Full online text of American "Yippie" revolutionary Abbie Hoffman's ironically best-selling book and manual of subversion, Steal This Book, written in 1970. While much of the advice is out of date, and much of it we would disagree with we reproduce it for reference.
Steal this book cover
STEAL THIS BOOK
By Abbie Hoffman
Dedicated to Jerry Lefcourt, Lawyer and Brother
Library of Congress number 72-157115 (stolen from Library of Congress)
copyright ©1971 PIRATE EDITIONS
TABLE OF DISCONTENTS
- INTRODUCTION
- AIDING AND ABETTING
- SURVIVE!
- FIGHT!
- LIBERATE!
INTRODUCTION
It's perhaps fitting that I write this introduction in jail-
that graduate school of survival. Here you learn how to use
toothpaste as glue, fashion a shiv out of a spoon and build
intricate communication networks. Here too, you learn the only
rehabilitation possible-hatred of oppression.
Steal This Book is, in a way, a manual of survival in the
prison that is Amerika. It preaches jailbreak. It shows you where
exactly how to place the dynamite that will destroy the walls. The
first section-SURVIVE!-lays out a potential action program for our
new Nation. The chapter headings spell out the demands for a free
society. A community where the technology produces goods and
services for whoever needs them, come who may. It calls on the
Robin Hoods of Santa Barbara Forest to steal from the robber barons
who own the castles of capitalism. It implies that the reader
already is "ideologically set," in that he understands corporate
feudalism as the only robbery worthy of being called "crime," for
it is committed against the people as a whole. Whether the ways it
describes to rip-off shit are legal or illegal is irrelevant. The
dictionary of law is written by the bosses of order. Our moral
dictionary says no heisting from each other. To steal from a
brother or sister is evil. To not steal from the institutions that
are the pillars of the Pig Empire is equally immoral.
Community within our Nation, chaos in theirs; that is the
message of SURVIVE!
We cannot survive without learning to fight and that is the
lesson in the second section. FIGHT! separates revolutionaries
from outlaws. The purpose of part two is not to fuck the system,
but destroy it. The weapons are carefully chosen. They are
"home-made," in that they are designed for use in our unique
electronic jungle. Here the uptown reviewer will find ample proof
of our "violent" nature. But again, the dictionary of law fails us.
Murder in a uniform is heroic, in a costume it is a crime. False
advertisements win awards, forgers end up in jail. Inflated prices
guarantee large profits while shoplifters are punished. Politicians
conspire to create police riots and the victims are convicted in
the courts. Students are gunned down and then indicted by suburban
grand juries as the trouble-makers. A modern, highly mechanized
army travels 9,000 miles to commit genocide against a small nation
of great vision and then accuses its people of aggression.
Slumlords allow rats to maim children and then complain of violence
in the streets. Everything is topsy-turvy. If we internalize the
language and imagery of the pigs, we will forever be fucked. Let me
illustrate the point. Amerika was built on the slaughter of a
people. That is its history. For years we watched movie after movie
that demonstrated the white man's benevolence. Jimmy Stewart, the
epitome of fairness, puts his arm around Cochise and tells how the
Indians and the whites can live in peace if only both sides will be
reasonable, responsible and rational (the three R's imperialists
always teach the "natives"). "You will find good grazing land on
the other side of the mountain," drawls the public relations man.
"Take your people and go in peace." Cochise as well as millions of
youngsters in the balcony of learning, were being dealt off the
bottom of the deck. The Indians should have offed Jimmy Stewart in
every picture and we should have cheered ourselves hoarse. Until we
understand the nature of institutional violence and how it
manipulates values and mores to maintain the power of the few, we
will forever be imprisoned in the caves of ignorance. When we
conclude that bank robbers rather than bankers should be the
trustees of the universities, then we begin to think clearly. When
we see the Army Mathematics Research and Development Center and the
Bank of Amerika as cesspools of violence, filling the minds of our
young with hatred, turning one against another, then we begin to
think revolutionary.
Be clever using section two; clever as a snake. Dig the spirit
of the struggle. Don't get hung up on a sacrifice trip. Revolution
is not about suicide, it is about life. With your fingers probe the
holiness of your body and see that it was meant to live. Your body
is just one in a mass of cuddly humanity. Become an
internationalist and learn to respect all life. Make war on
machines, and in particular the sterile machines of corporate death
and the robots that guard them. The duty of a revolutionary is to
make love and that means staying alive and free. That doesn't allow
for cop-outs. Smoking dope and hanging up Che's picture is no more
a commitment than drinking milk and collecting postage stamps. A
revolution in consciousness is an empty high without a revolution
in the distribution of power. We are not interested in the greening
of Amerika except for the grass that will cover its grave.
Section three - LIBERATE! - concerns itself with efforts to
free stuff (or at least make it cheap) in four cities. Sort of a
quick U.S. on no dollars a day. It begins to scratch the potential
for a national effort in this area. Since we are a nation of
gypsies, dope on how to move around and dig in anywhere is always
needed. Together we can expand this section. It is far from
complete, as is the entire project. Incomplete chapters on how to
identify police agents, steal a car, run day-care centers, conduct
your own trial, organize a G.I. coffee house, start a rock and roll
band and make neat clothes, are scattered all over the floor of the
cell. The book as it now stands was completed in the late summer of
1970. For three months manuscripts made the rounds of every major
publisher. In all, over 30 rejections occurred before the decision
to publish the book ourselves was made, or rather made for us.
Perhaps no other book in modern times presented such a dilemma.
Everyone agreed the book would be a commercial success. But even
greed had its limits, and the IRS and FBI following the manuscript
with their little jive rap had a telling effect. Thirty "yeses"
become thirty "noes" after "thinking it over." Liberals, who
supposedly led the fight against censorship, talked of how the book
"will end free speech."
Finally the day we were bringing the proofs to the printer,
Grove consented to act as distributor. To pull a total solo trip,
including distribution, would have been neat, but such an effort
would be doomed from the start. We had tried it before and blew it.
In fact, if anyone is interested in 4,000 1969 Yippie calendars,
they've got a deal. Even with a distributor joining the fight, the
battle will only begin when the books come off the press. There is
a saying that "Freedom of the press belongs to those who own one."
In past eras, this was probably the case, but now, high speed
methods of typesetting, offset printing and a host of other
developments have made substantial reductions in printing costs.
Literally anyone is free to print their own works. In even the most
repressive society imaginable, you can get away with some form of
private publishing. Because Amerika allows this, does not make it
the democracy Jefferson envisioned. Repressive tolerance is a real
phenomenon. To talk of true freedom of the press, we must talk of
the availability of the channels of communication that are designed
to reach the entire population, or at least that segment of the
population that might participate in such a dialogue. Freedom of
the press belongs to those that own the distribution system.
Perhaps that has always been the case, but in a mass society where
nearly everyone is instantaneously plugged into a variety of
national communications systems, wide-spread dissemination of the
information is the crux of the matter. To make the claim that the
right to print your own book means freedom of the press is to
completely misunderstand the nature of a mass society. It is like
making the claim that anyone with a pushcart can challenge Safeway
supermarkets, or that any child can grow up to be president.
State legislators, librarians, PTA members, FBI agents,
church-goers, and parents: a veritable legion of decency and order
already is on the march. To get the book to you might be the
biggest challenge we face. The next few months should prove really
exciting.
Obviously such a project as Steal This Book could not have
been carried out alone. Izak Haber shared the vision from the
beginning. He did months of valuable research and contributed many
of the survival techniques. Carole Ramer and Gus Reichbach of the
New York Law Commune guided the book through its many stages. Anna
Kaufman Moon did almost all the photographs. The cartoonists who
have made contributions include Ski Williamson and Gilbert Sheldon.
Tom Forcade, of the UPS, patiently did the editing. Bert Cohen of
Concert Hall did the book's graphic design. Amber and John Wilcox
set the type. Anita Hoffman and Lynn Borman helped me rewrite a
number of sections. There are others who participated in the
testing of many of the techniques demonstrated in the following
pages and for obvious reasons have to remain anonymous. There were
perhaps over 50 brothers and sisters who played particularly vital
roles in the grand conspiracy. Some of the many others are listed
on the following page. We hope to keep the information up to date.
If you have comments, law suits, suggestions or death threats,
please send them to: Dear Abbie P.0. Box 213, Cooper Station,
New York, NY 10003. Many of the tips might not work in your area,
some might be obsolete by the time you get to try them out, and
many addresses and phone numbers might be changed. If the reader
becomes a participating researcher then we will have achieved our
purpose.
Watch for a special edition called Steal This White House,
complete with blueprints of underground passages, methods of
jamming the communications network and a detailed map of the
celebrated room where according to Tricia Nixon, "Daddy loves to
listen to Mantovanni records, turn up the air conditioner full
blast, sit by the fireplace, gaze out the window to the Washington
Monument and meditate on those difficult problems that face all the
peoples of this world."
December, 1970
Cook County Jail
Chicago
"FREE SPEECH IS THE RIGHT TO SHOUT 'THEATER' IN A CROWDED FIRE." - A YIPPIE PROVERB
AIDING AND ABETTING
Tim Leary, Tom, Geronimo, Pearl Paperhanger, Sonny, Pat
Solomon, Allan Katzman, Jacob Kohn, Nguyen Van Troi, Susan, Marty,
Andy, Ami, Marshall Bloom, Viva, Ben, Oanh, Robin Palmer, Mom and
Dad, Janie Fonda, Jerry, Denis, LNS, Bernadine Dohrn, a wall in
Harvard Square, Nancy, an anonymous stewardess, Shirley Wonderful,
Roz, Gumbo, Janis, Jimi, Dylan Liberation Front, Jeannie, God
Slick, John, David, Rusty, Barney, Richard, Denny, Ron Cobb, the
entire Viet Cong, Sam Shephard, Ma Bell, Eric, David, Joe, Kim
Agnew, the Partridge Family, Carol, Alan Ginsburg, Woman's Lib,
Julius Lester, Lenny Bruce, Hack, Billy, Paul, Willy, Colleen, Sid,
Johnny Appleseed, the Rat, Craig, Che, Willie Sutton, Wanda, EVO,
Jeff, Crazy Horse, Huey, Casey, Bobby, Alice, Mao, Rip, Ed, Bob,
Gay Liberation Front, WPAX, Frank Dudock, Manny, Mungo, Lottie,
Rosemary, Marshall, Rennie, Judy, Jennifer, Mr. Martin, Keith,
Madame Binh, Mike, Eleanor, Dr. Spock, Afeni, Candice, the
Tupamaros, Berkeley Tribe, Gilbert Sheldon, Stanley Kubrick, Sam,
Anna, Skip Williamson, UPS, Andy Stapp, the Yippies, Richard
Brautigan, Jano, Carlos Marighella, the Weathermen, Julius Jennings
Hoffman, Quentin, the inmates of TIER A-l Cook County Jail,
Houdini, 37, Rosa Luxemberg, the Kent 25, the Chicago 15, the New
York 21, the Motor City 3, the Indianapolis 500, Jack, Joan,
Malcolm X, Mayakovsky, Dotson, R. Crumb, Daniel Clyne, Justin, The
FBI Top 10 (now 16), Unis, Dana, Jim Morrison, Brian, John, Gus,
Ruth, Nancy Unger, Pun, Jomo, Peter, Mark Rudd, Billy Kunstler,
Genie, Ken, the Law Commune, Paula, Robby, Terry, Dianna, Angela,
Ted, Phil, Jefferson Airplane, Len, Tricky Prickers, the Berrigans,
Stu, Rayanne, J.B., Jonathan Jackson, the Armstrong Brothers,
Homer, Sharon, Fred Hampton, Jean Jacques Lebel, A. H. Maslow,
Hanoi Rose, Sylvia, Fellini, Amaru, Ann Fettamen, Artaud, Bert,
Merrill, Lynne, and last but not least to Spiro what's his name who
provided the incentive.
SURVIVE!
FREE FOOD
RESTAURANTS
In a country such as Amerika, there is bound to be a
hell-of-a-lot food lying around just waiting to be ripped off. If
you want to live high off the hog without having to do the dishes,
restaurants are easy pickings. In general, many of these targets
are easier marks if you are wearing the correct uniform. You should
always have one suit or fashionable dress outfit hanging in the
closet for the proper heists. Specialized uniforms, such as nun and
priest garb, can be most helpful. Check out your local uniform
store for a wide range of clothes that will get you in, and
especially out, of all kinds of stores. Every movement organization
should have a prop and costume department.
In every major city there are usually bars that cater to the
New Generation type riff-raff, trying to hustle their way up the
escalator of Big Business. Many of these bars have a buffet or
hors-d'oeuvres served free as a come-on to drink more mindless
booze. Take a half-empty glass from a table and use it as a prop to
ward off the anxious waitress. Walk around sampling the free food
until you've had enough. Often, there are five or six such bars in
close proximity, so moving around can produce a delightful "street
smorgasbord." Dinner usually begins at 5:00 PM.
If you are really hungry, you can go into a self-service
cafeteria and finish the meal of someone who left a lot on the
plate. Self-service restaurants are usually good places to cop
things like mustard, ketchup, salt, sugar, toilet paper, silverware
and cups for home use. Bring an empty school bag and load up after
you've cased the joint. Also, if you can stomach the food, you can
use slugs at the automat. Finishing leftovers can be worked in even
the fanciest of restaurants. When you are seated at a place where
the dishes still remain, chow-down real quick. Then after the
waitress hands you the menu, say you have to meet someone outside
first, and leave.
There are still some places where you can get all you can eat
for a fixed price. The best of these places are in Las Vegas. Sew a
plastic bag onto your tee-shirt or belt and wear a loose-fitting
jacket or coat to cover any noticeable bulge. Fried chicken is the
best and the easiest to pocket, or should we say bag. Another trick
is to pour your second free cup of hot coffee into the plastic bag
sewed inside your pocket and take it with you.
At large take-out stands you can say you or your brother just
picked up an order of fifteen hamburgers or a bucket of chicken,
and got shorted. We have never seen or heard of anybody getting
turned down using this method. If you want to get into a grand food
heist from take-out stands, you can work the following nervy bit:
from a pay phone, place an order from a large delivery restaurant.
Have the order sent to a nearby apartment house. Wait a few minutes
in the booth after you've hung up, as they sometimes call back to
confirm the order. When the delivery man goes into the apartment
house to deliver the order, you can swipe the remaining orders that
are still in his truck.
In fancy sit-down restaurants, you can order a large meal and
halfway through the main course, take a little dead cockroach or a
piece of glass out of your pocket and place it deftly on the plate.
Jump up astonished and summon the headwaiter. "Never have I been so
insulted. I could have been poisoned" you scream slapping down the
napkin. You can refuse to pay and leave, or let the waiter talk you
into having a brand new meal on the house for this terrible
inconvenience.
In restaurants where you pay at the door just before leaving,
there are a number of free-loading tricks that can be utilized.
After you've eaten a full meal and gotten the check, go into the
restroom. When you come out go to the counter or another section of
the restaurant and order coffee and pie. Now you have two bills.
Simply pay the cheaper one when you leave the place. This can be
worked with a friend in the following way. Sit next to each other
at the counter. He should order a big meal and you a cup of coffee.
Pretend you don't know each other. When he leaves, he takes your
check and leaves the one for the large meal on the counter. After
he has paid the cashier and left the restaurant, you pick up the
large check, and then go into the astonishment routine, complaining
that somebody took the wrong check. You end up only paying for your
coffee. Later, meet your partner and reverse the roles in another
place.
In all these methods, you should leave a good tip for the
waiter or waitress, especially with the roach-in-the-plate gambit.
You should try to avoid getting the employees in trouble or
screwing them out of a tip.
One fantastic method of not only getting free food but getting
the best available is the following technique that can be used in
metropolitan areas. Look in a large magazine shop for gourmet
digests and tourist manuals. Swipe one or two and copy down a good
name from the masthead inside the cover. Making up a name can also
work. Next invest $5.00 to print business cards with the name of
the magazine and the new "associate editor." Call or simply drop
into a fancy restaurant, show a copy of the magazine and present
the manager with your card. They will insist that the meal be on
the house.
Great places to get fantastic meals are weddings,
bar-mitzvahs, testimonials and the like. The newspaper society
sections have lists of weddings and locations. If your city has a
large Jewish population, subscribe to the newspaper that services
the Jewish community. There are extensive lists in these papers of
family occasions where tons of good food is served. Show up at the
back of the synagogue a few hours after the affair has begun with a
story of how you'd like to bring some leftovers of "good Jewish
food" back to your fraternity or sorority. If you want to get the
food served to you out front, you naturally have to disguise
yourself to look straight. Remarks such as, "I'm Marvin's cousin,"
or learning the bride's name, "Gee, Dorothy looks marvelous" are
great. Lines like "Betty doesn't look pregnant" are frowned upon. A
man and woman team can work this free-load much better than a
single person as they can chatter back and forth while stuffing
themselves.
If you're really into a classy free meal, and you are in a
city with a large harbor, check out the passenger ship section in
the back pages of the newspaper. There you find the schedule of
departures for ocean cruises. Most trips (these kind, anyway) begin
with a fantastic bon voyage party on board ship. Just walk on a few
hours before departure time and start swinging. Champagne, caviar,
lobster, shrimp and more, all as free as the open seas. If you get
really bombed and miss getting off, you can also wiggle a ride
across the ocean. You get sent back as soon as you hit the other
side, but it's a free ocean cruise. You should have a pretty good
story ready to go, or you might end up rowing in the galley.
Another possibility for getting a free meal is to go down to
the docks and get friendly with a sailor. He can often invite you
for dinner on board ship. Foreign sailors are more than glad to
meet friends and you can get great foreign dinners this way.
FOOD PROGRAMS
In Amerika, there is a national food stamp program that
unfortunately is controlled by the states. Many states, for racist
reasons, do not want to make it too available or to publicize the
fact that it even exists. It is a much better deal than the food
program connected with welfare, because you can use the stamps to
buy any kind of food. The only items excluded are tobacco products
and alcoholic beverages. In general, you can qualify if you earn
less than $165 per month; the less you earn, the more stamps you
can receive. There is minimal hassle involved once you get by the
first hurdle. Show up at your local food stamp office, which can be
found by calling the Welfare Department in our city. Make an
appointment to see a representative for your area. They will tell
you to bring all sorts of receipts, but the only thing you need are
a few rent stubs for the most recent months. An array of various
receipt books is a nice supplement to one's prop room. If the
receipts are for a high rent, tell them you rent a room from a
group of people and eat separately. They really only want to prove
that you have cooking facilities. Once you get the stamps, you can
pick them up regularly. Some states even mail them to your pad. You
can get up to a hundred dollars worth of free purchases a month per
person in the most liberal states.
Large amounts of highly nutritional food can be gotten for as
little as three cents per meal from a non-profit organization
called Multi-Purpose Food for Millions Foundation, Inc., 1800
Olympic Ave., Santa Monica, California. Write and they will send
you details.
SUPERMARKETS
Talking about food in Amerika means talking about
supermarkets-mammoth neon lighted streets of food packaged to
hoodwink the consumers. Many a Yippie can be found in the aisles,
stuffing his pockets with assorted delicacies. We have been
shoplifting from supermarkets on a regular basis without raising
the slightest suspicion, ever since they began.
We are not alone, and the fact that so much stealing goes on
and the supermarkets still bring in huge profits shows exactly how
much overcharging has occurred in the first place. Supermarkets,
like other businesses, refer to shoplifting as "inventory
shrinkage." It's as if we thieves were helping Big Business reduce
weight. So let's view our efforts as methods designed to trim the
economy and push forward with a positive attitude.
Women should never go shopping without a large handbag. In
those crowded aisles, especially the ones with piles of cases, all
sorts of goodies can be transferred from shopping cart to handbag.
A drop bag can be sewn inside a trench coat, for more efficient
thievery. Don't worry about the mirrors; attendants never look at
them. Become a discriminating shopper and don't stuff any of the
cheap shit in your pockets.
Small bottles and jars often have the same size cap as the
larger expensive sizes. If they have the price stamped on the cap,
switch caps, getting the larger size for the cheaper price. You can
empty a pound box of margarine and fill it with sticks of butter.
Small narrow items can be hidden in the middle of rolls of toilet
paper. Larger supermarkets sell records. You can sneak two good
LP's into one of those large frozen pizza boxes. In the produce
department, there are bags for fruit and vegetables. Slip a few
steaks or some lamb chops into the bottom of a large brown bag and
pile some potatoes on top. Have a little man in the white coat
weigh the bag, staple it and mark the price. With a black crayon
you can mark your own prices, or bring your own adhesive price
tags.
It's best to work shoplifting in the supermarket with a
partner who can act as look-out and shield you from the eyes of
nosy employees, shoppers and other crooks trying to pick up some
pointers. Work out a prearranged set of signals with your partner.
Diversions, like knocking over displays, getting into fist fights
with the manager, breaking plate glass windows and such are
effective and even if you don't get anything they're fun. Haven't
you always wanted to knock over those carefully constructed
nine-foot pyramids of garbage?
You can walk into a supermarket, get a few items from the
shelves, and walk around eating food in the aisles. Pick up some
cherries and eat them. Have a spoon in your pocket and open some
yogurt. Open a pickle or olive jar. Get some sliced meat or cheese
from the delicatessen counter and eat it up, making sure to ditch
the wrapper. The cart full of items, used as a decoy, can just be
left in an aisle before you leave the store.
Case the joint before pulling a big rip-off. Know the least
crowded hours, learn the best aisles to be busy in, and check out
the store's security system. Once you get into shoplifting in
supermarkets, you'll really dig it. You'll be surprised to learn
that the food tastes better.
Large scale thievery can best be carried out with the help of
an employee. Two ways we know of work best. A woman can get a job
as a cashier and ring up a small bill as her brothers and sisters
bring home tons of stuff.
The method for men involves getting a job loading and
unloading trucks in the receiving department. Some accomplices
dressed right can just pull in and, with your help, load up on a
few cases. Infiltrating an employee into a store is probably the
best way to steal. Cashiers, sales clerks, shippers, and the like
are readily available jobs with such high turnover and low pay that
little checking on your background goes on. Also, you can learn
what you have to do in a few days. The rest of the week, you can
work out ways to clean out the store. After a month or so of action
you might want to move on to another store before things get heavy.
We know one woman working as a cashier who swiped over $500 worth
of food a week. She had to leave after a month because her boss
thought she was such an efficient cashier that he insisted on
promoting her to a job that didn't have as many fringe benefits for
her and her friends.
Large chain stores like Safeway throw away day-old vegetables,
the outer leaves of lettuce, celery and the like. This stuff is
usually found in crates outside the back of the building. Tell them
you're working with animals at the college labs, or that you raise
guinea pigs. They might even get into saving them for you, but if
they don't just show up before the garbage is collected, (generally
early in the morning), and they'll let you cart away what you want.
Dented cans and fruit can often be gotten free, but certainly
at a reduced rate. They are still as good as the undamaged ones. So
be sure to dent all your cans before you go to the cashier.
Look up catering services and businesses that service
factories and office buildings with ready-made sandwiches. Showing
up at these places at the right times (catering services on late
Sunday night and sandwich dealers at 5:00 PM on weekdays) will
produce loads of good food. Legally, they have to dispose of the
food that's left over. They would be more than happy to give it to
you if you spin a good story.
