimedia encyclopedia. (7406 Waldron Ave., Temple Hills, MD 20748, 301-449-66730, 1-800-652-6730).
The Immigration History Research Center publishes conference proceedings, collection guides, and bibliographies relating to immigration and ethnic history. (826 Berry St., St. Paul, MN 55114-1076, 612-627-4208, FAX: 612-627-4190, ihrc@gold.tc.umn.edu).
Open Arms of Minnesota is a food delivery program for people with HIV/AIDS. For more information, or to contribute: 5005 Bryant Ave. S., Box 179, Minneapolis, MN 55419, 612-827-2624.
Rebellion from the roots: Indian uprising in Chiapas. By John Ross. Common Courage Press, 1995. 424p. Includes black-and-white photos. (P.O. Box 702, Monroe, ME 04951, 207-525-0900, FAX: 207-525-3068; $14.95, paper, 1-56751-042-6).
Michael Lapsley, priest and partisan: a South African journey . By Michael Worsnip. Foreword by Nelson Mandela. Ocean Press, 1996. 167p. (P.O. Box 020692, Brooklyn, NY 11202, 201-617-7247 ; U.S. distributor: Talman, 131 Spring St., New York, NY 10012, 212-431-7175, FAX: 212-431-7215; $14.95, paper, 1-875284-96-6 ).
Kicking the habit: cartoons about the Catholic Church. By Rina Piccolo. Laugh Lines Press, 1996. 93p. (P.O. Box 259, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004, $7.95, paper, 0-9632526-7-4).
Steering clear of highway madness: a driver's guide to curbing stress and strain. By John A. Larson. BookPartners, 1996. 189p. (P.O. Box 922, Wilsonville, OR 97070, 503-682-9821, FAX: 503-682-8684; $14.95, paper, 1-885221-38-X).
Discovering your life-place: a first bioregional workbook . By Peter Berg. Planet Drum, 1996? 24p. (P.O. Box 31251, San Francisco, CA 94131, 415-285-6556, FAX: 415-285-6563, planetdrum@igc.apc.org; $10, paper, 0-937102-03-2).
Guns & gavels: common law courts, militias & white supremacy . By Devin Burghart and Robert Crawford. Coalition for Human Dignity, 1996. 52p. Includes profiles of "key individuals and organizations." (P.O. Box 21266, Seattle, WA 98111-3266, 206-233-9775, FAX: 206-233-9850, pchdpdx@aol.com; $10, + $3 postage/handling).