FACTSHEET FIVE
by Dwight Steward


FACTSHEET FIVE

Frequently called the bible of the alternative or underground
press, Factsheet Five reviews magazines (called Zines) which are
self-published by enthusiasts (called fans). Published six times
a year, FF began as a two page mimeographed publication, grew to
its current (No.34) size of 124 pages plus cover thanks to
technology. All types of technology. Zines devoted primarily but
not exclusively to music are published on cassettes. This issue
contains a call for contributions to a Zine devoted to cassette
culture. Zines on records come from around the world, e.g.Vision
No. 5 from Basil, Switzerland, text in German, includes a 33rpm
of "experimental, noisy music which manages to be attractive
without being flashy." Zines reviewed also come in boxes, bags,
balloons. And on erasers: Voice Without Sides No.4 is "a
self-destructing poem object" which contains four short poems
stamped on a pink eraser.

Zines devoted to "small press" comics and their graphics
are numerous and diverse: comic books, strips, classic and new
computer creations. World wide coverage includes news of
Japanese comics, such as Business Jump, a 300 page comic for
"business boys" which combine a bit of violence and some soft
porn.

How about Inbetweening by Lloyd Dunn? "Excerpts from an
animated xerographic film, now captured as a chapbook. This is
the title sequence, in which the name of the work is presented
one letter at a time. The trick is that it's all the same
letter, metamorphosing from "I" to "N" to "B" and so on. Along
the way, graphic elements twist and turn and burst, go from two
dimensions to three and back again."

NB. E&M Comics is looking for reviewers for their two new video
game Zines: one devoted to every system but Nintendo, the other
to handheld LCD games. If interested, write to them at 18C Boyle
Avenue, Cumberland RI 02864.

And of course Zines are published on computer discs. As
Richard Freeman, publisher of a Zine called Plain Brown Wrapper,
puts it: "If the press is free only to those who own a press,
then computers...offer the possibility of owning a fairly
inexpensive press." PBW is available on a MAC floppy.

Or Agog Ago Go, a UK electronic Zine which is basically a 33
poetry magazine but "in translation to the screen it picks up
some interactive qualities and a whole new look."

==>This Zine is also available on the FACTSHEET FIVE BBS. As is
the entire issue. And back issues.

578-479-3879 300-1200bps 7-E-1

In either paper print or online, electronic networkers will find
much of interest. The Ace is the Zine of the Association of
Clandestine Enthusiasts, a group of shortwave radio listeners
who exchange information on everything from pirate radio
stations to coded numbers transmissions from the contras. Lots
of technical and contact information included. In the editorial
in this issue of FF, Mike Gunderloy writes:

"Occasionally I mention things in this section
because I don't know where else to put them even though they're
important. Such is the case of Dewayne Readus, a young, black,
blind activist in Springfield, Illinois. Last year Dewayne went
on the air with a one- watt FM radio station, broadcasting music
of interest to the black community, publicizing incidents of
police brutality and encouraging young kids to learn about
radio. Thanks to segregated housing in Springfield, this signal
was strong enough to reach 75% of the black community. It also
reached the police department and the FCC, who ordered Dewayne
to stop broadcasting and assessed a $750.00 fine against him.
Although the FCC won't issue a license to an FM station below
100 watts, they won't let such a station operate unlicensed
either.

"Dewayne is prepared to fight in the courts and if
necessary go to jail to try and get the right to broadcast.
Since the station was not interfering with any other use of the
airwaves, it's hard to see what justification there is for
shutting him down--other than the obvious one, of course, that
people setting up radio stations for $600 pose a threat to the
established order. Meanwhile, various activists are getting
together to challenge the FCC on this. For more details, you can
either contact Dewayne himself at 420 N. 14th St., Springfield,
IL 62702, or Ron Sakkolsky from the Alliance for Cultural
Democracy at RR1, Pawnee, IL 62558."

And FF also carries an article by Joe Lane, on the
underground press in general and the Underground Press Syndicate
and the Liberation News Service in particular. Bob Grumman's
column "Experioddica" devoted to "Why Publish?" raises issues
which concern all publishers, whether in paper or phosphor
print. As does John Held Jr.'s article on Mail Art Networking.

FF and Zines are, naturally, popular with prisoners
throughout the US and the world--a subject which received
considerable attention in the current issue. Here is an excerpt
from Mike Kelly, a prisoner in Texas:

"On 12-15-89 I was denied the right to mail a sealed letter 3>3
c/o the Editor of FACTSHEET FIVE. I was informed by the prison
bureaucrats that my letter did not meet the criteria as media
correspondence. Since FACTSHEET FIVE is not listed in the Ayers
Directory of Publications the administration denied your
publication as a legitimate media source." Kelly notes that
access to the press gives the incarcerated person the
opportunity to make contact with the public. He notes a Sept.
20, 1978 suit brought by Texas inmates challenging similar
rulings by the Dept. of Corrections. This case gave prisoners
the right to send unopened mail to the media, and relying on
Saxbe v. Washington Post Co., 94 S.Ct.2811, "press" was defined
as "a newspaper entitled to second class mailing privileges;
a magazine or periodical of general distribution; a national or
international news service; a radio or television network or
station."

Kelly asks quite reasonably why The Progressive Periodicals
Directory or the Directory of Alternative and Radical
Publications not be used along with Ayers to verify legitimate
publications and their editors?

If Kelly had access to a computer-modem and telephone lines,
he might have also asked when the Saxbe case will be challenged,
and online publications such as Netweaver also included. Anyone
caring to continue the discussion of approved or sanctioned
publications and the general definition of "press" s" can reach
him at his paper mail address:

Michael P. Kelly #493005
Box 16 -- Eastham Unit
Lovelady, TX 75851

As Factsheet Five illustrates, snail-mail networkers are quite
active, in a variety of arenas where online folk have little
explored.