Butchers can be hustled for meat scraps with meat scraps with
a "for my dog" story, and bakeries can be asked for day-old rolls
and bread.
WHOLESALE MARKETS
Large cities all have a wholesale fruit and vegetable area
where often the workers will give you tons of free food just for
the asking. Get a good story together. Get some church stationery
and type a letter introducing yourself "to whom it may concern," or
better still, wear some clerical garb. Orchards also make good
pickings just after the harvest has been completed.
Factories often will give you a case or two of free
merchandise for a "charitable" reason. Make some calls around town
and then go pick up the stuff at the end of the week. A great idea
is to get a good list of a few hundred large corporations around
the country by looking up their addresses at the library. Poor's
Register of Companies, Directors and Executives has the most
complete list. Send them all letters complaining about how the last
box of cereal was only half full, or you found a dead fly in the
can of peaches. They often will send you an ample supply of items
just to keep you from complaining to your friends or worse, taking
them to court. Often you can get stuff sent to you by just telling
them how good their product is compared to the trash you see
nowadays. You know the type of letter - "Rice Krispies have had a
fantastic effect on my sexual prowess," or "Your frozen asparagus
has given a whole new meaning to my life." In general though, the
nasties get the best results.
Slaughterhouses usually have meat they will give away. They
are anxious to give to church children's programs and things like
that. In most states, there is a law that if the slab of meat
touches the ground, they have to throw it away. Drop around meat
houses late in the day and trip a few trucks.
Fishermen always have hundreds of pounds of fish that have to
be thrown out. You can have as much as you can cart away, generally
just for the asking. Boats come in late in the afternoon and
they'll give you some of the catch, or you can go to the markets
early in the morning when the fishing is best.
These methods of getting food in large quantities can only be
appreciated by those who have tried it. You will be totally baffled
by the unbelievable quantities of food that will be laid on you and
with the ease of panhandling.
Investing in a freezer will allow you to bi-weekly or even
monthly trips to the wholesale markets and you'll get the freshest
foods to boot. Nothing can beat getting it wholesale for free. Or
is it free for wholesale? In any event, "bon appetit."
FOOD CONSPIRACIES
Forming a food cooperative is one of the best ways to promote
solidarity and get every kind of food you need to survive real
cheap. It also provides a ready-made bridge for developing
alliances with blacks, Puerto Ricans, chicanos and other groups
fighting our common oppressor on a community level.
Call a meeting of about 20 communes, collectives or community
organizations. Set up the ground rules. There should be a hard-core
of really good hustlers that serve as the shopping or hunting party
and another group of people who have their heads together enough to
keep records and run the central distribution center. Two or three
in each group should do it. They can get their food free for the
effort. Another method is to rotate the activity among all members
of the conspiracy. The method you choose depends upon your politics
and whether you favor a division of labor or using the food
conspiracy as a training for collective living. Probably a blend of
the two is best, but you'll have to hassle that out for yourself.
The next thing to agree upon is how the operation and all the shit
you get will be paid for. This is dependent on a number of
variables, so we'll map out one scheme and you can modify it to
suit your particular situation. Each member of every commune could
be assessed a fee for joining. You want to get together about
$2,000, so at 200 members, this is ten bucks a piece. After the
joining fee, each person or group has to pay only for the low
budget food they order, but some loot is needed to get things
rolling. The money goes to getting a store front or garage, a cheap
truck, some scales, freezers, bags, shelving, chopping blocks,
slicer and whatever else you need. You can get great deals by
looking in the classified ads of the local overground newspaper and
checking for restaurants or markets going out of business. Remember
the idea of a conspiracy is to get tons of stuff at real low prices
or free into a store front, and then break it down into smaller
units for each group and eventually each member. The freezers allow
you to store perishables for a longer time.
The hunting party should be well acquainted with how to rip
off shit totally free and where all the best deals are to be found.
They should know what food is seasonal and about nutritional diets.
There is a lot to learn, such as where to get raw grains in 100
pounds lots and how to cut up a side of beef. A good idea is to get
a diet freak to give weekly talks in the store front. There can
also be cooking lessons taught, especially to men, so women can get
out of the kitchen.
Organizing a community around a basic issue of survival, such
as food, makes a lot of nitty gritty sense. After your conspiracy
gets off the ground and looks permanent, you should seek to expand
it to include more members and an emergency food fund should be set
up in case something happens in the community. There should also be
a fund whereby the conspiracy can sponsor free community dinners
tied into celebrations. Get it together and join the fight for a
world-wide food conspiracy. Seize the steak!
CHEAP CHOW
There are hundreds of good paperback cook books with
nutritional cheap recipes available in any bookstore. Cooking is a
vastly overrated skill. The following are a few all-purpose dishes
that are easy to make, nutritional and cheap as mud pies. You can
add or subtract many of the ingredients for variety.
Hog Farm Granola Breakfast (Road Hog Crispies) ½ c millet 2 c raw oats ½ c cracked wheat 1 c rye flakes ½ c buckwheat groats 1 c wheat flakes ½ c wheat germ 1 c dried fruits and/or nuts ½ c sunflower seeds 3 tbs soy oil ¼ c sesame seeds 1 c honey 2 tbs cornmeal
Boil the millet in a double boiler for 1/2 hour. Mix in a large
bowl all the ingredients including the millet. The soy oil and
honey should be heated in a saucepan over a low flame until bubbles
form. Spread the cereal in a baking pan and cover with the honey
syrup. Toast in oven until brown. Stir once or twice so that all
the cereal will be toasted. Serve plain or with milk. Refrigerate
portion not used in a covered container. Enough for ten to twenty
people. Make lots and store for later meals. All these ingredients
can be purchased at any health store in a variety of quantities.
You can also get natural sugar if you need a sweetener. If bought
and made in quantity, this fantastically healthy breakfast food
will be cheaper than the brand name cellophane that passes for
cereal.
Whole Earth Bread 1 c oats, corn meal, or wheat germ 2 tsp salt 1½ c water (warm) 2 egg yolks ¼ c sugar (raw is best) 4 c flour 1 pkg active dry yeast _ c corn oil 1 c dry milk or butter
Stir lightly in a large bowl the oats, cornmeal or wheat germ
(depending on the flavor bread you desire), the water and sugar.
Sprinkle in the yeast and wait 10 minutes for the yeast to do its
thing. Add salt, egg yolks, corn oil and dry milk. Mix with a fork.
Blend in the flour. The dough should be dry and a little lumpy.
Cover with a towel and leave in a warm place for a half hour. Now
mash, punch, blend and kick the dough and return it covered to its
warm place. The dough will double in size. When this happens,
separate the dough into two even masses and mash each one into a
greased bread (loaf) pan. Cover the pans and let sit until the
dough rises to the top of the pans. Bake for 40-45 minutes in a 350
degree oven that has not been pre-heated. A shallow tray of water
in the bottom of the oven will keep the bread nice and moist. When
you remove the pans from the oven, turn out the bread into a rack
and let it cool off. Once you get the hang of it, you'll never
touch ready-made bread, and it's a gas seeing yeast work.
Street Salad
Salad can be made by chopping up almost any variety of
vegetables, nuts and fruits including the stuff you panhandled at
the back of supermarkets; dandelions, shav, and other wild
vegetables; and goods you ripped off inside stores or from large
farms. A neat fresh dressing consists of one part of oil, two parts
wine vinegar, finely chopped garlic cloves, salt and pepper. Mix up
the ingredients in a bottle and add to the salad as you serve it.
Russian dressing is simply mayonnaise and ketchup mixed.
Yippie Yogurt
Yogurt is one of the most nutritional foods in the world. The
stuff you buy in stores has preservatives added to it reducing its
health properties and increasing the cost. Yogurt is a bacteria
that spreads throughout a suitable culture at the correct
temperature. Begin by going to a Turkish or Syrian restaurant and
buying some yogurt to go. Some restaurants boast of yogurt that
goes back over a hundred years. Put it in the refrigerator.
Now prepare the culture in which the yogurt will multiply. The
consistency you want will determine what you use. A milk culture
will produce thin yogurt, while sweet cream will make a thicker
batch. It's the butter fat content that determines the consistency
and also the number of calories. Half milk and half cream combines
the best of both worlds. Heat a quart of half and half on a low
flame until just before the boiling point and remove from the
stove. This knocks out other bacteria that will compete with the
yogurt. Now take a tablespoon of the yogurt you got from the
restaurant and place it in the bottom of a bowl (not metal). Now
add the warm liquid. Cover the bowl with a lid and wrap tightly
with a heavy towel. Place the bowl in a warm spot such as on top of
a radiator or in a sunny window. A turned-off oven with a tray of
boiling water placed in it will do well. Just let the bowl sit for
about 8 hours (overnight). The yogurt simply grows until the whole
bowl is yogurt. Yippie! It will keep in the refrigerator for about
two weeks before turning sour, but even then, the bacteria will
produce a fresh batch of top quality. Remember when eating it to
leave a little to start the next batch. For a neat treat add some
honey and cinnamon and mix into the yogurt before serving. Chopped
fruit and nuts are also good.
Rice and Cong Sauce 1 c brown rice vegetables 2 c water 2½ tbs soy sauce tsp salt
Bring the water to a boil in a pot and add the salt and rice.
Cover and reduce flame. Cooking time is about 40 minutes or until
rice has absorbed all the water. Meanwhile, in a well-greased
frying pan, saute a variety of chopped vegetables you enjoy. When
they become soft and brownish, add salt and 2 cups of water. Cover
with a lid and lower flame. Simmer for about 40 minutes, peeking to
stir every once in a while. Then add 2 1/2 tbs of soy sauce, stir
and cook another 10 minutes. The rice should be just cooling off
now, so add the sauce to the top of it and serve. Great for those
long guerrilla hikes. This literally makes up almost the entire
diet of the National Liberation Front fighter.
Weatherbeans 1 lb red kidney beans 2 tbs parsley (chopped) 2 quarts water ½ lb pork, smoked sausage 1 onion (chopped) or ham hock 1 tbs celery (chopped) 1 lg bay leaf 1 tsp garlic (minced) salt to season
Rinse the beans, then place in covered pot and add water and
salt. Cook over low flame. While cooking, chop up meat and brown in
a frying pan. Add onion, celery, garlic and parsley and continue
sauteing over low flame. Add the pieces of meat, vegetables and bay
leaf to the beans and cook covered for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. It may be
necessary to add more water if the beans get too dry. Fifteen
minutes before beans are done, mash about a half cup of the stuff
against the side of the pan to thicken the liquid. Pour the beans
and liquid over some steaming rice that you've made by following
the directions above. This should provide a cheap nutritional meal
for about 6 people.
Hedonist's Deluxe 2 lobsters 2 qts water seaweed ¼ lb butter
Steal two lobsters, watching out for the claw thingies. Beg
some seaweed from any fish market. Cop the butter using the
switcheroo method described in the Supermarket section above. When
you get home, boil the water in a large covered pot and drop in the
seaweed and then the lobsters. Put the cover back on and cook for
about 20 minutes. Melt the butter in a sauce pan and dip the
lobster pieces in it as you eat. With a booster box, described
later you'll be able to rip off a bottle of vintage Pouilly-Fuisse
in a fancy liquor store. Really, rice is nice but...
FREE CLOTHING & FURNITURE
FREE CLOTHING
If shoplifting food seems easy, it's nothing compared to the
snatching of clothing. Shop only the better stores. Try thing on in
those neat secluded stalls. The less bulky items such as shirts,
vests, belts and socks can be tied around your waist or leg with
large rubber bands if needed. Just take a number of items in and
come out with a few less.
In some cities there are still free stores left over from the
flower power days. Churches often have give-away clothing programs.
You can impersonate a clergyman and call one of the large clothing
manufacturers in your area. They are usually willing to donate a
case or two of shirts, trousers or underwear to your church raffle
or drive to dress up skid row. Be sure to get your sizes. Tell them
"your boy" will pick up the blessed donation and you'll mention his
company in the evening prayers.
If you notice people moving from an apartment or house, ask
them if they'll be leaving behind clothing. They usually abandon
all sorts of items including food, furniture and books. Offer to
help them carry out stuff if you can keep what they won't be
taking.
Make the rounds of a fancy neighborhood with a truck and some
friends. Ring doorbells and tell the person who answers that you
are collecting wearable clothing for the "poor homeless victims of
the recent tidal wave in Quianto a small village in Saudi Arabia."
You get the pitch. Make it food and clothing, and say you're with a
group called Heartline for Decency. A phony letter from a church
might help here.
The Salvation Army does this, and you can pick up clothes from
them at very cheap prices. You can get a pair of snappy casual
shoes for 25 cents in many bowling alleys by walking out with them
on your feet. If you have to leave your shoes as a deposit, leave
the most beat-up pair you can find.
Notice if your friends have lost or gained weight. A big
change means a lot of clothes doing nothing but taking up closet
space. Show up at dormitories when college is over for the summer
or winter season. Go to the train or bus stations and tell them you
left your raincoat, gloves or umbrella when you came into town.
They'll take you to a room with thousands of unclaimed items. Pick
out what you like. While there, notice a neat suitcase or trunk and
memorize the markings. Later a friend can claim the item. There
will be loads of surprises in any suitcase. We have a close friend
who inherited ten kilos of grass this way.
Large laundry and dry cleaning chains usually have thousands
of items that have gone unclaimed. Manufacturers also have shirts,
dresses and suits for rockbottom prices because of a crooked seam
or other fuck-up. Stores have reduced rates on display models:
Mannequins are mostly all size 40 for men and 10 for women. Size
7 1/2 is the standard display size for men's shoes. If you are
these sizes, you can get top styles for less than half price.
SANDALS
The Vietnamese and people throughout the Third World make a
fantastically durable and comfortable pair of sandals out of rubber
tires. They cut out a section of the outer tire (trace around the
outside of the foot with a piece of chalk) which when trimmed forms
the sole. Next 6 slits re made in the sole so the rubber straps can
be criss-crossed and slid through the slits. The straps are made
out of inner tubing. No nails are needed. If you have wide feet,
use the new wide tread low profiles. For hard going, try radials.
For best satisfaction and quality, steal the tires off a pig car or
a government limousine.
Let's face it, if you really are into beating the clothing
problem, move to a warm climate and run around naked. Skin is
absolutely free, and will always be in style. Speaking of style,
the midi and the maxi have obvious advantages when it comes to
shoplifting and transporting weapons or bombs.
FREE FURNITURE
Apartment lobbies are good for all kinds of neat furniture. If
you want to get fancy about it, rent a truck (not one that says
U-HAUL-IT or other rental markings) and make the pick-up with
moving-man-type uniforms. When schools are on strike and students
hold seminars and debate into the night, Yippies can be found going
through the dorm lobbies and storage closets hauling off couches,
desks, printing supplies, typewriters, mimeos, etc. to store in
secret underground nests. A nervy group of Yippies in the Midwest
tried to swipe a giant IBM 360 computer while a school was in
turmoil. All power to those that bring a wheelbarrow to sit-ins.
Check into a high-class hotel or motel remembering to dress
like the wallpaper. Carry a large dummy suitcase with you and
register under a phony name. Make sure you and not the bellboy
carry this bag. Use others as a decoy. When you get inside the
room, grab everything you can stuff in the suitcase: radio, T.V.
sets (even if it has a special plug you can cut it with a knife and
replace the cord), blankets, toilet paper, glasses, towels, sheets,
lamps, (forget the imitation Winslow Homer on the wall) a Bible,
soap and toss rugs. Before you leave (odd hours are best) hang the
DO NOT DISTURB sign on your doorknob. This will give you an extra
few hours to beat it across the border or check into a new hotel.
Landlords renovating buildings throw out stoves, tables,
lamps, refrigerators and carpeting. In most cities, each area has a
day designated for discarding bulk objects. Call the Sanitation
Department and say you live in that part of town which would be
putting out the most expensive shit and find out the pick-up day.
Fantastic buys can be found cruising the streets late at night.
Check out the backs of large department stores for floor models,
window displays and slightly damaged furniture being discarded.
Construction sites are a good source for building materials to
construct furniture. (Not to mention explosives.) The large wooden
cable spools make great tables. Cinderblocks, bricks and boards can
quickly be turned into a sharp looking bookcase. Doors make tables.
Nail kegs convert into stools or chairs. You can also always find a
number of other supplies hanging around like wiring, pipes,
lighting fixtures and hard hats. And don't forget those blinking
signs and the red lanterns for your own light show. Those black
oil-fed burners are O.K. for cooking, although smoky, and highway
flares are swell for making fake dynamite bombs.
FREE TRANSPORTATION
HITCH-HIKING
Certainly one of the neatest ways of getting where you want to
go for nothing is to hitch. In the city it's a real snap. Just
position yourself at a busy intersection and ask the drivers for a
lift when they stop for the red light. If you're hitching on a road
where the traffic zooms by pretty fast, be sure to stand where the
car will have room to safely pull off the road. Traveling long
distances, even cross-country, can be easy if you have some sense
of what you are doing.
A lone hitch-hiker will do much better than two or more. A man
and woman will do very well together. Single women are certain to
get propositioned and possibly worse. Amerikan males have endless
sexual fantasies about picking up a poor lonesome damsel in
distress. Unless your karate and head are in top form, women should
avoid hitching alone. Telling men you have V.D. might help in
difficult situations.
New England and the entire West Coast are the best sections
for easy hitches. The South and Midwest can sometimes be a real
hassle. Easy Rider and all that. The best season to hitch is in the
summer. Daytime is much better than night. If you have to hitch at
night, get under some type of illumination where you'll be seen.
Hitch-hiking is legal in most states, but remember you always
can get a "say-so" bust. A "say-so" arrest is to police what
Catch-22 is to the Army. When you ask why you're under arrest, the
pig answers, "cause I say-so." If you stand on the shoulder of the
road, the pigs won't give you too bad a time. If you've got long
hair, cops will often stop to play games. You can wear a hat with
your hair tucked under to avoid hassles. However this might hurt
your ability to get rides, since many straights will pick up
hippies out of curiosity who would not pick up a straight scruffy
looking kid. Freak drivers usually only pick up other freaks.
Once in a while you hear stories of fines levied or even a few
arrests for hitching (Flagstaff, Arizona is notorious), but even in
the states where it is illegal, the law is rarely enforced. If
you're stopped by the pigs, play dumb and they'll just tell you to
move along. You can wait until they leave and then let your thumb
hang out again.
Hitchin on super highways is really far out. It's illegal but
you won't get hassled if you hitch at the entrances. On a fucked-up
exit, take your chances hitching right on the road, but keep a
sharp eye out for porkers. When you get a ride be discriminating.
Find out where the driver is headed. If you are at a good spot,
don't take a ride under a hundred miles that won't end up in a
location just as good. When the driver is headed to an
out-of-the-way place, ask him to let you off where you can get the
best rides. If he's going to a particularly small town, ask him to
drive you to the other side of thy town line. It's usually only a
mile or two. Small towns often enforce all sorts of "say-so"
ordinances. If you get stuck on the wrong side of town, it would be
wise to even hoof it through the place. Getting to a point on the
road where the cars are inter-city rather than local traffic is
always preferable.
When you hit the road you should have a good idea of how to
get where you are going. You can pick up a free map at any gas
station. Long distance routes, road conditions, weather and all
sorts of information can be gotten free by calling the American
Automobile Association in any city. Say that you are a member
driving to Phoenix, Arizona or wherever your destination is, and
find out what you want to know. Always carry a sign indicating
where you are going. If you get stranded on the road without one,
ask in a diner or gas station for a piece of cardboard and a magic
marker. Make the letters bold and fill them in so they can be seen
by drivers from a distance. If your destination is a small town,
the sign should indicate the state. For really long distances, EAST
or WEST is best. Unless, of course, you're going north or south. A
phony foreign flag sewed on your pack also helps.
Carrying dope is not advisable, and although searching you is
illegal, few pigs can read the Constitution. If you are carrying
when the patrol car pulls up, tell them you are Kanadian and
hitching through Amerika. Highway patrols are very uptight about
promoting incidents with foreigners. The foreign bit goes over
especially well with small-town types, and is also amazingly good
for avoiding hassles with greasers. If you can't hack this one,
tell them you are a reporter for a newspaper writing a feature
story on hitching around the country. This story has averted many a
bust.
Don't be shy when you hitch. Go into diners and gas stations
and ask people if they're heading East or to Texas. Sometimes gas
station attendants will help. When in the car be friendly as hell.
Offer to share the driving if you've got a license. If you're
broke, you can usually bum a meal or a few bucks, maybe even a free
night's lodging. Never be intimidated into giving money for a ride.
As for what to carry when hitching, the advice is to travel
light. The rule is to make up a pack of the absolute minimum, then
cut that in half. Hitching is an art form as is all survival.
Master it and you'll travel on a free trip forever.
FREIGHTING
There is a way to hitch long distances that has certain
advantages over letting your thumb hang out for hours on some
two-laner. Learn about riding the trains and you'll always have
that alternative. Hitchhiking at night can be impossible, but
hopping a is easier at night than by day. By hitchhiking days and
hopping freights and sleeping on them at night, you can cover
incredible distances rapidly and stay well rested. Every city and
most large towns have a freight yard. You can find it by following
the tracks or asking where the freight yard is located.
When you get to the yard, ask the workmen when the next train
leaving in your direction will be pulling out. Unlike the phony
Hollywood image, railroad men are nice to folks who drop by to grab
a ride. Most yards don't have a guard or a "bull" as they are
called. Even if they do, he is generally not around. If there is a
bull around, the most he's going to do is tell you it's private
property and ask you to leave. There are exceptions to this rule,
such as the notorious Lincoln, Nebraska, and Las Vegas, Nevada, but
by asking you can find out. Even if he asks you to leave or throws
you out, sneak back when your train is pulling out and jump aboard.
After you've located the right train for your trip, hunt for
an empty boxcar to ride. The men in the yards will generally point
one out if you ask. Pig-sties, flat cars and coal cars are
definitely third class due to exposure to the elements. Boxcars are
by far the best. They are clean and the roof over your head helps
in bad weather and cuts down the wind. Boxcars with a hydro-cushion
suspension system used for carrying fragile cargo make for the
smoothest ride. Unless you get one, you should be prepared for a
pretty bumpy and noisy voyage.
You should avoid cars with only one door open, because the pin
may break, locking you in. A car with both doors open gives you one
free chance. Pig-backs (trailers on flatcars) are generally
considered unsafe. Most trains make a number of short hops, so if
time is an important factor try to get on a "hot shot" express. A
hot shot travels faster and has priority over other trains in
crowded yards. You should favor a hot shot even if you have to wait
an extra hour or two or more to get one going your way.
If you're traveling at night, be sure to dress warmly. You can
freeze your ass off. Trains might not offer the most comfortable
ride, but they go through beautiful countryside that you'd never
see from the highway or airway. There are no billboards, road
signs, cops, Jack-in-the-Boxes, gas stations or other artifacts of
honky culture. You'll get dirty on the trains so wear old clothes.
Don't pass up this great way to travel cause some bullshit western
scared you out of it.
CARS
If you know how to drive and want to travel long distances,
the auto transportation agencies are a good deal. Look in the
Yellow Pages under Automobile Transportation and Trucking or
Driveway. Rules vary, but normally you must be over 21 and have a
valid license. Call up and tell them when and where you want to go
and they will let you know if they have a car available. They give
you the car and a tank of gas free. You pay the rest. Go to pick up
the car alone, then get some people to ride along and help with the
driving and expenses. You can make New York to San Francisco for
about eighty dollars in tolls and gas in four days without pushing.
Usually you have the car for longer and can make a whole thing out
of it. You must look straight when you go to the agency. This can
be simply be done by wetting down your hair and shoving it under a
cap.
Another good way to travel cheaply is to find somebody who has
a car and is going your way. Usually underground newspapers list
people who either want rides or riders. Another excellent place to
find information is your local campus. Every campus has a bulletin
board for rides. Head shops and other community-minded stores have
notices up on the wall.
Gas
If you have a car and need some gas late at night you can get
a quart and then some by emptying the hoses from the pumps into
your tank. There is always a fair amount of surplus gas left when
the pumps are shut off.
If your traveling in a car and don't have enough money for gas
and tolls, stop at the bus station and see if anybody wants a lift.
If you find someone, explain your money situation and make a deal
with him. Hitch-hikers also can be asked to chip in on the gas.
You can carry a piece of tubing in the trunk of your car and
when the gas indicator gets low, pull up to a nice looking Cadillac
on some dark street and syphon off some of his gas. Just park your
car so the gas tank is next to the Caddy's, or use a large can.
Stick the hose into his tank, suck up enough to get things flowing,
and stick the other end into your tank. Having a lower level of
liquid, you tank will draw gas until you and the Caddy are equal.
"To each according to his need, from each according to his
ability," wrote Marx. Bet you hadn't realized until now that the
law of gravity affects economics.
Another way is to park in a service station over their filler
hole. Lift off one lid (like a small manhole cover), run down
twenty feet of rubber tubing thru the hole you've cut in your
floorboard, then turn on the electric pump which you have installed
to feed into your gas tank. All they ever see is a parked car. This
technique is especially rewarding when you have a bus.
BUSES
If you'd rather leave the driving and the paying to them, try
swiping a ride on the bus. Here's a method that has worked well.
Get a rough idea of where the bus has stopped before it arrived at
your station. If you are not at the beginning or final stop on the
route, wait until the bus you want pulls in and then out of the
station. Make like the bus just pulled off without you while you
went to the bathroom. If there is a station master, complain like
crazy to him. Tell him you're going to sue the company if your
luggage gets stolen. He'll put you on the next bus for free. If
there is no station master, lay your sad tale on the next driver
that comes along. If you know when the last bus left, just tell the
driver you've been stranded there for eight hours and you left your
kid sleeping on the other bus. Tell him you called ahead to the
company and they said to grab the next bus and they would take care
of it.
The next method isn't totally free but close enough. It's
called the hopper-bopper. Find a bus that makes a few stops before
it gets to where you want to go. The more stops with people getting
in our out the better. Buy a ticket for the short hop and stay on
the bus until you end up at your destination. You must develop a
whole style in order to pull this off because the driver has to
forget you are connected with the ticket you gave him. Dress
unobtrusively or make sure the driver hasn't seen your face.
Pretend to be asleep when the short hop station is reached. If you
get questioned, just act upset about sleeping through the stop you
"really" want and ask if it's possible to get a ride back.
AIRLINES
Up and away, junior outlaws! If you really want to get where
you're going in a hurry, don't forget skyjacker's paradise. Don't
forget the airlines. They make an unbelievable amount of bread on
their inflated prices, ruin the land with incredible amounts of
polluting wastes and noise, and deliberately hold back aviation
advances that would reduce prices and time of flight. We know two
foolproof methods to fly free, but unfortunately we feel publishing
them would cause the airlines to change their policy. The following
methods have been talked about enough, so the time seems right to
make them known to a larger circle of friends.
A word should be said right off about stolen tickets.
Literally millions of dollars worth of airline tickets are stolen
each year. If you have good underworld contacts, you can get a
ticket to anywhere you want at one-fourth the regular price. If you
are charged more, you are getting a slight rooking. In any case,
you can get a ticket for any flight or date and just trade it in.
They are actually as good as cash, except that it takes 30 days to
get a refund, and by then they might have traced the stolen
tickets. If you can get a stolen ticket, exchange or use it as soon
as possible, and always fly under a phony name. A stolen ticket for
a trip around the world currently goes for one hundred and fifty
dollars in New York.
One successful scheme requires access to the mailbox of a
person listed in the local phone book. Let's use the name Ron Davis
as an example. A woman calls one of the airlines with a very
efficient sounding rap such as: "Hello, this is Mr. Davis'
secretary at Allied Chemical. He and his wife would like to fly to
Chicago on Friday. Could you mail two first-class tickets to his
home and bill us here at Allied?" Every major corporation probably
has a Ron Davis, and the airlines rarely bother checking anyway.
Order your tickets two days before you wish to travel, and pick
them up at the mailbox or address you had them sent to. If you are
uptight in the airport about the tickets, just go up to another
airline and have the tickets exchanged.
One gutsy way to hitch a free ride is to board the plane
without a ticket. This is how it works. Locate the flight you want
and rummage through a wastebasket until you find an envelope for
that particular airline. Shuffle by the counter men (which is
fairly easy if it's busy). When the boarding call is made, stand in
line and get on the plane. Flash the empty envelope at the
stewardess as you board the plane. Carry a number of packages as a
decoy, so the stewardess won t ask you to open the envelope. If she
does, which is rare, and sees you have no ticket, act surprised.
"Oh my gosh, it must have fallen out in the wash room," will do
fine. Run back down the ramp as if you're going to retrieve the
ticket. Disappear and try later on a different airline. Nine out of
ten revolutionaries say it's the only way to fly. This trick works
only on airlines that don't use the boarding pass system.
If you want to be covered completely, use the hopper-bopper
method described in the section on Buses, with this added security
precaution. Buy two tickets from different cashiers, or better
still, one from an agent in town. Both will be on the same flight.
Only one ticket will be under a phony name and for the short hop,
white the ticket under your real name will be for your actual
destination. At the boarding counter, present the short hop ticket.
You will be given an envelope with a white receipt in it. Actually,
the white receipt is the last leaf in your ticket. Once you are
securely seated and aloft, take out the ticket with your name and
final destination. Gently peel away everything but the white
receipt. Place the still valid ticket back in your pocket. Now
remove from the envelope and destroy the short hop receipt. In its
place, put the receipt for the ticket you have in your pocket.
When you land at the short hop airport, stay on the plane.
Usually the stewardesses just ask you if you are remaining on the
flight. If you have to, you can actually show her your authentic
receipt. When you get to your destination, you merely put the
receipt back on the bonafide ticket that you still have in your
pocket. It isn't necessary that they be glued together. Present the
ticket for a refund or exchange it for another ticket. This method
works well even in foreign countries. You can actually fly around
the world for $88.00 using the hopper-bopper method and switching
receipts.
If you can't hack these shucks you should at least get a Youth
Card and travel for half fare. If you are over twenty-two but still
in your twenties, you can easily pass. Get a card from a friend who
has similar color hair and eyes. Your friend can easily get one
from another airline. You can master your friend's signature and
get a supporting piece of identification from him to back up your
youth card if you find it necessary. If you have a friend who works
for an airline or travel agency, just get a card under your own
name and an age below the limit. Your friend can validate the card.
Flying youth fare is on stand-by, so it's always a good idea to
call ahead and book a number of reservations under fictitious names
on the flight you'll be taking. This will fuck up the booking of
regular passengers and insure you a seat.
By the way, if you fly cross-country a number of times, swipe
one of the plug-in head sets. Always remember to pack it in your
traveling bag. This way you'll save a two dollar fee charged for
the in-flight movie. The headsets are interchangeable on all
airlines.
One way to fly free is to actually hitch a ride. Look for the
private plane area located at every airport, usually in some remote
part of the field. You can find it by noticing where the small
planes without airline markings take off and land. Go over to the
runways and ask around. Often the mechanics will let you know when
someone is leaving for your destination and point out a pilot. Tell
him you lost your ticket and have to get back to school. Single
pilots often like to have a passenger along and it's a real gas
flying in a small plane.
Some foreign countries have special arrangements for free air
travel to visiting writers, artists or reporters. Brazil and
Argentina are two we know of for sure. Call or write the embassy of
the country you wish to visit in Washington or their mission to the
United Nations in New York. Writing works best, especially if you
can cop some stationery from a newspaper or publishing house. Tell
them you will be writing a feature story for some magazine on the
tourist spots or handcrafts of the country. The embassy will
arrange for you to travel gratis aboard one of their air force
planes. The planes leave only from Washington and New York at
unscheduled times. Once you have the O.K. letter from the embassy
you're all set. This is definitely worth checking out if you want
to vacation in a foreign country with all sorts of free bonuses
thrown in.
A one-way ride is easy if you want to get into skyjacking.
Keep the piece or knife in your shoe to avoid possible detection
with the "metal scanner," a long black tube that acts like a geiger
counter. Or use a plastic knife or bomb. It's also advisable to
wrap your dope in a non-metallic material. Avoid tinfoil.
The crews have instructions to take you wherever you want to
go even if they have to refuel, but watch out for air marshals. To
avoid air marshals and searches pick an airline which flies short
domestic hops. You should plan to end up in a country hostile to
the United States or you'll end up right back where you came from
in some sturdy handcuffs. One dude wanted to travel in style so he
demanded $100,000 as a going-away gift. The airlines quickly paid
off. The guy then got greedy and demanded a hundred million
dollars. When he returned to pick up the extra pocket money, he got
nabbed. None the less, skyjacking appears to be the cheapest,
fastest way to get away from it all.
IN CITY TRAVEL
Any of the public means of transportation can be ripped off
easily. Get on the bus with a large bill and present it after the
bus has left the stop. If the bus is crowded, slip in the back door
when it opens to dispatch passengers.
Two people can easily get through the turnstile in a subway on
one token by doubling up. In some subway systems cards are given
out to high school kids or senior citizens or employees of the
city. The next time you are in a subway station notice people
flashing cards to the man in the booth and entering through the
"exit" door. Notice the color of the card used by people in your
age group. Get a piece of colored paper in a stationery store or
find some card of the same color you need. Put this "card" in a
plastic window of your wallet and flash it in the same way those
with a bona fide pass do.
Before entering a turnstile, always test the swing bar. If
someone during the day put in an extra token, it's still in the
machine waiting for you to enter free.
For every token and coin deposited in an automatic turnstile,
there is a foreign coin the same size for much less that will work
in the machine. (See the Yippie Currency Exchange, following, for
more info.) Buy a cheap bag of assorted foreign coins from a dealer
that you can locate in the Yellow Pages. Size up the coins with a
token from your subway system. You can get any of these coins in
bulk from a large dealer. Generally they are about l,000 for five
dollars. Tell him you make jewelry out of them if he gets
suspicious. Giving what almost amounts to free subway rides away is
a communal act of love. The best outlaws in the world rip-off shit
for a lot more people than just themselves. Robin Hood lives!
FREE LAND
Despite what you may have heard, there is still some rural
land left in Amerika. The only really free land is available in
Alaska and remote barren areas of the western states. The latest
information in this area is found in a periodic publication called
Our Public Lands, available from the Superintendent of Documents,
Washington, D.C. 20402. It costs $1.00 for a subscription. Also
contact the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land
Management, Washington, D.C. 20240 and ask for information on
"homesteading." By the time this book is out though, the Secretary
of the Interior's friends in the oil companies might have stolen
all the available free land. Being an oil company is about the
easiest way to steal millions. Never call it stealing though,
always refer to it as "research and development."
Continental United States has no good free land that we know
of, but there are some very low prices in areas suited for country
communities. Write to School of Living, Freeland, Maryland, for
their newspaper Green Revolution with the latest information in
this area. Canada has free land available, and the Canadian
government will send you a free list if you write to the Department
of Land and Forests, Parliament Building, Quebec City, Canada. Also
write to the Geographical Branch, Department of Mines and Technical
Surveys, Parliament Building, Quebec City, Canada. Correspondence
can be carried out with the Communications Group, 2630 Point Grey
Road, Vancouver 8, British Columbia, Canada, for advice on
establishing a community in Canada. The islands off the coast of
British Columbia, its western region and the area along the
Kootenai River are among the best locations.
If you just want to rip off some land, there are two ways to
do it; openly or secretly. If you are going to do it out front,
look around for a piece of land that's in dispute, which has its
sovereignty in question-islands and deltas between the U.S. and
Canada, or between the U.S. and Mexico, or any number of other
borderline lands. You might even consider one of the abandoned
oil-drilling platforms, which are fair game under high seas salvage
laws. The possibilities are endless.
If you intend to do it quietly, you will want a completely
different type of location. Find a rugged area with lots of elbow
room and plenty of places to hide, like the Rocky Mountains,
Florida swamps, Death Valley, or New York City. Put together a
tight band of guerrillas and do your thing. With luck you will last
forever.
If you just want to camp out or try some hermit living in the
plushest surroundings available, you'll do best to head for one of
the national parks. Since the parks are federal property, there's
very little the local fuzz can do about you, and the forest rangers
are generally the live-and-let-live types, although there have been
increasing reports of long-hairs being vamped on by Smokey the Pig,
as in Yosemite. You can get a complete list from National Park
Service, Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240. The
following is a list of some good ones:
- ALABAMA-Russell Cave National Monument, Bridgeport 35740
- ARIZONA-Grand Canyon National Park, Box 129, Grand Canyon 86023
- ARKANSAS-Hot Springs National Park, Box 1219, Hot Springs 71901
- CALIFORNIA-Yosemite National Park, Box 577, Yosemite 95389*
- COLORADO-Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, 80517
- FLORIDA-Everglades National Park, Box 279, Homestead 33030
- IDAHO-Boise National Forest, 413 Idaho Street, Boise 83702
- ILLINOIS-Shawnee National Forest,Harrisburg National Bank Building, Harrisburg 62946
- KENTUCKY-Mammoth Cave National Park, Mammoth Cave 42259
- LOUISIANA-Kisatchie National Forest, 2500 Shreveport Hwy., Pineville 71360
- MAINE-Acadia National Park, Box 338, Bar Harbor 04609
- MARYLAND-Assateague Island National Seashore, Rte. 2 Box 111, Berlin 21811
- MASSACHUSETTS-Cape Cod National Seashore, South Wellfleet 02663
- MICHIGAN-Hiawatha National Forest, Post Office Building, Escanaba 49829
- MISSOURI-Mark Twain National Forest, 304 Pershing St., Springfield 65806
- NEVADA-Lake Mead National Recreation Area, 601 Nevada Hwy, Boulder City 89005
- NEW MEXICO-Aztec Ruins National Monument, Route 1, Box 101, Aztec 87410
- NEW YORK-Fire Island National Seashore c/o New York City National Park Service Group, 28 E. 20th St., New York, NY 10003
- NORTH CAROLINA-Wright Brothers National Memorial Box 457, Manteo 27954
- OKLAHOMA-Platt National Park, Box 201, Sulphur 73086
- OREGON-Crater Lake National Park, Box 7, Crater Lake 97604
- UTAH-Bryce Canyon National Park, Bryce Canyon 84717
- WYOMING-Yellowstone National Park, Yellowstone Park 83020
*This summer Yosemite forest rangers tried to evict a group of
Yippies from their encampment. The Yippies rioted in the valley,
spooked the tourists, burned cars and fought for their right to
stay.
Earth People's Park is an endeavor to purchase land and allow
people to come and live for free. They function as a clearing house
for people that want to donate land and those who wish to settle.
They own 600 acres in northern Vermont and are trying to raise
money to buy more. Write to Earth People's Park, P.0. Box 313,
1230 Grant Ave., San Francisco, California 94133.
People's Parks are sprouting up all over as people reclaim the
land being ripped off by universities, factories, and corrupt city
planning agencies. The model is the People's Park struggle in
Berkeley during the spring of 1969. The people fought to defend a
barren parking lot they had turned into a community center with
grass, swings, free-form sculpture and gardens. The University of
California, with the aid of Ronald Reagan and the Berkeley storm
troopers, fought with guns, clubs and tear gas to regain the land
from the outlaw people. The pigs killed James Rector and won an
empty victory. For now the park is fenced off, tarred over and
converted into unused basketball courts and unused parking lots.
Not one person has violated the oath never to set foot on the site.
It stands, cold and empty, two blocks north of crowded Telegraph
Avenue. If the revolution does not survive, all the land will
perish under the steam roller of imperialism. People's Death Valley
will happen in our lifetime.
FREE HOUSING
If you are in a city without a place to stay, ask the first
group of hip-looking folks where you can crash. You might try the
office of the local underground newspaper. In any hip community,
the underground newspaper is generally the source of the best
up-to-the-moment information. But remember that they are very busy,
and don't impose on them. Many churches now have runaway houses. If
you are under sixteen and can hack some bullshit jive about
"adjusting," "opening a dialogue," and "things aren't that bad,"
then these are the best deals for free room and board. Check out
the ground rules first, i.e., length of stay allowed, if they
inform your parents or police, facilities and services available.
Almost always they can be accepted at their word, which is
something very sacred to missionaries. If they became known as
double-crossers, the programs would be finished.
Some hip communities have crash pads set up, but these rarely
last more than a few months. To give out the addresses we have
would be quite impractical. We have never run across a crash pad
that lasted more than a month or so. If in a cit, try hustling a
room at a college dorm. This is especially good in summer or on
week-ends. If you have a sleeping bag, the parks are always good,
as is "tar jungle" or sleeping on the roofs of tall buildings.
Local folks will give you some good advice on what to watch out for
and information on vagrancy laws which might help you avoid getting
busted.
For more permanent needs, squatting is not only free, it's a
revolutionary act. If you stay quiet you can stay indefinitely. If
you have community support you may last forever.
COMMUNES
In the city or in the country, communes can be a cheap and
enjoyable way of living. Although urban and rural communes face
different physical environments, they share common group problems.
The most important element in communal living is the people, for
the commune will only make it if everyone is fairly compatible. A
nucleus of 4 to 7 people is best and it is necessary that no member
feels extremely hostile to any other member when the commune gets
started. The idea that things will work out later is pig swill.
More communes have busted up over incompatibility than any other
single factor. People of similar interests and political
philosophies should live together. One speed freak can wreck almost
any group. There are just too many day-to-day hassles involved
living in a commune to not start off compatible in as many ways as
possible. The ideal arrangement is for the people to have known
each other before they move in together.
Once you have made the opening moves, evening meetings will
occasionally be necessary to divide up the responsibilities and
work out the unique problems of a communal family. Basically, there
are two areas that have to be pretty well agreed upon if the
commune is to survive. People's attitudes toward Politics, Sex,
Drugs and Decision-making have to be in fairly close agreement.
Then the even most important decisions about raising the rent,
cleaning, cooking and maintenance will have to be made. Ground
rules for inviting non-members should be worked out before the
first time it happens, as this is a common cause for friction.
Another increasingly important issue involves defense. Communes
have continually been targets of attack by the more Neanderthal
elements of the surrounding community. In Minneapolis for example,
"headhunts" as they are called are commonplace. You should have
full knowledge of the local gun laws and a collective defense
should be worked out.
Physical attacks are just one way of making war on communes
and, hence, our Free Nation. Laws, cops, and courts are there to
protect the power and the property of those that already got the
shit. Police harassment, strict enforcement of health codes and
fire regulations and the specially designed anti-commune laws being
passed by town elders, should all be known and understood by the
members of a commune before they even buy or rent property. On all
these matters, you should seek out experienced members of communes
already established in the vicinity you wish to settle. Work out
mutual defense arrangements with nearby families-both legal and
extralegal. Remember, not only do you have the right to
self-defense, but it is your duty to our new Nation to erase the
"Easy-Rider-take-any-shit" image which invites attack. Let them
know you are willing to defend your way of living and your chances
of survival will increase.
URBAN LIVING
If you're headed for city living, the first thing you'll have
to do is locate an apartment or loft, an increasingly difficult
task. At certain times of the year, notably June and September, the
competition is fierce because of students leaving or entering
school. If you can avoid these two months, you'll have a better
selection. A knowledge of your plans in advance can aid a great
deal in finding an apartment, for the area can be scouted before
you move in. Often, if you know of people leaving a desirable
apartment, you can make arrangements with the landlord, and a
deposit will hold the place. If you let them know you're willing to
buy their furniture, people will be more willing to give you
information about when they plan to move. Watch out for getting
screwed on exorbitant furniture swindles by the previous tenants
and excessive demands on the part of the landlords. In most cities,
the landlord is not legally allowed to ask for more than one
month's rent as security. Often the monthly rent itself is
regulated by a city agency. A little checking on the local laws and
a visit to the housing agency might prove well worth it.
Don't go to a rental agency unless you are willing to pay an
extra month's rent as a fee. Wanted ads in newspapers and bulletin
boards located in community centers and supermarkets have some
leads. Large universities have a service for finding good
apartments for administrators, faculty and students, in that order.
Call the university, say you have just been appointed to
such-and-such position and you need housing in the area. They will
want to know all your requirements and rent limitations, but often
they have very good deals available, especially if you've appointed
yourself to a high enough position.
Aside from these, the best way is to scout a desired area and
inquire about future apartments. Often landlords or rental agencies
have control over a number of buildings in a given area. You can
generally find a nameplate inside the hall of the building. Calling
them directly will let you know of any apartments available.
When you get an apartment, furnishing will be the next step.
You can double your sleeping space by building bunk beds. Nail two
by fours securely from ceiling to floor, about three feet from the
walls, where the beds are desired. Then build a frame out of two by
fours at a convenient height. Make sure you use nails or screws
strong enough to support the weight of people sleeping or balling.
Nail a sheet of 3/4 inch plywood on the frame. Mattresses and
almost all furniture needed for your pal can be gotten free (see
section on Free Furniture). Silverware can be copped at any
self-service restaurant.
RURAL LIVING
If you are considering moving to the country, especially as a
group, you are talking about farms and farmland. There are some
farms for rent, and occasionally a family that has to be away for a
year or two will let you live on their farm if you keep the place
in repair. These can be found advertised in the back of various
farming magazines and in the classified sections of newspapers,
especially the Sunday editions. Generally speaking, however, if
you're interested in a farm, you should be considering an outright
purchase.
First, you have to determine in what part of the country you
want to live in terms of the climate you prefer and how far away
from the major cities you wish to locate. The least populated
states, such as Utah, Idaho, the Dakotas, Montana and the like,
have the cheapest prices and the lowest tax rates. The more
populated a state, and in turn, the closer to a city, the higher
the commercial value of the land.
There are hundreds of different types of farms, so the next
set of questions you'll have to raise concerns the type of farm
activity you'll want to engage in. Cattle farms are different than
vegetable farms or orchards. Farms come in sizes: from half an acre
to ranches larger than the state of Connecticut. They will run in
price from $30 to $3000 an acre, with the most expensive being
prime farmland in fertile river valleys located close to an urban
area. The further away from the city and the further up a hill, the
cheaper the land gets. It also gets woodier, rockier and steeper,
which means less tillable land.
If you are talking of living in a farm house and maybe having
a small garden and some livestock for your own use, with perhaps a
pond on the property, you are looking for what is called a
recreational farm. When you buy a recreational farm, naturally you
are interested in the house, barn, well, fences, chicken-coop,
corrals, woodsheds and other physical structures on the property.
Unless these are in unusually good condition or unique, they do not
enter into the sale price as major factors. It is the land itself
that is bought and sold.
Farmland is measured in acreage; an acre being slightly more
than 43,560 square feet. The total area is measured in 40-acre
plots. Thus, if a farmer or a real estate agent says he has a plot
of land down the road, he means a 40-acre farm. Farms are generally
measured this way, with an average recreational farm being 160
acres in size or an area covering about 1/2 square mile. A
reasonable rate for recreational farmland 100 miles from a major
city with good water and a livable house would be about $50 per
acre. For a 160-acre farm, it would be $8,000, which is not an
awful lot considering what you are getting. For an overall view,
get the free catalogues and brochures provided by the United Farm
Agency, 612 W. 47th St., Kansas City, Mo. 64112.
Now that you have a rough idea of where and what type of farm
you want, you can begin to get more specific. Check out the
classified section in the Sunday newspaper of the largest city near
your desired location. Get the phone book and call or write to real
estate agencies in the vicinity. Unlike the city, where there is a
sellers' market, rural estate agents collect their fee from the
seller of the property, so you won't have to worry about the
agent's fee.
When you have narrowed down the choices, the next thing you'll
want to look at is the plot book for the county. The plot book has
all the farms in each township mapped out. lt also shows terrain
variations, type of housing on the land, location of rivers, roads
and a host of other pertinent information. Road accessibility,
especially in the winter, is an important factor. If the farms
bordering the one you have selected are abandoned or not in full
use, then for all intents and purposes, you have more land than you
are buying.
After doing all this, you are prepared to go look at the farm
itself. Notice the condition of the auxiliary roads leading to the
house. You'll want an idea of what sections of the land are
tillable. Make note of how many boulders you'll have to clear to do
some planting. Also note how many trees there are and to what
extent the brush has to be cut down. Be sure and have a good idea
of the insect problems you can expect. Mosquitoes or flies can bug
the shit out of you. Feel the soil where you plan to have a garden
and see how rich it is. If there are fruit trees, check their
condition. Taste the water. Find out if hunters or tourists come
through the land. Examine the house. The most important things are
the basement and the roof. In the basement examine the beams for
dry rot and termites. See how long it will be before the roof must
be replaced. Next check the heating system, the electrical wiring
and the plumbing. Then you'll want to know about services such as
schools, snow plowing, telephones, fire department and finally
about your neighbors. If the house is beyond repair, you might
still want the farm, especially if you are good at carpentry.
Cabins, A-Frames, domes and tepees are all cheaply constructed with
little experience. Get the materials from your nearest military
installation.
Finally, check out the secondary structures on the land to see
how usable they are. If there is a pond, you'll want to see how
deep it is for swimming. If there are streams, you'll want to know
about the fishing possibilities; and if large wooded areas, the
hunting.
In negotiating the final sales agreement, you should employ a
lawyer. You'll also want to check out the possibility of
negotiating a bank loan for the farm. Don't forget that you have to
pay taxes on the land, so inquire from the previous owner or agent
as to the tax bill. Usually, you can count on paying about $50
annually per 40-acre plot.
Finally, check out the federal programs available in the area.
If you can learn the ins and outs of the government programs, you
can rip off plenty. The Feed-Grain Program of the Department of
Agriculture pays you not to grow grain. The Cotton Subsidy Program
pays you not to grow cotton. Also look into the Soil Bank Program
of the United States Development Association and various Department
of Forestry programs which pay you to plant trees. Between not
planting cotton and planting trees, you should be able to manage.
LIST OF COMMUNES
The most complete list of city and country communes is
available for $1.00 from Alternatives Foundation, Modern Utopian,
1526 Gravensteur Highway North, Sebastopol, California 95427. The
phone is (707) 823-6168. The list is kept up to date. For all
communes, you must write in advance if you plan to visit. Almost
every commune will give you information about the local conditions
and the problems they face if you write them a letter. Here is a
list of some you might like to write to for more information. Avoid
becoming a free-loader on your sisters and brothers.
- California
-
ALTERNATIVES FOUNDATION-Box 1264, Berkeley, California 94709.
(Dick Fairfield) Communal living, total sexuality, peak
experience training centers. Dedicated to the
cybernated-tribal society.
-
BHODAN CENTER OF INQUIRY-Sierra Route, Oakhurst, California 93644.
Phone (209) 683-4976.. (Charles Davis) Seminars on Human
Community, IC development on the land, founded 1934, 13
members. Trial period for new members. Visitors check in
advance.
-
- Colorado
-
DROP CITY-Rt. 1, Box 125, Trinidad, Colorado 81082. Founded 1965.
New members must meet specific criteria. Anarchist, artist,
dome houses.
-
- New Mexico
-
LAMA FOUNDATION-Box 444, San Cristobal, N.M.
-
- New York
-
CITY ISLAND COMMUNE-284 City Island Avenue, Bronx, NY. Visitors
check in advance. Revolutionary.
-
ATLANTIS I-RFD 5, Box 22A, Saugerties, NY 12477. Visitors and new
members welcome.
-
- Oregon
-
FAMILY OF MYSTIC ARTS--Box 546, Sunny Valley, Oregon
-
- Pennsylvania
-
TANGUY HOMESTEADS-West Chester, Pennsylvania. Suburban,
non-sectarian, co-op housing and community fellowship.
-
- Washington
-
MAGIC MOUNTAIN-52nd and 19th Streets, Seattle, Washington.
(c/o Miriam Roder).
-
FREE EDUCATION
Usually when you ask somebody in college why they are there,
they'll tell you it's to get an education. The truth of it is, they
are there to get the degree so that they can get ahead in the rat
race. Too many college radicals are two-timing punks. The only
reason you should be in college is to destroy it. If there is stuff
that you want to learn though, there is a way to get a college
education absolutely free. Simply send away for the schedule of
courses at the college of your choice. Make up the schedule you
want and audit the classes. In smaller classes this might be a
problem, but even then, if, the teacher is worth anything at all,
he'll let you stay. In large classes, no one will ever object.
If you need books for a course, write to the publisher
claiming you are a lecturer at some school and considering using
their book in your course. They will always send you free books.
There are Free Universities springing up all over our new
Nation. Anybody can teach any course. People sign up for the
courses and sometimes pay a token registration fee. This money is
used to publish a catalogue and pay the rent. If you're on welfare
you don't have to pay. You can take as many or as few courses as
you want. Classes are held everywhere: in the instructor's house,
in the park, on the beach, at one of the student's houses or in
liberated buildings. Free Universities offer courses ranging from
Astrology to the Use of Firearms. The teaching is usually of
excellent quality and you'll learn in a community-type atmosphere.
LIST OF FREE UNIVERSITIES
-
Alternative University-69 W. 14th St., New York, NY 10011
(catalogue on request)
-
Baltimore Free U-c/o Harry, 233 E. 25th St., Baltimore, Maryland
21218
-
Berkeley Free U-1703 Grove St., Berkeley, California 94709
-
Bowling Green Free U-c/o Student Council, University of Bowling
Green, Bowling Green Ohio 43402
-
Colorado State Free U-Box 12-Fraisen, Colorado State College,
Greeley, Colorado 80631
-
Detroit Area Free U-Student Union, 4001 W. McNichols Rd., Detroit,
Michigan 48221
-
Detroit Area Free U-343 University Center, Wayne State University,
Detroit, Mich.
-
Georgetown Free U-Loyola Bldg., 28, Georgetown University
Washington D.C. 20007
-
Golden Gate Free U-2120 Market St., Rm. 206, San Francisco,
California 94114
-
Heliotrope-2201 Filbert, San Francisco, California 94118
-
Illinois Free U-298A Illini Union, University of Illinois,
Champaign, Illinois 61820
-
Kansas Free U-107 W. 7th St., Lawrence, Kansas 66044
-
Knox College Free U-Galesbury, Illinois 60401
-
Madison Free U-c/o P. Carroll, 1205 Shorewood Blvd., Madison,
Wisconsin 53705
-
Metropolitan State Free U-Associated Students, 1345 Banrock St.,
Denver, Colorado 80204
-
Michigan State Free U-Associated Students, Student Service Bldg.,
Michigan State College, East Lansing, Michigan 48823
-
Mid-Peninsula Free U-1060 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, California
94015
-
Minnesota Free U-1817 S. 3rd St., Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404
-
Monterey Peninsula Free U-2120 Etna Place, Monterey, California
New Free U-Box ALL 303, Santa Barbara, California 93107
-
Northwest Free U-Box 1255, Bellingham, Washington 98225
-
Ohio-Wesleyan Free U-Box 47-Welsh Hall, Ohio Wesleyan University,
Delevan, Ohio 43015
-
Pittsburgh Free U-4401 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
Rutgers Free U-Rutgers College, Student Center, 1 Lincoln Ave.,
Newark, NJ 07102
-
St. Louis Free U-c/o Student Congress, 3rd floor BMC, St. Louis
University, St. Louis, Missouri 63103
-
San Luis Obispo Free U-Box 1305, San Luis Obispo, California 94301
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Santa Cruz Free U-604 River St., Santa Cruz, California 95060
-
Seattle Free U-4144½ University Way NE, Seattle, Washington 98105
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Southern Illinois Free U-Carbondale, Illinois 62901
-
Valley Free U-2045 N. Wishon Ave., Fresno, California 93704
-
Washington Area Free U-5519 Prospect Place, Chevy Chase, Maryland
20015 and 1854 Park Rd. NW, Washington, D.C. 20010
-
Wayne-Locke Free U-Student Congress, University of Texas,
Arlington, Texas 76010
And a complete list of experimental schools, free
universities, free schools, can be obtained by sending one dollar
to ALTERNATIVES! 1526 Gravenstein Highway N., Sebastopol,
California 97452, and requesting the Directory of Free Schools.
7. FREE MEDICAL CARE
Due to the efforts of the Medical Committee for Human Rights,
the Student Health Organization and other progressive elements
among younger doctors and nurses. Free People's Clinics have been
happening in every major city. They usually operate out of store
fronts and are staffed with volunteer help. An average clinic can
handle fifty patients a day.
If you've had an accident or have an acute illness, even a bad
cold, check into the emergency room of any hospital. Given them a
sob story complete with phony name and address. After treatment
they present you with a slip and direct you to the cashier. Just
walk on by, as the song suggests. A good decoy is to ask for the
washroom. After waiting there a few moments, split. If you're
caught sneaking out, tell them you ran out of the house without
your wallet. Ask them to bill you at your phony address. This
billing procedure works in both hospital emergency rooms and
clinics. You can keep going back for repeated visits up to three
months before the cashier's office tells the doctor about your
fractured payments.
You can get speedy medical advice and avoid emergency room
delays by calling the hospital, asking for the emergency unit and
speaking directly to the doctor over the phone. Older doctors frown
on this procedure since they cannot extort their usual exorbitant
fee over the phone. Younger ones generally do not share this
hang-up.
Cities usually have free clinics for a variety of special
ailments. Tuberculosis Clinics, Venereal Disease Clinics, and Free
Shot Clinics (yellow fever, polio, tetanus, etc.) are some of the
more common. A directory of these clinics and other free health
services the local community provides can be obtained by writing
your Chamber of Commerce or local Health Department.
Most universities have clinics connected with their dental,
optometry or other specialized medical schools. If not for free,
then certainly for very low rates, you can get dental work
repaired, eyeglasses fitted and treatment of other specific health
needs.
Free psychiatric treatment can often be gotten at the
out-patient department of any mental hospital. Admission into these
hospitals is free, but a real bummer. Use them as a last resort
only. Some cities have a suicide prevention center and if you are
desperate and need help, call them. Your best choice in a
psychiatric emergency is to go to a large general hospital, find
the emergency unit and ask to see the psychiatrist on duty.
BIRTH CONTROL CLINICS
Planned Parenthood and the Family Planning Association staff
numerous free birth control clinics throughout the country. They
provide such services as sex education, examinations, Pap smear and
birth control information and devices. The devices include pills, a
diaphragm, or IUD (intra-uterine device) which they will insert. If
you are unmarried and under 18, you might have to talk to a social
worker, but it's no sweat because anybody gets contraceptive
devices that wants them. Call up and ask them to send you their
booklets on the different methods of birth control available.
If you would rather go to a private doctor, try to find out
from a friend the name of a hip gynecologist, who is sympathetic to
the fact that you're low on bread. Otherwise one visit could cost
$25.00 or more.
Before deciding on a contraceptive, you should be hip to some
general information. There has been much research on the pill, and
during the past 10 years it has proven its effectiveness, if not is
safety. The two most famous name brands are Ortho-Novum and Envoid.
They all require a doctor's prescription. Different type pills are
accompanied by slightly different instructions, so read the
directions carefully. In many women, the pills produce side effects
such as weight increase, dizziness or nausea. Sometimes the pill
affects your vision and more often your mood. Some women with
specialized blood diseases are advised not to use them, but in
general, women have little or no trouble. Different brand names
have different hormonal balances (progesterone-estrogen). If you
get uncomfortable side effects, insist that your doctor switch your
brand. If you stop the pill method for any reason and don't want to
get pregnant, be very careful to use another means right away.
Another contraceptive device becoming more popular is the IUD,
or the loop. It is a small plastic or stainless steel
irregularly-shaped spring that the doctor inserts inside the
opening of the uterus. The insertion is not without pain, but it's
safe if done by a physician, and it's second only to the pill in
prevention of pregnancy. Once it's in place, you can forget about
it for a few years or until you wish to get pregnant. Doctors are
reluctant to prescribe them for women who have not borne children
or had an abortion, because of the intense pain that accompanies
insertion. But if you can stand the pain associated with three to
four uterine contractions, you should push the doctor for this
method. Inserting it during the last day of your period will make
it easier.
The diaphragm is a round piece of flexible rubber about 2
inches in diameter with a hard rubber rim on the outside. It used
to be inserted just before the sex act, but hip doctors now
recommend that it be worn continuously and taken out every few days
for washing and also during the menstrual period. It is most
effective when used with a sperm-killing jelly or cream. A doctor
will fit you for a proper size diaphragm.
The next best method is the foams that you insert twenty
minutes before fucking. The best foams available are Delfen and
Emko. They have the advantage of being nonprescription items so you
can rush into any drug store and pick up a dispenser when the
spirit moves you. Follow the directions carefully. Unfortunately,
these foams taste terrible and are not available in flavors. It
just shows you how far science has to go.
Another device is the prophylactic, or rubber as it is called.
This is the only device available to men. It is a thin rubber
sheath that fits over the penis. Because they are subject to
breaking and sliding off, their effectiveness is not super great.
If you are forced to use them, the best available are lubricated
sheepskins with a reservoir tip.
The rhythm method or Vatican roulette as it is called by hip
Catholics, is a waste unless you are ready to surround yourself
with thermometers, graphs and charts. You also have to limit your
fucking to prescribed days. Even with all these precautions, women
have often gotten pregnant using the rhythm method.
The oldest and least effective method is simply for the male
to pull out just before he comes. There are billions of sperm cells
in each ejaculation and only one is needed to fertilize the woman's
egg and cause a pregnancy. Most of the sperm is in the first
squirt, so you had better be quick if you employ this technique.
If the woman misses her period she shouldn't panic. It might
be delayed because of emotional reasons. Just wait two weeks before
going to a doctor or clinic for a pregnancy test. When you go, be
sure to bring your first morning urine specimen.
ABORTIONS
The best way to find out about abortions is to contact your
local woman's liberation organization through your underground
newspaper or radio station. Some Family Planning Clinics and even
some liberal churches set up abortions, but these might run as high
as $700. Underground newspapers often have ads that read "Any girl
in trouble call - -," or something similar. The usual rate for an
abortion is about $500 and it's awful hard to bargain when you need
one badly. Only go to a physician who is practicing or might have
just lost his license. Forget the stereotype image of these doctors
as they are performing a vital service. Friends who have had an
abortion can usually recommend a good doctor and fill you in on
what's going to happen.
Abortions are very minor operations if done correctly. They
can be done almost any time, but after three months, it's no longer
so casual and more surgical skill is required. Start making plans
as soon as you find out. The sooner the better, in terms of the
operation.
Get a pregnancy test at a clinic. If it is positive and you
want an abortion, start that day to make plans. If you get negative
results from the test and still miss your period, have a
gynecologist perform an examination if you are still worried.
If you cannot arrange an abortion through woman's liberation,
Family Planning, a sympathetic clergyman or a friend who has had
one, search out a liberal hospital and talk to one of their social
workers. Almost all hospitals perform "therapeutic" abortions. Tell
a sob story about the desertion of your boy friend or that you take
LSD every day or that defects run in your family. Act mentally
disturbed. If you qualify, you can get an abortion that will be
free under Medicaid or other welfare medical plans. The safest form
of abortion is the vacuum-curettage method, but not all doctors are
hip to it. It is safer and quicker with less chance of
complications than the old-fashioned scrape method.
Many states have recently passed liberalized abortion laws,
such as New York* (by far the most extensive), Hawaii and Maryland,
due to the continuing pressure of radical women. The battle for
abortion and certainly for free abortion is far from over even in
the states with liberal laws. They are far too expensive for the
ten to twenty minute minor operation involved and the red tape is
horrendous. Free abortions must be look-on as a fundamental right,
not a sneaky, messy trauma.
*There is a residence requirement for New York but using a friend's
New York address at the hospital will be good enough. The procedure
takes only a few days and costs between $200 and $500, depending on
the place. The best advice is to call one of the New York Abortion
Referral Services or Birth Control Groups listed in the New York
Directory section.
DISEASES TREATED FREE
Syph and Clap (syphilis and gonorrhea) are two diseases that
they are easy to pick up. They come from balling. Anyone who claims
they got it from sitting on a toilet seat must have a fondness for
weird positions.
Both men and women are subject to the diseases. Using a
prophylactic usually will prevent the spreading of venereal
disease, but you should really seek to have it cured. Syphilis
usually begins with an infection which may look like a cold sore or
pimple around the sex organ. There is no pain associated with the
lesions. Soon the sore disappears even without treatment. This is
often followed by a period of rashes on the body (especially the
palms of the hands) and inflammation of the mouth and throat. These
symptoms also disappear without treatment. It must be understood,
however, that even if these symptoms disappear, the disease still
remains if left untreated. It can cause serious trouble such as
heart disease, blindness, insanity and paralysis. Also, it can fuck
up any kids you might produce and is easily passed on to anyone you
ball.
Gonorrhea (clap) is more common than syphilis. Its first signs
are a discharge from your sex organ that is painful. Like syphilis,
it affects both men and women, but is often unnoticed in women.
There is usually itching and burning associated with the affected
area. It can leave you sterile if left untreated.
Both these venereal diseases can be treated in a short time
with attention. Avail yourself of the free V.D. clinics in every
town. Follow the doctor's instructions to the letter and try to let
the other people you've had sexual contact with know you had VD.
There are other fungus diseases that resemble syphilis or
gonorrhea, but are relatively harmless. Check out every infection
in your crotch area, especially those with open sores or an unusual
discharge and you'll be safe.
Crabs are not harmful, but they can make you scratch your
crotch for hours on end. They are also highly transmittable by
balling. Actually they are a form of body lice and easy to cure. Go
to your local druggist and ask him for the best remedy available.
He'll give you one of several lotions and instructions for proper
use. We recommend Kwell.
A common disease in the hip community is hepatitis. There are
two kinds. One you get from sticking dirty needles in your arm
(serum hepatitis) and the other more common strain from eating
infected food or having intimate contact with an infected carrier
(infectious hepatitis). The symptoms for both are identical;
yellowish skin and eyes, dark piss and light crap, loss of appetite
and total listlessness. Hep is a very dangerous disease that can
cause a number of permanent conditions, including death, which is
extremely permanent. It should be treated by a doctor, often in a
hospital.
FREE COMMUNICATION
If you don't like the news, why not go out and make your own?
Creating free media depends to a large extent on your imagination
and ability to follow through on ideas. The average Amerikan is
exposed to over 1,600 commercials each day. Billboards, glossy ads
and television spots make up much of the word environment they live
in. To crack through the word mush means creating new forms of free
communication. Advertisements for revolution are important in
helping to educate and mold the milieu of people you wish to win
over.
Guerrilla theater events are always good news items and if
done right, people will remember them forever. Throwing out money
at the Stock Exchange or dumping soot on executives at Con Edison
or blowing up the policeman statue in Chicago immediately conveys
an easily understood message by using the technique of creative
disruption. Recently to dramatize the illegal invasion of Cambodia,
400 Yippies stormed across the Canadian border in an invasion of
the United States. They threw paint on store windows and physically
attacked residents of Blair, Washington. A group of Vietnam
veterans marched in battle gear from Trenton to Valley Forge. Along
the way they performed mock attacks on civilians the way they were
trained to do in Southeast Asia.
Dying all the outdoor fountains red and then sending a message
to the newspaper explaining why you did it, dramatizes the idea
that blood is being shed needlessly in imperialist wars. A special
metallic bonding glue available from Eastman-Kodak will form a
permanent bond in only 45 seconds. Gluing up locks of all the
office buildings in your town is a great way to dramatize the fact
that our brothers and sisters are being jailed all the time. Then,
of course, there are always explosives which dramatically make your
point and then some.
PRESS CONFERENCES
Another way of using the news to advertise the revolution and
make propaganda is to call a press, conference. Get an appropriate
place that has some relationship to the content of your message.
Send out announcements to as many members of the press as you can.
If you do not have a press list, you can make one up by looking
through the Yellow Pages under Newspapers, Radio Stations,
Television Stations, Magazines and Wire Services. Check out your
list with other groups and pick up names of reporters who attend
movement press conferences. Address a special invitation to them as
well as one to their newspaper. Address the announcements to "City
Desk" or "'News Department." Schedule the press conference for
about 11:00 A.M. as this allows the reporters to file the story in
time for the evening newscast or papers. On the day of the
scheduled conference, call the important city desks or reporters
about 9:00 A.M. and remind them to come.
Everything about a successful press conference must be
dramatic, from the announcements and phone calls to the statements
themselves. Nothing creates a worse image than four or five men in
business suits sitting behind a table and talking in a calm manner
at a fashionable hotel. Constantly seek to have every detail of the
press conference differ in style as well as content from the
conferences of people in power. Make use of music and visual
effects. Don't stiffen up before the press. Make the statement as
short and to the point as possible. Don't read from notes, look
directly into the camera. The usual television spot is one minute
and twenty seconds. The cameras start buzzing on your opening
statement and often run out of film before you finish. So make it
brief and action packed. The question period should be even more
dramatic. Use the questioner's first name when answering a
question. This adds an air of informality and networks are more apt
to use an answer directed personally to one of their newsmen.
Express your emotional feelings. Be funny, get angry, be sad or
ecstatic. If you cannot convey that you are deeply excited or
troubled or outraged about what you are saying, how do you expect
it of others who are watching a little image box in their living
room? Remember, you are advertising a new way of life to people.
Watch TV commercials. See how they are able to convey everything
they need to be effective in such a short time and limited space.
At the same tune you're mocking the shit they are pushing, steal
their techniques.
At rock concerts, during intermission or at the end of the
performance, fight your way to the stage.
COMMUNICATION
Announce that if the electricity is cut off the walls will be
torn down. This galvanizes the audience and makes the owners of the
hall the villains if they fuck around. Lay out a short exciting rap
on what's coming down. Focus on a call around one action. Sometimes
it might be good to engage rock groups in dialogues about their
commitment to the revolution. Interrupting the concert is frowned
upon since it is only spitting in the faces of the people you are
trying to reach. Use the Culture as ocean to swim in. Treat it with
care.
Sandwich boards and hand-carried signs are effective
advertisements. You can stand on a busy corner and hold up a sign
saying "Apartment Needed," "Free Angela," "Smash the State" or
other slogans. They can be written on dollar bills, envelopes that
are being mailed and other items that are passed from person to
person.
Take a flashlight with a large face to movie theaters and
other dark public gathering places. Cut the word "STRIKE" or
"REVOLT" or "YIPPIE" out of dark cellophane. Paste the stencil over
the flashlight, thus allowing you to project the word on a distant
wall.
There are a number of all night call-in shows that have a
huge audience. If you call with what the moderator considers
"exciting controversy," he may give you a special number so you
won't have to compete in the switchboard roller-derby. It often can
take hours before you get through to these shows. Here's a trick
that will help you out if the switchboard is jammed. The call-in
shows have a series of hones so that when one is busy the next will
take the call. Usually the numbers run in sequence. Say a station
gives out PL 5-8640, as the number to call. That means it also uses
PL 5-8641, PL 5-8642 and so on. If you get a busy signal, hang up
and try calling PL S-8647 say. This trick works in a variety of
situations where you want to get a call through a busy switchboard.
Remember it for airline and bus information.
WALL PAINTING
One of the best forms of free communication is painting
messages on a blank wall. The message must be short and bold. You
want to be able to paint it on before the pigs come and yet have it
large enough so that people can see it at a distance. Cans of spray
paint that you can pick up at any hardware store work best. Pick
spots that have lot of traffic. Exclamation points are good for
emphasis. If you are writing the same message, make a stencil. You
can make a stencil that says WAR and spray it on with white paint
under the word "STOP" on stop signs. You can stencil a five-pointed
star and using yellow paint, spray it on the dividing line between
the red and blue on all post office boxes. This simulates the flag
of the National Liberation Front of Vietnam. You can stencil a
marijuana leaf and using green paint, spray it over cigarette and
whisky billboards on buses and subways. The women's liberation sign
with red paint is good for sexist ads. Sometimes you will wish to
exhibit great daring in your choice of locations. When the
Vietnamese hero Nguyen Van Troi was executed, the Viet Cong put up
a poster the next day on the exact spot inside the highest security
prison in the country.
Wall postering allows you to get more information before the
public than a quickly scribbled slogan. Make sure the surface is
smooth or finely porous. Smear the back of the poster with
condensed milk, spread on with a brush, sponge, rag or your hands.
Condensed milk dries very fast and hard. Also smear some on the
front once the poster is up to give protection against the weather
and busy fingers that like to pull at corners. Wallpaper pastes
also work quickly and efficiently. It's best to work both painting
and postering at night with a look-out. This way you can work the
best spots without being harassed by the pig patrol, which is
usually unappreciative of Great Art.
USE OF THE FLAG
The generally agreed upon flag of our nation is black with a
red, five pointed star behind a green marijuana leaf in the center.
It is used by groups that understand the correct use of culture and
symbolism in a revolutionary struggle. When displayed, it
immediately increases the feelings of solidarity between our
brothers and sisters. High school kids have had great fights over
which flag to salute in school. A sign of any liberated zone is the
flag being flown. Rock concerts and festivals have their generally
apolitical character instantly changed when the flag is displayed.
The political theoreticians who do not recognize the flag and the
importance of the culture it represents are ostriches who are
ignorant of basic human nature. Throughout history people have
fought for religion, life-style, land, a flag (nation), because
they were ordered to, for fortune, because they were attacked or
for the hell of it. If you don't think the flag is important, ask
the hardhats.
RADIO
Want to construct your own neighborhood radio station? You can
get a carrier-current transmitter designed by a group of brothers
and sisters called Radio Free People. No FCC license is required
for the range is less than 1/2 mile. The small transistorized units
plug into any wall outlet. Write Radio Free People, 133 Mercer St.,
New York, New York 10012 for more details. For further information
see the chapter on Guerrilla Broadcasting later in the book.
FREE TELEPHONES
Ripping off the phone company is so common that Bell Telephone
has a special security division that tries to stay just a little
ahead of the average free-loader. Many great devices like the coat
hanger release switch have been scrapped because of changes in the
phone box. Even the credit card fake-out is doomed to oblivion as
the company switches to more computerized techniques. ln our
opinion, as long as there is a phone company, and as long as there
are outlaws, nobody need ever pay for a call. In 1969 alone the
phone company estimated that over 10 million dollars worth of free
calls were placed from New York City. Nothing, however, compares
with the rip-off of the people by the phone company. In that same
year, American Telephone and Telegraph made a profit of 8.6 billion
dollars! AT&T, like all public utilities, passes itself off as a
service owned by the people, while in actuality nothing could be
further from the truth. Only a small percentage of the public owns
stock in these companies and a tiny elite clique makes all the
policy decisions. Ripping-off the phone company is an act of
revolutionary love, so help spread the word.
PAY PHONES
You can make a local 10 cent call for 2 cents by spitting on
the pennies and dropping them in the nickel slot. As soon as they
are about to hit the trigger mechanism, bang the coin-return
button. Another way is to spin the pennies counter-clockwise into
the nickel slot. Hold the penny in the slot with your finger and
snap it spinning with a key or other flat object. Both systems take
a certain knack, but once you've perfected the technique, you'll
always have it in your survival kit.
If two cents is too much, how about a call for 1 penny? Cut a
1/4 strip off the telephone book cover. Insert the cardboard strip
into the dime slot as far as it will go. Drop a penny in the nickel
slot until it catches in the mechanism (spinning will help). Then
slowly pull the strip out until you hear the dial tone.
A number 14 brass washer with a small piece of scotch tape
over one side of the hole will not only get a free call, but works
in about any vending machine that takes dimes. You can get a box of
thousands for about a dollar at any hardware store. You should
always have a box around for phones, laundromats, parking meters
and drink machines.
Bend a bobby pin after removing the plastic from the tips and
jab it down into the transmitter (mouthpiece). When it presses
against the metal diaphragm, rub it on a metal wall or pipe to
ground it. When you've made contact you'll hear the dial tone. If
the phone uses old-fashioned rubber black tubing to enclose the
wires running from the headset to the box, you can insert a metal
tack through the tubing, wiggle it around a little until it makes
contact with the bare wires and touch the tack to a nearby metal
object for grounding.
Put a dime in the phone, dial the operator and tell her you
have ten cents credit. She'll return your dime and get your call
for free. If she asks why, say you made a call on another pay
phone, lost the money, and the operator told you to switch phones
and call the credit operator.
This same method works for long distance calls. Call the
operator and find out the rate for your call. Hang up and call
another operator telling her you just dialed San Francisco direct,
got a wrong number and lost $.95 or whatever it is. She will get
your call free of charge.
If there are two pay phones next to each other, you can call
long distance on one and put the coins in the other. When the
operator cuts in and asks you to deposit money, drop the coins into
the one you are not using, but hold the receiver up to the slots so
the operator can hear the bells ring. When you've finished, you can
simply press the return button on the phone with the coins in it
and out they come. If you have a good tape recorder you can record
the sounds of a quarter, dime and nickel going into a pay phone and
play them for the operator in various combinations when she asks
for the money. Turn the volume up as loud as you can get it.
You can make a long distance call and charge it to a phone
number. Simply tell the operator you want to bill the call to your
home phone because you don't have the correct change. Tell her
there is no one there now to verify the call, but you will be home
in an hour and she can call you then if there is any question. Make
sure the exchange goes with the area you say it does.
Always have a number of made-up credit card numbers. The code
letter for 1970 is S, then seven digits of the phone number and a
three digit district number (not the same as area code). The
district number should be under 599. Example: S-573-2100-421 or
S-537-3402-035. Look up the phone numbers for your area by simply
requesting a credit card for your home phone which is very easy to
get and then using the last three numbers with another phone
number. Usually making up exotic numbers from far away places will
work quite well as it would be impossible for an operator to spot a
phony number in the short time she has to check her list.
We advise against making phony credit card calls on a home
phone. We have seen a gadget that you install between the wall
socket and the cord which not only allows you to receive all the
calls you want for free, but eliminates the most common form of
electronic bugging. They are being manufactured and sold for fifty
dollars by a disgruntled telephone engineer in Massachusetts.
Unfortunately you are going to have to find him on your own or
duplicate his efforts, for he has sworn us to secrecy. If someone
does, however, offer you such a device, it probably does work. Test
it by installing it and having someone call you from a pay phone.
If it's working, the person should get their dime back at the end
of the call.
Actually if you know the slightest information about wiring,
you can have your present phone disconnected on the excuse that
you'll be leaving town for a few months and then connect the wires
into the main trunk lines on your own. Extensions can easily be
attached to your main line without the phone company knowing about
it.
You can make all the free long distance calls you want by
calling your party collect at a pay phone. Just have your friend go
to a prearranged phone booth at a prearranged time. This can be
done on the spot by having the friend call you person to person.
Say you're not in, but ask for the number calling you since you'll
be "back" in five minutes. Once you get the number simply hang up,
wait a moment and call back your friend collect. The call has to be
out of the state to work, since operators are familiar with the
special extension numbers assigned to pay phones for her area and
possibly for nearby areas as well. If she asks you if it is a pay
phone say no. If she finds out during the call (which rarely
happens) and informs you of this, simply say you didn't expect the
party to have a pay phone in his house and accept the charges. We
have never heard of this happening though. The trick of calling
person-to-person collect should always be used when calling long
distance on home-to-home phones also. You can hear the voice of
your friend saying that he'll be back in a few minutes. Simply hang
up, wait a moment and call station to station, thereby getting a
person-to-person call without the extra charges which can be
considerable on a long call during business hours.
If you plan to stay at your present address for only a few
more months, stop paying the bill and call like crazy. After a
month you get the regular bill which you avoid paying. Another
month goes by and the next bill comes with last month's balance
added to it. Shortly thereafter you get a note advising you that
your service will be terminated in ten days if you don't pay the
bill. Wait a few days and send them a five or ten dollar money
order with a note saying you've had an accident and are pressed for
funds because of large medical bills, but you'll send them the
balance as soon as you are up and around again. That will hold them
for another month. In all, you can stretch it out for four or five
months with a variety of excuses and small payments. This also
works with the gas and electric companies and with any department
stores you conned into letting you charge.
You can get the service deposit reduced to half of the normal
rate if you are a student or have other special qualifications.
Surprisingly, these rates and discounts vary from area to area, so
check around before you go into the business office for your phone.
There is an incredible 50 cents charge per month for not having
your phone listed. If you want an unlisted phone, you can avoid
this fee by having the phone listed in a fictitious name, even if
the bill is sent to you. Just say you want your roommate's name
listed instead of your own.
FREE PLAY
MOVIES AND CONCERTS
There are many ways to sneak into theaters, concerts, stadiums
and other entertainment houses. All these places have numerous fire
exits with push-bar doors that open easily from the inside. Arrive
early with a group of friends, after casing the joint and selecting
the most convenient exit. Pay for one person to get in. When he
does he simply opens the designated exit door when the ushers are
out of the area and everyone rushes inside.
For theatrical chains in large cities, call their home office
and ask to speak to the vice-president in charge of publicity,
sales, or personnel. Ask what his name is so you'll know who you're
talking to. When you get the information you want, hang up. Now you
have the name of a high official in the company. Compile a short
list of officials in the various film, theater and sporting event
companies. Next all the various theaters and do the same thing for
the theater managers. Once you have the two lists you are ready to
proceed. Call the theater you want to attend. When someone answers
say you're Mr. __________ from the home office calling Mr. __________
(manager's name) and you'd like to have two passes O.K'd for two
important people from out of town. Invariably she'll just ask their
names or tell them to mention your name at the box office. Not only
will you get in free, but you can avoid waiting in line with this
fake-out.
In Los Angeles and New York, the studios hold pre-release
screenings for all movies. If you know roughly when a movie is
about to come out, call the publicity department of the studio
producing the film and say you're the critic for a newspaper or
magazine (give the name) and ask them when you can screen the film.
They'll give you the time and place of various screenings. When you
go, ask them to put you on their list and you'll get notices of all
future screenings.
One of our favorite ways to sneak into a theater with
continuously running shows is the following. Arrive just as the
show is emptying out and join the line leaving the theater.
Exclaiming, "Oh, my gosh!" you slap your forehead, turn around and
return, tell the usher you left your hat, pocketbook, etc. inside.
Once you're inside the theater, just swipe some popcorn and wait
for the next show.
RECORDS AND BOOKS
If you have access to a few addresses, you can get all kinds
of records and books from clubs on introductory offers. Since the
cards you mail back are not signed there is no legal way you can be
held for the bill. You get all sorts of threatening mail, which, by
the way, also comes free.
If you have a friend who is a member of a record club, ask him
to submit your name as a free member. He gets 4 free records for
getting you signed up. A soon as you get the letter saying how
lucky you are to be a member, quit. Your friend's free records have
already been shipped. We used to have at least 10 different names
and addresses working on all the record and book companies. Every
other day we would ride around collecting the big packages. To cap
it off, we opened a credit account at a large department store and
used to return most of the records and books to the store saying
that they were gifts and we wanted something else. Since we had an
account at the store, they always took the merchandise and gave
credit for future purchases.
You can always use the public libraries. Find out when they do
their yearly housecleaning. Every library discards thousands of
books on this day. Just show up and ask if you can take some.
Almost anything you might want to know from plans for
constructing a sundial to a complete blueprint for building a house
may be obtained free from the Government Printing Office. Write: to
Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington
D.C. 20402. Most publication are free. Those that are not are dirt
cheap. Ask to be put on the list to receive the free biweekly list
of Selected U.S. Government Publications.
One of the best ways to receive records and books free is to
invest twenty dollars and print up some stationery with an artistic
logo for some non-existent publication. Write to all the public
relations departments of record companies, publishing houses, and
movie studios. Say you are a newspaper with a large youth
readership and have regular reviews of books, or records, or
movies, and would like to be placed on their mailing list. Say that
you would be glad to send them any reviews of their records that
appear in the paper. That adds a note of authenticity to the
letter. After a month or so you'll be receiving more records and
books than you can use.
If you really want a book badly enough, follow the title of
this one-Dig!
FREE MONEY
No book on survival should fail to give you some good tips on
how to rip-off bread. Really horning in on this chapter will put
you on Free-loader Street life, 'cause with all the money in
Amerika, the only thing you'll have trouble getting is poor.
WELFARE
It's easy to get on welfare that anyone who is broke and
doesn't have a regular relief check coming in is nothing but a
goddamn lazy bum! Each state has a different set up. The racist
penny-pinchers of Mississippi dole out only $8.00 a month. New York
dishes ont the most with monthly payments up to $120.00. The
Amerikan Public Welfare Association publishes a book called The
Public Welfare Directory with information on exactly what each
welfare agency provides and how you go about qualifying. You can
read the directory at any public library to find out all you can
about how your local office operates.
When you've discovered everything you need to know, head on
down to the Welfare Department in your grubbiest clothes. Not
sleeping the night before helps. The receptionist will assign an
"intaker" to interview you. After a long wait, you'll be directed
to a desk. The intaker raps to you for a while, generally showing
sympathy for your plight and turns you over to the caseworker who
will make the final and ultimate assessment.
Have your heaviest story ready to ooze out. If you have no
physical disabilities, lay down a "mentally deranged" rap. Getting
medical papers saying you have any long-term illness or defect
helps a lot. Tell the caseworker you get dizzy spells on the job
and faint in the street. Keep bobbing your head, yawning, or
scratching. Tell him that you have tried to commit suicide recently
because you just can't make it in a world that has forgotten how to
love. Don't lay it on too obviously. Wait till he "pries" some of
the details from you. This makes the story even more convincing.
Many welfare workers are young and hip. The image you are working
on is that of a warm, sensitive kid victimized by brutal parents
and a cold ruthless society. Tell them you held off coming for
months because you wanted to maintain some self-respect even though
have been walking the streets broke and hungry. If you are a woman
tell him you were recently raped. In sexist Amerika, this will
probably be true.
After about an hour or so of this soap-opera stuff, you'll be
ready to get your first check. From then on it's a monthly check,
complete medical care for free and all sorts of other outasight
benefits. Occasionally the caseworker will drop by your pad or ask
you down to the office to see how you're coming along, but with
your condition, things don't look so good. Don't abandon hope
though. Hope always helps fill in a caseworker's report.
The real trick is to parlay welfare payments in a few
different states. Work out an exchange system with a buddy and mail
each other the checks when they come in. If the caseworker comes
by, your roommate can say you went to find a job or enrolled in a
class. We know cats who have parlayed welfare payments up to six
hundred dollars a month.
UNEMPLOYMENT
Every outlaw should learn everything there is to know about
the rules governing unemployment insurance. As in the case of
welfare rules, eligibility, and the size of payments differ from
state to state. In New York, you are eligible for payments
equivalent to half your weekly salary before taxes up to $65 per
week, on the condition that you have worked for a minimum of twenty
weeks during the year. Payments are somewhat lower in most other
states. In order to collect, you must show you are actively
searching for a job and keep a record of employers you contact.
This can easily be fudged. Every time you're questioned about it,
mention one or two companies. If your hair is long, you'll have no
problem. Just say they won't hire you until you get a haircut. When
this is the case, the unemployment office cannot cut off your
payments or your hair. They also cannot make you accept a job you
do not want. Tell them any job offer you get is not challenging
enough for your talents. Unemployment can be collected for six
months before payments are terminated. Twenty more weeks of slavery
and you can go back to maintaining your dignity in the unemployment
line. These job insurance payments cannot be taxed and since you
are working so few weeks out of each year, your taxable income is
at a minimum. Read all the fine print for tax form 1040 and
discover all the deductible loopholes available to you. You should
wind up paying no taxes at all or having all the taxes that were
deducted from your pay reimbursed. Never turn over to the pig
government any funds you can rip off. Remember, it isn't your
government, so why submit to its taxation if you feel you do not
have representation.
PANHANDLING
The practice of going up to folks and bumming money is a basic
hustling art. If you are successful at panhandling, you'll be able
to master all the skills in the book and then some. To be good at
it requires a complete knowledge of what motivates people. Even if
we don't need the bread, we panhandle on the streets in the same
way doctors go back to medical school. It helps us stay in shape.
Panhandling is illegal throughout Pig Empire, but it's one of those
laws that is rarely enforced unless they want to "clean the area"
of hippies. If you're in a strange locale, ask a fellow panhandler
what the best places to work are without risking a bust. Do it in
front of supermarkets, theaters, sporting events, hip dress shops
and restaurants. College cafeterias are very good hunting grounds.
When you're hustling, be assertive. Don't lean against the
wall with your palm out mumbling "Spare some change?" Go up to
people and stand directly in front of them so they have to look you
in the eye and say no. Bum from guys with dates. Bum from motherly
looking types. After a while you'll get a sense of the type of
people you get results with.
Theater can be real handy. The best actors get the most bread.
Devising a street theater skit can help. A good prop is a charity
canister. You can get them by going to the offices of a mainstream
charity and signing up as a collector. Don't feel bad about ripping
them off. Charities are the biggest swindle around. 80% or more of
the funds raised by honky charities go to the organization itself.
New fancy cars for the Red Cross, inflated salaries for the
executives of the Cancer Fund, tax write-offs for Jerry Lewis. You
get the picture. A good way to work this and keep your karma in
shape is to turn over half to a revolutionary groups such as your
local underground. Remember, fugitives from injustice depend on you
to survive. Be a responsible member of our nation. Support the only
war we have going!
RIP-OFFS
If you are closing out your checking account, overdraw your
account by $10.00. The bank won't bother chasing you down for a
lousy 10 bucks.
Call the telephone operator from time to time and tell her you
lost some change in a pay phone. They will mail you the cash.
You can get $150 to $600 in advance by willing your body to a
University medical school. They have you sign a lot of papers and
put a tattoo on your foot. You can get the tattoo removed and sell
your body to the folks across the street. The universities can be
ripped off by enrolling, applying for a loan and bugging out after
the loan comes through. This is a lot easier than you might imagine
and you can hit them for up to $2,500 with a good enough story.
Put a number 14 brass washer in a newspaper vending machine
and take out all the papers. Stand around the corner or go into the
local bar and sell them. You often get tipped. Don't do this with
underground papers. Remember they're your brothers and sisters.
The airlines will give you $250 for each piece of luggage you
lose when flying. The following is a good way to lose your luggage.
When you get off a plane, have a friend meet you at the gate. Give
him your luggage claim stubs and arrange to meet at a washroom or
restaurant. Your friend picks up the bags and takes them out of the
baggage room. Before he leaves the airport, he turns over the stubs
to you at your prearranged rendezvous. You casually wander over to
the baggage department and search for your elusive luggage. When
all the baggage has been claimed, file a complaint with the lost
and found department. They'll have you fill out a form, explain
that it probably got misplaced on another carrier and promise to
send it to you as soon as it is located. In a month you'll receive
a check for $250 per bag. Enjoy your flight.
THE INTERNATIONAL YIPPIE CURRENCY EXCHANGE
Every time you drop a coin into a slot, you are losing money
needlessly. There is at least one foreign coin that is the same
size or close enough that will do the trick for less than a penny.
The following are some of the foreign currencies that will get you
that Coke, call or subway ride.
Quarter Size Coins
- URUGUAYAN 10 CENTISIMO PIECE
- works in many soda and candy machines,
older telephones (3 slot types), toll machines, laundromats,
parking meters, stamp machines, and restroom novelty machines.
Works also in some electric cancerette machines but not most
mechanical machines.
- works in many soda and candy machines,
- DANISH 5 ORE PIECE
- works in 3 slot telephones, toll machines,
laundromats, automats, some stamp machines, most novelty machines,
and the Boston Subway. Does not work in soda or cancerette
machines.
- works in 3 slot telephones, toll machines,
- PERUVIAN 20 CENTAVO PIECES
- works in new (one slot) telephone and
some electric cancerette machines, but does not work as many places
in the Uruguay, Danish and Peruvian coins.
- works in new (one slot) telephone and
- ICELANDIC 5 AURAN PIECE
- most effective quarter in the world, even
works in change machines. Unfortunately, this coin is practically
impossible to get outside of Iceland and even there, it is becoming
difficult since the government is attempting to remove it from
circulation.
- most effective quarter in the world, even
Dime Size Coins
- MALAYSIAN PENNY
- generally works in all dime slots, including old
and new telephones, candy machines, soda machines, electric
machines, stamp machines, parking meters, photocopy machines, and
pay toilets. Does not work in some newer stamp dispensers, and some
mechanical cancerette machines.
- generally works in all dime slots, including old
- TRINIDAD PENNY
- generally works the same as Malaysian Penny.
New York Subway Tokens
- DANISH 25 ORE PIECE
- works in 95% of all subway turnstiles. A very
safe coin to use since it will not jam the turnstile. It is
5/l000th of an inch bigger than a token.
- works in 95% of all subway turnstiles. A very
- PORTUGUESE 50 CENTAVO PIECE
- the average Portuguese Centavo Piece is
2/1000th of an inch smaller than a token.
- the average Portuguese Centavo Piece is
- JAMAICAN HALF PENNY, BAHAMA PENNY and AUSTRALIAN SCHILLING
- these coins are 12/l000th to 15/1000th of an inch smaller than token.
They work in about 80% of all turnstiles. We have also had good
success with FRENCH l FRANC PIECE (WWII issue), SPANISH l0 CENTAVO
PIECE NICARAGUAN 25 CENTAVO PIECE.
- these coins are 12/l000th to 15/1000th of an inch smaller than token.
All of the coins listed have a currency value of a few cents,
with most less than one penny. Foreign coins work more regularly
than slugs and are non-magnetic, hence cannot be detected by "slug
detector machines." Also unlike slugs, although they are illegal to
use in machines, they are perfectly legal to possess and exchange.
Large coin dealers and currency exchanges are generally
uptight about handling cheap foreign coins in quantity since they
don't make much profit and are subject to certain pressures in
selling coins that are the same size as Amerikan coins or tokens.
People planning trips to European or South American countries
should bring back rolls of coins as souvenirs or for use in "coin
jewelry."
If you do not plan to travel, a small coin store which is cool
about selling to the public is located on the Lower East Side at
191 East Third Street, New York City. When their phone works, the
number is 475-9897.
Washers are the most popular types of slugs. You can go to any
hardware store and match them up with various coins. Sometimes you
might have to put a small piece of scotch tape over one side of the
hole to make it more effective. Each washer is identified by its
material and number, i.e. No. 14 brass washer with scotch tape on
one side is a perfect dime. When you get the ones you want, you can
buy thousands for next to nothing (especially at industrial supply
stores) and pass them out to our friends.
Xerox copies of both sides of a dollar bill, carefully glued
together, work in most machines that give you change for a dollar.
Excuse us, there is a knock at the door. . .Fancy that! It's the
Treasury Department. Wonder what they want?
FREE DOPE
BUYING, SELLING AND GIVING IT AWAY
As you probably know, most dope is illegal, therefore some
risks are always involved in buying and selling. "Eternal vigilance
and constant mobility are the passwords of survival," said Che
Guevara, and nowhere do they apply more than in the world of dope.
If you ever have the slightest doubt about the person with whom
you're dealing-DON'T.
Buying
In the purchasing of dope, arrests are not a problem unless
you're the fall guy for a bust on the dealer. The major hazard is
getting burned. Buy from a friend or a reputable dealer. If you
have to do business with a stranger, be extra careful. Never front
money. One of the burn artist's tricks is to take your money, tell
you to wait and split with your dough. There are various side show
gimmicks each burn artist works. The most common is to ask you to
walk with them a few blocks and then stop in front of an apartment
building. He then tells you the dope is upstairs and asks you to
hand over the money in advance. He explains that his partner is the
real uptight 'cause they were raided once and won't let anybody in
the pad. He takes your dough and disappears inside the building.
Out the back door or up to the roof and into his getaway
helicopter. You are left on the sidewalk with anxious eyes and that
"can this really be happening to me" feeling.
Another burn method is to substitute oregano, parsley or
catnip for pot, camel shit for hash, saccharin or plain pills for
acid. If you got burned for heroin or speed, you're better off
being taken, because these are body-fuck drugs that can mess you up
badly. The people that deal them are total pigs and should be
regarded as such. When you're buying from strangers, you have a
right to sample the merchandise free unless it's coke. Check the
weight of grass with a small pocket scale. Feel the texture and
check out how well it has been cleaned of seeds and twigs. Smoke a
joint that is rolled from the stuff you get. Don't accept the
dealer's sample that he pulled out of his pocket. When you are
buying a large amount of acid, pick a sample. You should never buy
acid from a stranger as it is too easy a burn.
If you buy cocaine, bring along a black light. Only the
imparities glow under its fluorescence, thus giving you an idea of
the quality of the coke. Make sure it's the real thing. Sniffing
coke can perforate your nasal passages, so be super moderate. Too
much will kill you. A little bit goes a long way.
Selling
Dealing, although dangerous, is a tax-free way of surviving
even though it borders on work. The best way to start is to save up
a little bread and buy a larger quantity than you usually get. Then
deal out smaller amounts to your friends. The fewer strangers you
deal with, the safer you are. The price of dope varies with the
amount of stuff on the market in your area, the heat the narks are
bringing down and the connections you have. A rough scale, say, for
pot is $20 an ounce, $125 a pound and $230 a kilo (2.2 pounds). The
price per ounce decreases depending on the amount you get. It's
true you make more profit selling by the ounces, but the hassle is
greater and the more contacts you must make increases the risk.
Screwing your customers will prove to be bad karma (unless you
consider dying groovy), so stick to honest dealing. Never deal from
your pad and avoid keeping your stash there. Get into searching out
the best markets which are generally in California, given its close
proximity to good ol' Mexico. Kansas is a big distribution center
for Mexican grass, too. You can ship the stuff (safer than
carrying) via air freight anywhere in the country for about $30 a
trunk. Keep the sending and receiving end looking straight. We have
one friend who wears a priest's outfit to ship and receive dope. In
fact, every time we see nuns or priests on the street, we assume
they're outlaws just on their way to the next deal or bombing. For
all we know, the church actually is nothing but a huge dope ring in
drag. Anybody gotten high off communion wafers lately?
When you talk about deals on the phone, be cool. Make
references to theater tickets or subscriptions. Don't keep
extensive notes on your activities and contacts. Use code names
where you can. Never deal with two other people present. Only you
and the buyer should be in the immediate vicinity. Narks make busts
in pairs so one can be the arresting officer and the other can be a
court witness. Dealing is a paradox of unloading a good amount of
shit but not trying to move too fast; of making ne contacts but
being careful of strangers; of dealing high quality and low prices;
and of being simultaneously bold and cautious. If you get nabbed,
get the best lawyer who specializes in dope busts. First offenders
rarely end up serving time, but it's a different story for
repeaters. Know how punitive the courts are and which judges and
prosecutors can be bought off. Never deal in the month before an
election. For complete information on how to avoid getting busted
and what to do if busted, read The Drug Bust (listed in appendix).
Giving It Away
Giving dope away can be a real mind-blower. Every dealer
should submit to voluntary taxation by the new Nation. If you are a
conscientious dealer, you should be willing and eager to give a
good hunk of your stash away at special events or to groups into
free distribution. You should also be able to give bread to bust
trusts set up to bail out heads unable to get up the ransom money
the whisky lush courts demand. Many groups have done huge mailings
of joints to all sorts of people. A group in New York mailed 30,000
to people in the phone book on one Valentine's Day. A group in
Los Angeles placed over 2,000 joints in library books and then
advised kids to smoke a book during National Library Week. Be cool
about even giving stuff away since that counts as dealing in most
states. John Sinclair, Chairman of the White Panther Party, is
serving 9½ to 10 years for giving away two joints.
GROW YOUR OWN
Pot is a weed and as such grows in all climates under every
kind of soil condition. We have seen acres and acres of grass
growing in Kansas, Iowa and New Jersey. If you're not located next
door to a large pot field growing in the wild, maybe you would have
some success in growing your own. It's well worth it to try your
potluck!
The first thing is to start with a bunch of good-quality seeds
from grass that you really dig. Select the largest seeds and place
them between two heavy-duty napkins or ink blotters in a pan. Soak
the napkins with water until completely saturated. Cover the top of
the pan or place it in a dark closet for three days or until a
sprout about a half inch long appears from most of the seeds.
During this incubation period, you can prepare the seedling
bed. Use a low wooden box such as a tomato flat and fill it with an
inch of gravel. Fill the rest of the box with some soil mixed with
a small amount of fertilizer. Moisten the soil until water seeps
out the bottom of the box, then level the soil making a flat
surface. With a pencil, punch holes two inches apart in straight
rows. You can get about 2 dozen in a tomato flat.
When the incubation period is over, take those seeds that have
an adequate sprout and plant one in each hole. The sprout goes down
and the seed part should be a little above ground. Tamp the soil
firmly (do not pack) around each plant as you insert the sprouts.
The seedlings should remain in their boxes in a sunny window
until about mid-May. They should receive enough water during this
period to keep the soil moist. By the time they are ready to go
into the ground, the green plants should be about six to eight
inches tall.
If it is late winter or early spring and you have a plot of
land that gets enough sun and is sheltered from nosy neighbors, you
should definitely grow grass in the great outdoors.
One idea is to plant sunflowers in your garden as these grow
taller than the pot plants and camouflage them from view. The best
idea is to find some little-used field and plant a section of it.
Prepare the land the way you would for any garden vegetable.
Dig up the ground with a pitchfork or heavy duty rake, removing
rocks. Rake the plot level and punch holes in the soil about three
inches deep and about two feet apart in the same way you did in the
seedling boxes. Remove the young plants from the box, being careful
not to disturb the roots and keeping as much soil intact as
possible. Transplant each plant into one of the punched-out holes
and firmly press the soil to hold it in place. When all the plants
are in the ground, water the entire area. Tend them the way you
would any other garden. They should reach a height of about six
feet by the end of the summer and be ready to harvest.
If you don't have access to a field, you can grow good stuff
right in your own closet or garage using artificial lighting.
Transplant the plants into larger wooden boxes or flower boxes. Be
sure and cover the bottom of each box with a few inches of pebbles
or broken pottery before you add the soil. This will insure proper
drainage. Fertilize the soil according to the instructions on the
box and punch out holes in much the same way you would do if you
were growing outside. After the young plants have been transplanted
and watered thoroughly, you will have to rig up a lighting system.
Use blue light bulbs, which are available at hardware stores for
the first thirty days. These insure a shorter, sturdier stalk.
Leave the lights on 24 hours a day and place them about a foot
above the tops of the plants. If the plants begin to feel brittle
or turn yellow at the edges, then the temperature is too hot. Use
less illumination or raise the height of the lamp if this occurs.
After the first thirty days, change to red bulbs and cut down
the lighting time to 16 hours a day. After a week, reduce the time
to 14 hours and then on the third week to 12 hours. Maintain this
lighting period until the plants flower. The female plants have a
larger and heavier flower structure and the males are somewhat
skimpy. The female plant produces the stronger grass and the
choicest parts are the top leaves including the flowers.
Inside or outside, the plants will be best if allowed to reach
maturity, although they are smokeable at any point along the way.
When you want to harvest the crop, wet the soil and pull out the
entire plant. If you want to separate the top leaves from the rest,
you can do so and make two qualities of grass. In any event, let
the plants dry in the sun for two weeks until they are thoroughly
dried out. If you want to hurry the drying process, you can do it
in an oven using a very low heat for about twenty minutes. After
you've completed the drying, you can "cure'" the grass by putting
the plants in plastic bags and sprinkling drops of wine, rum or
plain booze on them. This greatly increases the potency.
There are two other ways that we know work to increase the
potency of grass you grow or buy. One consists of digging a hole
and burying a stash of grass wrapped in a plastic bag. A few months
in the ground will produce a mouldy grass that is far fuckin' out.
A quick method is to get a hunk of dry ice, put it in a metal
container or box with a tight lid (taping the lid airtight helps),
and sprinkling the grass on top. Allow it to sit tightly covered
for about three days until all the dry ice evaporates.
ASSORTED FREEBIES
LAUNDRY
Wait in a laundromat. Tell someone with a light load that
you'll watch the machine for them if you can stick your clothes in
with theirs.
PETS
Your local ASPCA will give you a free dog, cat, bird or other
pet. Have them inspect and inoculate the animal which they will do
free of charge. You can get free or very cheap medical care for
your pet at a school for veterinary medicine.
Underground newspapers often carry a free-pets column in the
back pages. Snakes can be caught in any wooded area and they make
great pets. You can collect insects pretty easy. Ants are
unbelievable to watch. You can make a simple 3/4 inch wide glass
case about a foot high, fill it with sand and start an ant colony.
A library book will tell you how to care for them.
Every year the National Park Service gives away surplus elks
in order to keep the herds under its jurisdiction from outgrowing
the amount of available land for grazing. Write to: Superintendent,
Yellowstone National Park, Yellowstone, Wyoming 83020. You must be
prepared to pay the freight charges for shipping the animal and
guarantee that you can provide enough grazing land to keep the big
fellow happy.
Under the same arrangement the government will send you a Free
Buffalo. Write to: Office of Information, Department of the
Interior, Washington, D.C. 20420. So many people have written them
recently demanding their Free Buffalo, that they called a press
conference to publicly attack the Yippies for creating chaos in the
government. Don't take any buffalo shit from these petty
bureaucrats, demand the real thing. Demand your Free Buffalo.
You can get a free l6mm movie about parakeets called "More Fun
with Parakeets," by writing to: R.T. French Co., 9068 Mustard St.,
Rochester, New York 14609. This great film won an Academy Award for
best picture of 1793.
POSTERS
Beautiful wall posters are available by writing to the
National Tourist Agencies of various countries. Most are located
between 42nd and 59th Streets on Fifth Ave. in New York City. You
can find their addresses in the New York Yellow Pages under both
National Tourist Agencies and Travel Agencies. There are over fifty
of them. Prepare a form letter saying you are a high school
geography teacher and would like some posters of the country to
decorate your classroom. In a month you will be flooded with them.
Airline companies also have colorful wall posters they send out
free.
SECURITY
For this trick you need some money to begin with. Deposit it
in a bank and return in a few weeks telling them you lost your bank
book. They give you a card to fill out and sign and in a week you
will receive another book. Now withdraw your money, leaving you
with original money and a bank book showing a balance. You can use
this as identification to prevent vagrancy busts when traveling, as
collateral for bail, or for opening a charge account at a store.
Another trick is to buy some American Travelers Checks. Wait a
week and report your checks lost. They'll give you new ones to
replace the missing ones. You spend your new checks and keep the
ones you reported lost as security. This security is great for
international travel especially at border crossings. If you want,
you can spend the Travelers Checks by giving them to a friend to
forge your name. Before you call the office to report the loss,
call the police station and say you were mugged and your wallet was
stolen. The agency always asks if you have reported the lost checks
to the police, so you can safely answer yes. Never do this for more
than five hundred dollars and never more than once with any one
company.
POSTAGE
When mailing to the same city, address the envelope or package
to yourself and put the name of the person you are sending it to
where the return address generally goes. Mail it without postage
and it will be "returned" to the sender. Because almost all letters
are machine processed, any stamp that is the correct size will
pass. Easter Seals and a variety of other type stamps usually get
by the electronic scanner. If you put the stamp on a spot other
than the far upper right corner, it will not be cancelled and can
be used again by the person who gets your letter. If you have a
friend working in a large corporation, you can run your
organization's mail through their postage meter.
Those ridiculous free introductory or subscription type
letters that you get in the mail often have a postage-guaranteed
return postcard for your convenience. The next one you get, paste
it on a brick and drop it in the mailbox. The company is required
by law to pay the postage. You can also get rid of all your garbage
this way.
MAPS
You can get a free full-color World Atlas by writing to
Hammond Inc. Maplewood, New Jersey 07040.
MINISTRY
Unquestionably one of the best deals going is becoming a
minister in the Universal Life Church. They will send you
absolutely free, bona fide ordination papers. These entitle you to
all sorts of discounts and tax exemptions. Right now, sit down and
write to Universal Life Church Inc., 601 3rd St., Modesto,
California 95351. Try cutting out the card on the following page
and laminate it. Let us know how it works out.
ATROCITIES
Join the Army!
VETERAN'S BENEFITS
Write to the Veteran's Administration Information Service,
Washington, D.C. 20420 asking them for the free services they
provide for veterans. Send fifteen cents to the Government Printing
Office for their booklet Federal Benefits Available to Veterans and
Their Dependents.
WATCH
A $330 Bulova sport timer accurate to 1/10 of a second will be
lent free to judges and referees to time any amateur sporting
event. Call your local authorized Bulova dealer and get one lent to
you under a phony name. Tell them you want to time an orgy.
VACATIONS
There are many ways to take a free vacation, but here's one
you might not have considered. It's an all-expenses paid trip to
Las Vegas for absolutely nothing. Call a travel agent and request
information about Las Vegas gambling junkets (you'll probably have
to hunt around because this practice is being curtailed). Different
hotels have different deals, but the average one runs something
like this: If you agree to buy $500 worth of chips that can only be
spent on gambling tables of the host hotel, they will fly you round
trip, pay all hotel and food bills and provide you with a rented
car. Go with a close friend and check into the hotel. Once at the
roulette or craps table, you and your friend bet the same amount of
chips against each other on even-paying chances. For example, he
would bet on red and you on black. When either of you wins, you
keep the house chips; when you lose, turn in the specially marked
chips that cannot be cashed in. What you are doing is simply
exchanging the chips you came with for house chips that you can
cash in for real dough. Theoretically your two vacations should
cost $23.00 if you do the betting at the crap table and $52.00 if
you bet even chances at roulette. That is because the house wins if
0 or 00 comes up in roulette and if 12 comes up on the first roll
of the dice, but it sure is a hell of a vacation for two for
$23.00, and you get free champagne on some flights.
You can get half a vacation free by going to the Amerikan
Embassy or Consulate in the country you find yourself in and claim
that you're destitute. There is a law on the books that says they
have to send you away, but be persistent. Make up a story about how
your parents are away from home traveling. Say you got mugged or
something and you are about to go to the newspapers with your
story. Eventually they'll get you a free plane ticket. They stamp
your passport invalid though, and you have to pay the government
back before you can use it again.
DRINKS
When hitching, it's a good idea to carry a bottle opener and a
straw. You take the caps off soda bottles while they're still in
the machine and drink them dry without ever touching the bottle.
BURIALS
For ways to avoid the high cost of dying in Amerika, write to:
Continental Association, 39 East Van Buren St., Chicago, Ill.
60605. Send them $1.00 for the Manual of Simple Burial and 25¢ for
a list of Memorial Associates.
ASTRODOME PICTURES
Don't you just have to have a huge, glossy color photo of
Houston's famed Astrodome to show all your friends? Use the teacher
bit and write to: Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Council,
1600 Main St., Houston, Texas 77002.
DIPLOMA
Above the paper towel dispenser in a service station restroom
was written: "San Francisco State Diplomas." If you really need a
college or a high school diploma, send $2.00 to Glenco, Box 834,
Warren, Michigan 48090. They send you one that looks real
authentic. It ain't Harvard, but it looks good enough to frame and
put on your wall.
TOILETS
Sneak Under!
FIGHT!
Tell It All, Brothers and Sisters
STARTING A PRINTING WORKSHOP
Leaflets, posters, newsletters, pamphlets and other printed
matter are important to any revolution. A printing workshop is a
definite need in all communities, regardless of size. It can vary
from a garage with a mimeograph machine to a mammoth operation
complete with printing presses and fancy photo equipment. With less
than a hundred dollars and some space, you can begin this vital
service. It'll take a while before you get into printing
greenbacks, phony identification papers and credit cards like the
big boys, but to walk a mile you must start with one step as
Gutenberg once said.
Paper
The standard size for paper is 8½" x 11". It comes 500 sheets
to a "ream" and 10 reams to a case. You want a 16-20 bond weight
sheet. The higher weights are better if you are printing on both
sides. You can purchase what are termed "odd lots" from most paper
companies. This means that the colors will be assorted and some
sheets will be frayed at the edges or wrinkled. Odd lots can be
purchased at great discounts. Some places sell paper this way for
10% of the original price and for leaflets, different colors help.
Check this out with paper suppliers in your area.
Ink
Inks come in pastes and liquids and are available in
stationary stores and office supply houses. Each machine requires
its own type ink, so learn what works best with the one you have.
Colored ink is slightly more expensive but available for most
machines.
Stencils
Each machine uses a particular size and style stencil. If you
get stuck with the wrong kind and can't get out to correct the
mistake, you can punch extra holes in the top, trim them with a
scissors if they are too big or add strips of tape to the sides if
too narrow.
Be sure and use only the area that will fit on the paper you
are using. Most stencils can be used for paper larger than standard
size. Stencils will "cut" a lot neater if an electric typewriter is
used. If you only have access to e manual machine, remove the
ribbon so the keys will strike the stencil directly. A plastic
sheet, provided by the supplier, can be inserted between the
stencil and its backing to provide sharper cuts by the keys. If you
hold the stencil up to a light, you should be able to clearly see
the typing. If you can't, you'll have to apply more pressure.
Sketches can be done with a ball point pen or special stylus
directly on the stencil. If you're really rushed, or there isn't
that much info to get on the leaflet, you can hand-print the text
using these instruments. Take care not to tear the stencil.
Mimeograph Machines
The price of a new mimeograph runs from $200 to $1200,
depending on how sophisticated a machine you need and can afford.
A.B. Dick and Gestetner are the most popular brands. Many supply
houses have used machines for sale. Check the classified section
for bargains. See if any large corporations are moving, going out
of business or have just had a fire. Chances are they'll be
unloading printing equipment at cheap prices. Campaign offices of
losing candidates often have mimeos to unload in November. Many
supply houses have renting and leasing terms that you might be
interested in considering. Have an idea of the work load and type
of printing you'll be handling before you go hunting. Talk to
someone who knows what they're doing before you lay down a lot of
cash on a machine.
Duplicators
We prefer duplicators to mimeos even though the price is a
little higher. They work faster, are easier to operate and print
clearer leaflets. The Gestener Silk Screen Duplicator is the best
bet. It turns out stuff almost as good as offset printing. You can
do 10 thousand sheets an hour in an assortment of colors.
Electronic Stencils
If you use electronic stencils you can do solid lettering,
line drawings, cartoons and black and white pictures with good
contrast. To make an electronic stencil, you map out on a sheet of
paper everything you want printed. This is a photo process, so make
sure only what you want printed shows up on the sheet. You can use
a light blue pencil for guide lines as it won't photograph, but be
neat anyway. Printing shops will cut a stencil on a special machine
for about $3.00.
The Gestefax Electronic Stencil Cutter can be leased or rented
in the same way as the duplicator. If you are doing a lot of
printing for a number of different groups, this machine will
eliminate plenty of hassle. The stencils cost about 20¢ each and
take about fifteen minutes to make.
If you have an electronic stencil cutter, duplicator, electric
typewriter and a cheap source of paper, you can do almost any
printing job imaginable. Have a dual rate system: one for community
groups and another for regular business orders. You can use the
profits to go towards the purchasing of more equipment and to build
toward the day when you can get your own offset press.
Silk Screening
Posters banners and shirts that are unbelievable can be
printed by this exciting method. The process is easy to learn and
teach. You'll need a fairly large area to work in since the posters
have to be hung up to dry. Pick up any inexpensive paperback book
on silk screening. The equipment costs less than $50.00 to begin.
Once you get good at it, you can print complicated designs in a
number of different colors, including portraits.
UNDERGROUND NEWSPAPERS
Food conspiracies, bust trusts, people's clinics and
demonstrations are all part of the new Nation, but if asked to name
the most important institution in our lives, one would have to say
the underground newspaper. It keeps tuned in on what's going on in
the community and around the world. Values, myths, symbols, and all
the trappings of our culture are determined to a large extent by
the underground press. Each office serves as a welcome mat for
strangers, a meeting place for community organizers and a rallying
force to fight pig repression. There are probably over 500
regularly publishing with readerships running from a few hundred to
over 500,000. Most were started in the last three years. If your
scene doesn't have a paper, you probably don't have a scene
together. A firmly established paper can be started on about
$2,500. Plan to begin with eight pages in black and white with a
5,000 copy run. Each such issue will cost about $300 to print. You
should have six issues covered when you start. Another $700 will do
for equipment. Offset printing is what you'll want to get from a
commercial printing establishment.
You need some space to start, but don't rush into setting up a
storefront office until you feel the paper's going to be
successful. A garage, barn or spare apartment room will do just
fine. Good overhead fluorescent lighting, a few long tables, a
bookcase, desk, chairs, possibly a phone and you are ready to
start.
Any typewriter will work, but you can rent an IBM Selectric
typewriter with a deposit of $120.00 and payments of $20.00 per
month. Leasing costs twice as much, but you'll own the machine when
the payments are finished. The Selectric has interchangeable type
that works on a ball system rather than the old-fashion keys. Each
ball costs $18.00, so by getting a few you can vary the type the
way a printer does.
A light-table can make things a lot easier when it comes to
layout. Simply build a box (3' x 4' is a good size, but the larger
the better) out of ½" plywood. The back should be higher than the
front to provide a sloping effect. The top should consist of a
shelf of frosted glass. Get one strong enough to lean on. Inside
the box, attach two fluorescent light fixtures to the walls or
base. The whole light table should cost less than $25.00. That
really is about all you need, except someone with a camera, a few
good writers who will serve as reporters, an artistic person to
take care of layout, and someone to hassle printing deals,
advertising and distribution. Most people start by having everyone
do everything.
Layout
A tabloid size paper is 9 7/8" x 14 5/8" with an inch left
over on each side for margins. Columns typically are 3 1/4"
allowing for three per page. Experience has found that this size is
easy to lay out and more importantly, easy to read. There is an
indirect ratio between readability and academic snobbishness. Avoid
the textbook look. Remember, the New York Times in its low form
represents the Death Kulture.
Start off with a huge collection of old magazines and
newspapers. You can cut up all sorts of letters, borders, designs
and sketches and paste them together to make eye-catching
headlines. Sheets of headline type are available in different
styles from art stores for $1.25 a sheet. Buy one of each type and
then photograph several copies of each, bringing the price way
down. The basic content in the prescribed column size should be
banged out on the IBM. The columns can be clipped together with a
clothespin to avoid confusion. Use a good heavy bond white opaque
paper.
All black and white photographs from newspapers and magazines
can be used directly. Color pictures can also be used but it's
tricky and you'll have to experiment a little to get an
understanding of what colors photograph poorly. Glossy black and
white photographs must be shot in half tones to keep the grey
areas. You can have them processed at any photo lab. You might also
need the photo lab for enlargements or reductions, so make contact
and establish a good working relationship.
An Exacto knife is available for 29¢ and you can get a package
of 100 blades for $10.00. A few metal rulers, a good pair of
scissors, some spray adhesive or rubber cement and you're ready to
paste the pages that will make up the "dummy" that goes to the
printer. Each page is laid out on special layout sheets with faint
blue guide lines that don't photograph. Any large art supply store
sells these sheets and all the other supplies.
By working over a light-table, the paste-up can be done more
professionally. Experiment with many different layouts for each
page before finally pasting up the paper. Don't have a picture in
the corner and the rest solid columns. Print can be run over
pictures and sketches by preparing two sheets for that page and
shooting background in half-tones. The columns don't have to be run
straight up and down, but can run at different angles. The most
newsworthy articles should be towards the front of the paper. The
centerfold can be treated in an exciting manner. A good idea is to
do the centerfold so that it can be used as a poster to put on a
wall after the paper is read. If you have ads, they should be kept
near the back. The masthead, which gives the staff, mailing
address, and similar info, goes near the front. Your focus should
be the local activities. A section should be reserved for a
directly of local services and events. People giving things away
should have a section. The rest really depends on the life style
and politics of the staff.
National stories can be supplied by one or more of the news
services. Nothing in the underground press is copyrighted, so you
can reprint an interesting article from another paper. It's
customary to indicate what paper printed it first, or news service
it was sent out by. Any underground paper has permission to reprint
hunks of this book.
Ads
Most papers find it necessary to get some advertising to help
defray the production costs. Some rely totally on subscription;
some are outgrowths of organizations and still others are printed
up and just handed out free. The ones with ads seem to have the
longest life. Make up an ad rate before you put out the first
issue. Ads are measured in inches of length. The width is
understood by everyone to be the width of the column. If you use
the 3¼" column, however, you'll want to let potential advertisers
know you have wide columns.
The way to arrive at a reasonable rate is to estimate the
total budget for each issue (adding some for overhead and labor),
then each page and finally each column inch. After a little
arithmetic you can get a good estimate of your printing cost per
inch. Using our figures throughout this section, it should come to
about $2.00 per inch. Double this figure and you'll arrive at the
correct rate per advertising inch-$4.00. There should be special
lower rates for large ads, such as half or full pages. There should
also be a special arrangement for a continuous subscriber. If you
have a classified section, another rate based on number of words or
lines is constructed. A service charge is fixed if you make up the
ad layout rather than the advertiser. The whole formula should be
worked out and printed up before you lay out the first issue.
The best place to get advertising is locally. Theaters, hip
clothing stores, ice cream parlors, and record stores are among the
type of advertisers you should approach. After you build up a
circulation, you might want to seek out national advertisers. The
Underground Press Syndicate, Box 26, Village Station, New York, NY
10014, can be joined for $25.00, no dues thereafter. They try to
get national ads for you in addition to sending out a newsletter, a
news service, and making sure you get free subscriptions to the
other underground papers. The U.P.S. can also do many other things
for you, like list you in their directory, obtain legal advice, and
bring you together with other underground papers for mutual benefit
and defense. Another way to get national advertising is to see who
tends to advertise in other underground papers. Send the publicity
department of these companies letters and samples of your paper.
Never let ads make up more than half the paper.
Distribution
At the beginning you should aim for a bi-weekly paper with a
gradual increase in the number of pages. The price should be about
25¢. Check out the local laws about selling papers on the street.
It's probably allowed and is a neat way to get the paper around.
Give half to the street hawkers. Representatives at high schools
and colleges should be sought out. Bookstores and newsstands are
good places to distribute. After your paper gets going well, you
might try for national distribution. The Cosmep Newsletter is put
out by the Committee of Small Magazines, Editors and Publishers, PO
Box 1425, Buffalo, NY 14214. In addition to good tips if you want
to start a small literary magazine or publish your own book, they
provide an up-to-date list of small stores around the country that
would be likely to carry your paper. Subscriptions should be sought
in the paper itself. If you get a lot, check out second class
mailing privileges. UPS can help with out-of-city distribution.
If you're in a smaller town, you might have to shop around or
go to another city to get printing done. Many printers print only
pig swill, which brings up the point of getting busted for
obscenity which can be pretty common. You probably should
incorporate, but contact a sympathetic lawyer before you put out
your first issue. During the summer there are usually a few
alternative media conferences organized by one group or another.
You can pick up valuable information and exchange ideas at these
gatherings. UPS and the news services will keep you posted. Good
luck and write on!
HIGH SCHOOL PAPERS
The usual high school paper is run by puppet lackeys of the
administration. It avoids controversy, naughty language, and a host
of other things foreign to the 4-H Club members the school is
determined to mass produce. The only thing the staff is good at is
kissing the principal's ass. Let's face it, the aim of a good high
school newspaper should be to destroy the high school. Publishing
and distributing a heavy paper isn't going to earn you the Junior
Chamber of Commerce good citizenship award. You might have to be a
little mysterious about who the staff is until you understand the
ground rules and who controls the ballpark¾the people or the
principal.
Many schools do not allow papers to be handed out on the
school premises. These cases are generally won by the newspapers
that take the school to court. You can challenge the rule and make
the administration look like the dinosaurs they are by distributing
sheets of paper with only your logo and the school rule printed. By
gaining outside publicity for the first distribution of the paper,
you might put the administration up tight about clamping down on
you. It might be difficult to explain in civics class when they get
to the freedom of the press stuff. Your paper should have one
purpose in mind¾to piss off the principal and radicalize the
students. If you run into problems, seek out a sympathetic lawyer.
You can get a helpful pamphlet from the ACLU, 156 5th Ave.,
New York, NY 10010, called Academic Freedom in the Secondary
Schools" for 25¢.
Tell your lawyer about the most recent (July 10, 1970)
decision of the United States District Court in Connecticut which
ruled that the high school students of Rippowan High School in
Stanford can publish independent newspapers without having the
contents screened in advance by school officials.
The same info for underground papers applies to high school
rags, only the price should be much less if not free. To begin
with, you might just mimeograph the first few issues before trying
photo-offset printing. It is very important to get the readers
behind you in case you have to go to war with the administration in
order to survive. Maintain friendships with above ground reporters,
the local underground paper and radical community groups for
alliances.
G.I. PAPERS
A heavier scene than even the high schools exists in No-No
Land of the military. None-the-less, against incredible odds,
courageous G.I.'s both here and overseas have managed to put out a
number of underground newspapers. If you are a G.I. interested in
starting a paper, the first thing to do is seek out a few buddies
who share your views on the military and arrange a meeting,
preferably off the base. Once you have your group together, getting
the paper published will be no problem. Keeping your staff secret,
you can have one member contact with someone from a G.I. coffee
house, anti-war organization or nearby underground newspaper. This
civilian contact person will be in a position to raise the bread
and arrange the printing and distribution of the paper. You can
write one of the national G.I. newspaper organizations listed at
the end of this section if you are unable to find help locally. The
paper should be printed off the base. Government equipment should
be avoided.
Correspondence and subscriptions can be solicited through the
use of a post office box. Such a box is inexpensive and secret (at
least that's what the G.I. papers now publishing report) from
military snoopers up tight about bad publicity if they get caught
spying. If you are mailing the paper to other G.I.'s use first
class mail and a plain envelope. This is advice to anybody sending
stuff to a G.I. The mail is handled by "lifers" who will report
troublemakers to their C.O. (Commanding Officer) if they notice
anti-war slogans on envelopes or dirty commie rags coming their
way.
You'll want to publish stuff relevant to the lives of the
G:I.'s on your base. News of demonstrations, articles on the war,
racism, counter-culture and vital info on how to bug the higher-ups
and get out of the military service are all good. Get samples of
other newspapers already in operation to get the flavor of writing
that has become popular.
Distributing the paper is really more of a problem than the
publishing. Here you run smack into Catch 22, which says, "no
printed matter may be distributed on a military base without prior
written permission of the commanding officer." No such permit has
been granted in military history. A few court battles have had
limited success and you should go through the formality of
obtaining a permit. Send the first issue of the paper to your C.O.
with a cover letter stating where and when you intend to distribute
the paper on the base. In no part of the application should you
list your names. Have a civilian, preferably a civil liberties
lawyer, sign the declaration of intent. If more info is requested,
go over it with the lawyer before responding, Natch, they're going
to want to know who you are and where you get your bread, but fuck
'em. Whether or not you get a permit or have a successful court
battle is pretty academic. If the military pigs catch you handing
out an underground paper on the base, you're headed for trouble.
Use civilian volunteers from your local peace group in as many
public roles as possible. They'll be glad to help out.
Print and distribute as many copies as you can rather than
concentrating on an expensively printed paper with numerous pages.
The very existence of the paper around the base is the most
important info the paper can offer. Leave some in mess halls,
theaters, benches, washrooms, and other suitable spots. Off base
get the paper to sympathetic reporters, coffee houses, colleges and
the like. Outside U.S.O. centers and bus terminals are a good place
to get the paper out. Rely on donations, so you can make the paper
free. Get it together. Demand the right to join the army of your
choice. The People's Army! As Joe Hill said in one of his songs,
"Yes, I'll pick up a gun but I won't guarantee which way I'll point
it."
NEWS SERVICES
Aside from UPS, which is the association of papers, there are
five news services that we know of that you might be interested in
subscribing to for national stories, photos, production ideas, news
of other papers and general movement dope. LNS is the best known.
It sends out packets once a week that include about thirty pages
with original articles, eye-witness reports, reprints from foreign
papers and photographs. They tend to be heavily political rather
than cultural and view themselves as molders of ideology rather
than strictly a service organization of the underground papers. A
subscription costs $15.00 per month, but if you're just starting
out they are good about slow payments and such.
You should get in the habit of sending special articles, in
particular eye-witness accounts of events that other papers might
use, to one or more of the news services for distribution. If you
hear of an important event that you would like to cover in your
newspaper, call the paper in that area for a quick report. They
might send you photos if you agree to reciprocate.
- LIBERATION NEWS SERVICE-160 Claremont Ave., New York, N.Y. 10027
(212) 749-2200
- COLLEGE PRESS SERVICE-1779 Church St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 387-7575
- CHICANO PRESS ASSOCIATION-La Raza, Box 31004, Los Angeles,
California 90031
- G.I. PRESS SERVICE-Rm 907, 1029 Vermont Ave., NW, Washington, D.C.
20005
- FREE RANGER INTERTRIBAL NEWS SERVICE-Box 26, Village Station, N.Y.,
N.Y. 10014 (212) 691-6973
A complete and up-to-date list of G.I. underground papers can
be obtained by writing to G.I. Press Service, 1029 Vermont Ave.,
NW, Rm 907, Washington, D.C. 20005. G.I. Alliance provides
excellent national newsletters with all sorts of ways to fuck up
the Army. Write G.I. Alliance, PO Box 9087, Washington, D.C. 20003.
The phone is (202) 544-1654. American Serviceman's Union, 156 5th
Avenue, New York, N.Y., 10010 will also help, as well as provide
legal and medical aid to G.I.'s.
A complete and up to date list of Chicano underground papers
can be obtained by writing to Chicano Press Association, La Raza,
Box 31004, Los Angeles, California 90031.
The Young Lords Organization paper Palante can be obtained by
writing to Young Lords Party, Ministry of Finance, 1678 Madison
Ave., New York, N.Y. 10029. It's $5.75 for 24 issues.
The Black Panther Party paper can be obtained by writing to
Black Panther Party, Ministry of Information, Box 2967, Custom
House, San Francisco, Calif. 94126. It's $7.50 for 52 issues.
THE UNDERGROUND PRESS
- ALBION'S VOICE, Box 9033, Savannah, Ga. 31401 $4/yr.
- AMAZING GRACE, 212 W. College Ave. Tallahassee, Fla.
$6/26 issues.
- ANGRY CITY PRESS, 14016 Orinoco Ave., E. Cleveland, Ohio 44112
- ANN ARBOR ARGUS, 708 Arch St., Ann Arbor, Mich. 48104 $3/yr.
- AQUARIAN ORACLE, 8003 Santa Monica Blvd., L.A., Calif. .50/iss.
- AQUARIAN TIMES, 331 Forest Acres Shipping Ctr., Easley, S.C. 29640
- AQUARIAN WEEKLY, 292 Main St., Hackensack, N.J.
- ASTRAL PROJECTION, Box 4383, Albuquerque, N. Mex. 87106
- AUGUR, 207 Ransom Bldg., 115 E. 11th Ave., Eugene, Ore. 97401
- BARD OBSERVER, Box 76, Bard College, Annandale-on-the Hudson, N.Y.
12504
- BERKELEY BARB, Box 1247, Berkeley, Calif. 94715 $6/yr.
- BERKELEY TRIBE, Box 9049, Berkeley, Calif. 94709 $8/
- BOTH SIDES NOW, 10370 St. Augustine Rd., Jacksonville, Fla. 32217
$2/12 iss.
- BROADSIDE/FREE PRESS, Box 65, Cambridge, Mass. 02139 $4.50/yr.
- BURNING RIVER NEWS, 12027 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44112 $5/yr.
- CHINOOK, 1452 Pennsylvania St., Denver, Col., 80203 $6/50 iss.
- THE CLAM COMMUNITY LIBERATOR, Box 13101, St. Petersburg, Fla. 33733
- COME OUT, Box 92, Village Station, New York, N.Y. 10014,
$6.50/12 iss.
- COUNTRY SENSES, Box 465, Woodbury, Conn. 06798 $5/yr.
- CREEM, 3729 Cass Ave., Detroit, Mich. 48201 $5/24 iss.
- DAILEY PLANET, Suite 2-3514 S. Dixie Hwy., Coconut Grove, Fla.
33133 $5/yr.
- DALLAS NOTES, Box 7140, Dallas, Texas 75209 $5/yr.
- DIFFERENT DRUMMER, Box 2638, Little Rock, Ark. 72203 $2/14 iss.
- DISTANT DRUMMER, 420 South St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19147 $7/yr.
- DOOR TO LIBERATION, Box 2022, San Diego, Calif. 92112 $4/26 iss.
- DWARFF, Box 26, Village Station, N.Y., N.Y. 10014
- EAST VILlAGE OTHER, 20 E. 12 St., N.Y., N.Y. 10003 $6/yr.
- EL GRITO DEL NORTE, Box 466, Fairview Station, Espanola, N.M.
$4/yr.
- EYE OF THE BEAST, Box 9218, Tampa, Fla. 33604
- FERAFERIA, Box 691, Altadena, Calif. 91001 $4/13 iss.
- FIFTH ESTATE, 1107 W. Warren, Detroit, Mich. 48201 $3.75/yr.
- FILMMAKERS NEWSLETTER, 80 Wooster St., N.Y., N.Y. 10012
- FREEDOM NEWS, Box 1087, Richmond, Calif. 94801 $2.50/12 iss.
- FREE SPAGHETTI DINNER, Box 984, Santa Cruz, Calif. 95060 $4/yr.
- FREE YOU, 117 University Ave., Palo Alto, Calif. 94301 $6/yr.
- FUSION, 909 Beacon St., Boston, Mass. 02215 $5/yr.
- GEST, Box 1079, Northland Center, Southfield, Mich. 48075 $2/yr.
- GREAT SPECKLED BIRD, Box 54495, Atlanta, Ga. 30308 $6/yr.
- GREENFEEL, Jms Madison Law Inst., 4 Patchin Pl., N.Y., N.Y. 10011
- GUARDIAN, 32 W. 22 St., N.Y. N.Y. 10010
- HAIGHT-ASHBURY TRIBUNE, 1778 Haight St., San Francisco, Calif.
94117 $10/yr.
- HARRY, 233 East 25th St., Baltimore, Md., 21218 $4/yr.
- INDIANAPOLIS FREE PRESS, Box 225, Indianapolis, Ind. 46206
$5/26 iss.
- INQUISITION, Box 3882, Charlotte, N.C. 28203 $2/6 iss.
- KALEIDOSCOPE, Box 5457, Milwaukee, Wisc. 53211 $5/26 iss.
- KUDZU, Box 22502, Jackson, Miss. 39205 $4/yr.
- LAS VEGAS FREE PRESS, Box 14096, Las Vegas, Nev. 89114 $7/yr.
- LEFT FACE, Box 1595, Anniston, Ala. 36201
- LIBERATION, 339 Lafayette St., N.Y. 10012
- LIBERATION NEWS SERVICE, 160 Claremont Ave., N.Y. 10027 $15/mth.
- LIBERATOR, Box 1147, Morgantown, W. Virginia 26505
- LONGBEACH FREE PRESS, 1255 E. 10, Long Beach, Ca. 90813 $6/25 iss.
- LOS ANGELES FREE PRESS, 7813 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, Ca. 90036
$6/yr.
- MADISON KALEIDOSCOPE, Box 881, Madison, Wisc. 53701 $5/yr.
- MARIJUANA REVIEW, Calif. Instit. of Arts, 7500 Glenoaks Blvd.,
Burbank, Calif. 91504
- MEMPHIS ROOT, Box 4747, Memphis, Tenn. 38104 $3.50/yr.
- METRO, 906 W. Forest, Detroit, Mich. 48202 $4/yr.
- MODERN UTOPIAN, P.0. Drawer A; Diamond Hts. Sta., S.F., Ca.
94131 $4/yr.
- MOTHER EARTH NEWS, Box 38 Madison, Ohio 44057 $5/yr
- NEWS FROM NOWHERE, Box 501, Dekalb, Ill. 60115 $5/yr.
- NEW PRAIRIE PRIMER, Box 726, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613 $4/20 iss.
- NEW YORK HERALD TRIBUNE, 110 St. Marks Place, N.Y. $5/lifetime
- NOLA EXPRESS, Box 2342, New Orleans, La. 70116 $3/yr.
- NORTH CAROLINA ANVIL, Box 1148, Durham, N.C. 27702 $7.50/yr.
- NORTHWEST PASSAGE, Box 105, Fairhaven Sta., Bellingham, Wash. 98225
$5/yr.
- OLD MOLE, 2 Brookline St., Cambridge, Mass. 02139 $5/20 iss.
- ORACLE OF SAN FRANCISCO, 1764 Haight St., San Francisco, Ca. 94117
- OTHER SCENES, Box B, Village Station, N.Y. 10014 $6/yr.
- OTHER VOICE, c/o Why Not Inc., Box 3175, Shreveport, La. 71103
$5/yr.
- PAPER WORKSHOP, 6 Helena Ave., Larchmont, N.Y. 10538 $4/yr.
- PEOPLES DREADNAUGHT, Box 1071, Beloit, Wisc.
- PHILADELPHIA FREE PRESS, Box 1986, Philadelphia, Pa. 19105
- PROTEAN RADISH, Box 202, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27514 $8/yr.
- PROVINCIAL PRESS, Madala Print Shop, Box 1276, Spokane, Wash. 99210
$5/yr.
- QUICKSILVER TIMES, 1736 R St., N.W. Wash., D.C. 20009 $8/yr.
- RAG, 2330 Guadalupe, Austin, Tex. 78705 $7.50/yr.
- RAT, 241 E. 14 St., N.Y. 10009 $6/yr.
- REBIRTH, Box 729, Phoenix, Ariz. 85001
- RISING UP ANGRY, Box 3746, Merchandise Mart, Chicago, Ill. 60654
$5/yr.
- ROOSEVELT TORCH, 430 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60605
- SAN DIEGO STREET JOURNAL, Box 1332, San Diego, Calif. 92112
- SECOND CITY, c/o The Guild, 2136 N. Halsted, Chicago, Ill. 60614
$6/26 iss.
- SECOND COMING, Box 491 Ypsilanti, Mich. 48197
- SEED, 950 W. Wrightwood, Chicago, Ill. 60614 $6/yr.
- SPACE CITY, 1217 Wichita, Houston, Tex. 77004
- SPECTATOR, c/o S. Indiana Media Corp., Box 1216, Bloomington, Ind.
47401
- SUNDANCE, 1520 Hill, Ann Arbor, mich. 48104 $3.50/yr.
- UPROAR, 44 Wimbleton Lane, Great Neck, N.Y. 11023
- VIEW FROM THE BOTTOM, 632 State St., New Haven, Conn. 06510
$5/20 iss.
- VORTEX, 706 Mass St., Lawrence, Kansas 66044 $5/24 iss.
- WALRUS, Box 2307, Sta. A, Champaign, Ill. 61820
- WATER TUNNEL, Box 136, State College, Pa. 16801 $3/Yr.
- WILLIAMETTE BRIDGE, 6 SW 6th, Portland, Ore. 97209 $5/26 iss.
- WIN, 339 Lafayette St., N.Y. 10012 $5/yr.
- WORKER'S POWER, 14131 Woodward Ave., Highland Park, Mich. 48203
$3.50/yr.
USA/UPS ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
- AKWESASNE NOTES, Roosevelton, N.Y. 13683 .50/iss.
- ALESTLE, c/o Paul Gorden, 7404 Tower Lake, Apt. 1D, Edwardsville,
Ill. 62025
- ALLIANCE MAGAZINE, Box 229, Athens, Ohio 45701
- ALL YOU CAN EAT, R.P.O. 4949, New Brunswick, N.J. 08903 $3/yr.
- ALLTOGETHER, 44208 Montgomery-33 Palm Desert, Calif. $10/yr.
- ALBION'S VOICE, P.0. Box 9033, Savannah, Ga. 31401 $4/yr.
- AQUARIAN HERALD, Box 83, Virginia Beach, Va. 23458
- ATLANTIS, 204 Oxford, Dayton, Ohio
- BOTH SIDES NOW, 10370 St. Augustine Rd., Jacksonville, Fla. 33217
$3.50/12 iss.
- COLLECTIVE, 614 Clark St., Evanston, Ill. 60201
- COME TOGETHER, P.O. Box 163, Encino, Calif. 91316
- CROSSROADS, Hill School, Pottstown, Pa. 19464
- DALLAS NEWS (CORP), P.0. Box 7013, Dallas, Texas 75209 $/24 iss.
- THE D.C. GAZETTE, 109 8th N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002 $5/yr.
- EDGE CITY, 116 Standart St., Syracuse, N.Y. 13201 $3/yr.
- EVERYWOMAN, 6516 W. 83 St., Los Angeles, Calif. 90045 $2.50/iss.
- FAIR WITNESS, P.0. Box 7165, 0akland Sta., Pittsburgh, Pa. 15213
- FOX VALLEY KALEIDOSCOPE, Box 252, Oshkosh, Wisc. 54901
- FREE PRESS OF LOUISVILLE, 1438 S. First St., Louisville, Ky. 40208
$6/yr.
- HIGH GAUGE, Box 4491, University, Ala. 35486 $5/Yr.
- THE HIPS VOICE, P.O. Box 5132, Santa Fe, N. Mexico 87501 $5/24 iss.
- HOME NEWS CO., P.O. Box 5263, Grand Central Station, N.Y. 10017
- HUNDRED FLOWERS, Box 7152, Minneapolis, Minn. 55407 $9/yr.
- IT AIN'T ME BABE, c/o W.L. Office Box 6323, Albany, Calif. 94706
$6/yr.
- LIBERATED GUARDIAN, 14 Cooper Sq., New York, N.Y. 10003 $10/yr.
- THE LONG ISLAND FREE PRESS, P.O. Box 162, Westbury, N.Y. 11590
$6/2 yr.
- NEW TIMES, Box J, Temple, Ariz. 85281 $10/52 iss.
- NOTES FROM UNDERGROUND, P.O. Box 15081, San Francisco, Calif. 94115
- OUR TOWN (COLLECTIVE), Box 611, Eau Claire, Wisc.
- PALANTE YLP, 1678 Madison Ave., New York, N.Y.
- PROTOS, 1110 N. Edgemont St., Los Angeles, Calif. 90029 $3/yr.
- PURPLE BERRIES, 449 West Seventh Ave., Columbus Ohio
- REARGUARD, P.O. Box 8115, Mobile, Ala. 36608 $4/yr.
- THE S.S. PENTANGLE, Box 4429, New Orleans, La. 70118 $4/20 iss.
- ST. LOUIS OUTLAW, Box 9501, Cabanne Sta., St. Louis, Mo. 63161
- SUSQUEHANNA BUGLER, 700 Market St., Williamsport, Pa. 17701
.25/iss.
- TASTY COMIX, Box 21101, Wash., D.C. 20009
- THE TIMES NOW, Box 676, Coconut Grove, Fla. 33133
- TUSCON FREE PRESS, Box 3403, College Sta., Tuscon, Ariz. 85716
CANADA/UPS
- ALTERNATE SOCIETY, 10 Thomas St., St. Catharines, Ont.
$3.50/12 iss.
- CARILLON, Univ. of Sask. Regina Campus, Regina, Saskatchewan
- CHEVRON, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario $8/yr.
- DIME BAG, 3592 University St., Montreal 130, Que.
- FOURTH ESTATE, 24 Brighton Ct., Fredericton, N.B.
- GEORGIA STRAIGHT, 56A Powell St., Vancouver, 4, B.C. $9/52 iss.
- HARBINGER, Box 751, Stn F, Toronto 285, Ontario $4/26 iss.
- OCTOPUS, Box 1259, Station B, Ottawa, 4 $4.50/26 iss.
- OMPHALOS, 279½ Fort St. No. 4, Winnipeg 1, Manitoba $5/26 iss.
- PRAIRIE FIRE; FOURTH ESTATE, Regina Community Media Project,
210 Northern Crown Bldg. Regina, Sask.
- SWEENEY, 119 Thomas St., Oakville, Ontario $2.50/12 iss.
EUROPE/UPS
- Europe/UPS, Box 304, 8025, Zurich, Switzerland
- FIFTH COLUMN, 100 New Cavendish Street, London W1, England
- FRIENDS, 305 Portobello Rd., London W10, England
- HAPT, Flat L, 42 Moore Ave., W. Howe, Bournemouth, Hampshire,
England
- HOLLAND HAPT, Keigersstraat 2a, Amsterdam, Holland
- HOTCHAI, Postfach 304-CH 8025, Zurich 25, Switz. $5/yr.
- INTERNATIONAL TIMES, 27 Endell St., London, WC2, Eng. $5/yr.
- KARGADOOR, Oude Gracht 36 bis. Utrecht, Holland
- OEUF, 14 Ch de la Mogeonne, 1293 Bellevue, Geneva Switzerland
- OM, Kaizerstraat 2A, 11et, Amsterdam, Holland, Neth.
- OPS VEDA, 16 Woodholm Rd., Sheffield 11, England
- OZ, 52 Princedale Rd., London W11, England $6/yr.
- PEACE NEWS, 5 Celedonian Rd., Kings Cross, London W1, Eng.
$8.50/yr.
- PIANETA FRESCA, 14 Vie Manzoni, Milano, Italy 20121 $1/iss.
- QUINTO LICEO, c/o Tommsaco Bruccoleri, 3, Meadow Place,
London, England
- REAL FREE PRESS, Runstraat 31, Amsterdam, Netherlands $1/2 iss.
- RED MOLE, 182 Pentonville Rd., London N1 Eng. $5.50/yr.
- ROTTEN, Huset, Readhusstraede 13, 1466 Copenhagen K. Denmark
EUROPEAN ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
- CYCLOPS, 32. St. Petersburg Place, London, W2, Eng. (Comix)
- GRASS EYE, 71 Osbourne Rd., Levenshulme, Manchester 19, Eng.
- MOLE EXPRESS, 19 New Brown St., Manchester 4, Eng.
- PANGGG, Upn-Sippenpresse, d-8500, Nurnberg Kopernikusstr. 4,
Germany
- PARIA, c/o Poretti Viavalle Maggia 41, 6600 Locarno, Switz.
- ZIGZAG, Yeoman Cottage, N. Marston, Bucks, England
LATIN AMERICA/UPS
-
ECO CONTEMPORANEO, C. Correo Central 1933, Buenos Aires, Argentina
...Membership list temporarily unavailable.
SWITCHBOARDS
A good way to quickly communicate what's coming down in the
community is to build a telephone tree. It works on a pyramid
system. A small core of people are responsible for placing five
calls each. Each person on the line in turn calls five people and
so on. If the system is prearranged correctly with adjustments made
if some people don't answer the phone, you can have info
transmitted to about a thousand people in less than an hour. A
slower but more permanent method is to start a Switchboard.
Basically, a Switchboard is a central telephone number or numbers
that anybody can call night or day to get information. It can be as
sophisticated as the community can support. The people that agree
to answer the phone should have a complete knowledge of places,
services and events happening in the community. Keep a complete
updated file. The San Francisco Switchboard (see below) puts out an
operator's manual explaining the organization and operation of a
successful switchboard. They will send it out for 12¢ postage. San
Francisco has the longest and most extensive Switchboard operation.
From time to time there are national conferences with local
switchboards sending a rep.
San Francisco
- THE SWITCHBOARD - 1830 Fell St., San Francisco, Calif. 94117
(415) 387-3575
- MUSIC SWITCHBOARD - 1826 Fell St., San Francisco, Calif. 94117
(415) 387-8008
- MISSION SWITCHBOARD - 848 14th St., San Francisco, Calif. 94110
(415) 863-3040
- CHINATOWN EXCHANGE - 1042 Grant Ave., San Francisco, Calif. 94108
(415) 421-0943
- THE HELP UNIT - 86 3rd St., San Francisco, Calif. 94103
(415) 421-9850
- WESTERN ADDITION SWITCHBOARD - Fell & Fillmore, San Francisco,
Calif. (415) 626-8524
California
- CHICO SWITCHBOARD - 120 W. 2nd St., Chico, Calif. (916) 342-7546
- EAST OAKLAND SWITCHBOARD - 2812 73rd Ave., Oakland, Calif.
(415)569-6369
- MARIN MUSIC SWITCHBOARD - 1017 "D" St., San Rafael, Calif.
(415) 457-2104
- WEST OAKLAND LEGAL SWITCHBOARD - 2713 San Pablo, Oakland, Calif.
(415) 836-3013
- SWITCHBOARD OF MARIN - 1017 "D" St., San Rafael, Calif.
(415) 456-5300
- BERKELEY SWITCHBOARD - 2389 Oregon, Berkeley, Calif. (415) 549-0649
- SANTA CRUZ SWITCHBOARD - 604 River St., Santa Cruz, Calif.
(408) 426-8500
- PALO ALTO XCHANGE - 457 Kingsley Ave., Palo Alto, Calif.
(415) 327-9008
- SAN JOSE SWITCHBOARD - 50 S. 4th St., San Jose, Calif. (408)
295-2938
- SANTA BARBARA SWITCHBOARD - 6575 Seville, Isla Vista, Calif.
(805) 968-3564
- EUREKA SWITCHBOARD - 1427 California, Eureka, Calif. (707) 443-8901
& 443-8311
- UC DAVIS SWITCHBOARD - (on campus), UC Davis, Calif. (916) 752-3495
Other Western States
- TURNSTILE - 1900 Emerson, Denver, Colorado (303) 623-3445
- BLACKHAWK INFORMATION CENTER - 628 Walnut St., Waterloo, Iowa
(319) 234-9965
- TAOS SWITCHBOARD - c/o Gen. Del., Taos, New Mexico (505) 758-4288
- PORTLAND SWITCHBOARD - 1216 SW Salmon, Portland, Oregon
(503) 224-0313
- HOUSTON SWITCHBOARD - 108 San Jacinto, Houston, Texas
(713) 228-6072
- YOUTH EMERGENCY SERVICE - 623 Cedar Ave. So., Minneapolis, Minn.
(612) 338-7588
Eastern States
- POWELTON TROUBLE CENTER - 222 N. 35th St., Phila., Penna..
(215) 382-6472
- WASHINGTON D.C. SWITCHBOARD - 2201 P St. NW, Washington, D.C.
(202) 667-4684
- MIAMI CENTER FOR DIALOG - 2175 NW 26th St., Miami, Fla.
(305) 634-7741
- CANTERBURY HOUSE - 330 Maynard S, Ann Arbor, Michigan
(313) 665-0606
- THE LISTENING EAR - 547 E. Grand River, East Lansing, Michigan
(517) 337-1717
- THE ECSTATIC UMBRELLA - 3800 McGee Kansas City, Missouri
(816) 561-4524
- OPEN CITY - 4726 3rd St., Detroit, Michigan (313) 831-2770
- SWITCHBOARD INC. - 1722 Summit St., Number 6, Columbus, Ohio
(614) 294-6378
- HELP - c/o Marby Beil, 1708 E. Lafayette, Number 5, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin (414) 273-5959
- UNITED CHURCH PRESBYTERIAN - 181 Mount Horeb Rd., Warren, N.J.
(201) 469-5044
- BOSTON SWITCHBOARD - 45 Bowdoin St., Boston, Mass. (617) 246-4255
- PROJECT PLACE - 37 Rutland St., Boston, Mass.(617)267-5280
- BEVERLY SWITCHBOARD - Beverly Hospital, Beverly, Mass.
(617) 922-0000
- FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF ACTON - 8 Concord Rd., Acton, Mass.
(617) 263-3940
- HALF WAY HOUSE - 20 Linwood Sq., Roxbury, Mass. (617) 442-7591
- ACID - 13 Linden Ave., Malden, Mass. (617) 342-2218
- PROJECT ASSIST - 945 Great Plain Ave., Needham, Mass.
(617) 444-1902& 3
- LEXINGTON - ARLINGTON HOT LINE - 1912 Mass. Ave., Lexington, Mass.
(617) 862-8130&1
- COMMUNITY YOUTH COMMISSION - 945 Great Plain Ave., Needham, Mass.
(617) 444-1795
- HOT LINE - 429 Cherry St., West Newton, Mass. (617) 969-5906
Other Countries
- BINARY INFORMATION TRANSFER - 141 Westbourne Park Rd., London W2,
England. Ask overseas operator for London 222-8219
- CANADIAN SWITCHBOARD - 282 Rue Ste. Catherine, West, Montreal,
Quebec, Canada (514) 866-2672
For a complete and up-to-date list of switchboards and similar
projects around the country, write to San Francisco Switchboard.
They need 25 cents to cover postage costs.
Guerrilla Broadcasting
GUERRILLA RADIO
Under FCC Low Power Transmission Regulations, it is legal to
broadcast on the AM band without even obtaining a license, if you
transmit with 100 milliwatts of power or less on a free band space
that doesn't interfere with a licensed station. You are further
allowed up to a 12-foot antenna or the use of carrier-current
transmission (regular electric wall outlets). Using this legal
set-up, you can broadcast from a 2 to 20 block radius depending on
how high up you can locate your antenna and the density of tall
buildings in the area.
Carrier-current broadcasting consists of plugging the
transmitter into a regular wall socket. It draws power in the same
way as any other electrical appliance, and feeds its signal into
the power line allowing the broadcast to be heard on any AM radio
tuned into the operating frequency. The transmitter can be adjusted
to different frequencies until a clear band is located. The signal
will travel over the electrical wiring until it hits a transformer
where it will be erased. The trouble with this method is that in
large cities, almost every large office or apartment building has a
transformer. You should experiment with this method first, but if
you are in a city, chances are you'll need an antenna rigged up on
the roof. Anything over twelve feet is illegal, but practice has
shown that the FCC won't hassle you if you don't have commercials
and refrain from interfering with licensed broadcasts. There are
some cats in Connecticut broadcasting illegally with a 100-foot
antenna over a thirty mile radius for hours on end and nobody gives
them any trouble. Naturally if you insist upon using dirty
language, issuing calls to revolution, broadcasting bombing
information, interfering with above ground stations and becoming
too well known, the FCC is going to try and knock you out. There
are penalties that have never been handed out of up to a year in
jail. It's possible you could get hit with a conspiracy rap, which
could make it a felony, but the opinion of movement lawyers now is
a warning if you're caught once, and a possible fine with stiffer
penalties possible for repeaters that are caught.
If it gets really heavy, you could still broadcast for up to
15 minutes without being pin-pointed by the FCC sleuths. By
locating your equipment in a panel truck and broadcasting from a
fixed roof antenna, you can make it almost impossible for them to
catch you by changing positions.
There has been a variety of transmitting equipment used, and
the most effective has been found to be an AM transmitter
manufactured by Low Power Broadcasting Co., 520 Lincoln Highway,
Frazer, Penn. 19355. Call Dick Crompton at (215 NI 4-4096. The
right transmitter will run about $200. If you plan to use
carrier-current transmission you'll also need a capacitor that
sells for $30. An antenna can be made out of aluminum tubing and
antenna wiring available at any TV radio supply store (see
diagram). You'll also need a good microphone that you can get for
about $10. Naturally, equipment for heavier broadcasting is
available if a member of your group has a license or good
connections with someone who works in a large electronics supply
house. Also with a good knowledge in the area you can build a
transmitter for a fraction of the purchase price. You can always
employ tape recorders, turntables and other broadcasting hardware
depending on how much bread you have, how much stuff you have to
hide (i.e., how legal your operation is) and the type of
broadcasting you want to do.
It is possible to extend your range by sending a signal over
the telephone lines to other transmitters which will immediately
rebroadcast. Several areas in a city could be linked together and
even from one city to another. Theoretically, if enough people rig
up transmitters and antennas at proper locations and everyone
operates on the same band, it is possible to build a nation-wide
people's network that is equally theoretically legal.
Broadcasting, it should be remembered, is a one-way
transmission of information. Communications which allow you to
transmit and receive are illegal without a license (ham radio).
GUERRILLA TELEVISION
There are a number of outlaw radio projects going on around
the country. Less frequent, but just as feasible, is a people's
television network. Presently there are three basic types of TV
systems: Broadcast, which is the sending of signals directly from a
station's transmitter to home receiver sets; Cable, where the cable
company employees extremely sensitive antenna to pick up broadcast
transmissions and relay them and/or they originate and send them;
and thirdly, Closed Circuit TV, such as the surveillance cameras in
supermarkets, banks and apartment house lobbies.
The third system as used by the pigs is of little concern,
unless we are interested in not being photographed. The cameras can
be temporarily knocked out of commission by flashing a bright light
(flashbulb, cigarette lighter, etc.) directly in front of its lens.
For our own purposes, closed-circuit TV can be employed for
broadcasting rallies, rock concerts or teach-ins to other
locations. The equipment is not that expensive to rent and easy to
operate. Just contact the largest television or electronics store
in your area and ask about it. There are also closed-circuit and
cable systems that work in harmony to broadcast special shows to
campuses and other institutions. Many new systems are being
developed and will be in operation soon.
Cable systems as such are in use only in a relatively few
areas. They can be tapped either at the source or at any point
along the cable by an engineer freak who knows what to do. The
source is the best spot, since all the amplification and
distribution equipment of the system is available at that point.
Tapping along the cable itself can be a lot hairier, but more
frustrating for the company when they try to trace you down.
Standard broadcasting that is received on almost all living
room sets works on an RF (radio frequency) signal sent out on
various frequencies which correspond to the channels on the tuner.
In no area of the country are all these channels used. This raises
important political questions as to why people do not have the
right to broadcast on unused channels. By getting hold of a TV
camera (Sony and Panasonic are the best for the price) that has an
RF output, you can send pictures to a TV set simply by placing the
camera cable on or near the antenna of the receiver set. When the
set is operating on the same channel as the camera, it will show
what the camera sees. Used video tape recorders such as the Sony CV
series that record and play back audio and video information are
becoming more available. These too can be easily adapted to send RF
signals the same as a live camera.
Whether or not the program to be broadcasted is live or on
tape, there are three steps to be taken in order to establish a
people's TV network. First, you must convert the video and audio
signals to an RF frequency modulated (FM) signal corresponding to
the desired broadcast channel. We suggest for political and
technical reasons that you pick one of the unused channels in your
area to begin experimenting. The commercial stations have an
extremely powerful signal and can usually override your small
output. Given time and experience you might want to go into direct
competition with the big boys on their own channel. It is entirely
possible, say in a 10 to 20 block radius, to interrupt a
presidential press-conference with more important news. Electronic
companies, such as Jerrold Electronics Corp., 4th and Walnut Sts.,
Philadelphia, Pa., make equipment that can RF both video and audio
information onto specific channels. The device you'd be interested
in is called a cable driver or RF modulator.
When the signal is in the RF state, it is already possible to
broadcast very short distances. The second step is to amplify the
signal so it will reach as far as possible. A linear amplifier of
the proper frequency is required for this job. The stronger the
amplifier the farther and more powerful the signal. A 10-watt job
will cover approximately 5 miles (line of sight) in area. Linear
amplifiers are not that easily available, but they can be
constructed with some electrical engineering knowledge.
The third step is the antenna, which if the whole system is to
be mobile to avoid detection, is going to involve some
experimentation and possible camouflage. Two things to keep in mind
about an antenna are that it should be what is technically referred
to as a "di-pole" antenna (see diagram) and since TV signals travel
on line of sight, it is important to place the antenna as high as
possible. Although it hasn't been done in practice, it certainly is
possible to reflect pirate signals off an make equipment that can
RF both video and audio existing antenna of a commercial network.
This requires a full knowledge of broadcasting; however, any
amateur can rig up an antenna, attach it to a helium balloon and
get it plenty high. For most, the roof of a tall building will
suffice. If you're really uptight about your operation, the antenna
can be hidden with a fake cardboard chimney.
We realize becoming TV guerrillas is not everyone's trip, but
a small band with a few grand can indeed pull it off. There are a
lot of technical freaks hanging around recording studios, guitar
shops, hi-fi stores and engineering schools that can be turned on
to the project. By showing them the guidelines laid out here, they
can help you assemble and build various components that are
difficult to purchase (i.e., the linear amplifier). Naturally, by
building some of the components, the cost of the operation is kept
way down. Equipment can be purchased in selective electronics
stores. You'll need a camera, VTR, RF modulator, linear amplifier
and antenna. Also a generator, voltage regulator and an alternator
if you want the station to be mobile. One of the best sources of
information on both television and radio broadcasting is the Radio
Amateur's Handbook published by the American Radio Relay League,
Newington, Conn. 06611 and available for $4.50. The handbook gives
a complete course in electronics and the latest information on all
techniques and equipment related to broadcasting. Back issues have
easy to read do-it-yourself TV transmitter diagrams and
instructions. Also available is a publication called Radical
Software, put out by Raindance Corp., 24 E. 22nd St., New York,
N.Y., with the latest info on all types of alternative
communications.
Guerrilla TV is the vanguard of the communications revolution,
rather than the avant-garde cellophane light shows and the weekend
conferences. One pirate picture on the sets in Amerika's living
rooms is worth a thousand wasted words.
With the fundamentals in this field mastered, you can rig up
all sorts of shit. Cheap twenty-dollar tape recorders can be
purchased and outfitted with a series of small loud-speakers.
Concealed in a school auditorium or other large hall, such a system
can blast out any message or music you wish to play. The
administration will go insane trying to locate the operation if it
is well hidden. We know two cats who rigged a church with this type
of setup and a timing device. Right in the middle of the sermon, on
came Radio Heaven and said stuff like "Come on preacher, this is
God, you don't believe all that crap now, do you?" It made for an
exciting Sunday service, all right. You can build a miniature
transmitter and with a small magnet attach it to the underbelly of
a police car to keep track of where it's going. This would only be
practical in a small town or on a campus where there are only a few
security guards or patrol vehicles. If you rigged a small tape
recorder to the transmitter and tuned it to a popular AM band, the
patrol car as it rode around could actually broadcast the guerrilla
message you prerecorded. Wouldn't they be surprised when they found
out how you did it? You can get a "Bumper Beeper" and receiver that
are constructed by professionals for use by private detectives. The
dual unit costs close to $400. If you've got that kind of bread,
you can write John Bomar, 6838 No. 3rd Ave., Phoenix, Arizona 85013
for a catalogue and literature.
Even though there are laws governing the area of sneaky
surveillance, telephone taps, tracking devices and the like, a
number of enterprising firms produce an unbelievable array of
electronic hardware that allows you to match Big Brother's ears and
eyes. Sugar cube transmitters, tie clasp microphones, phone taps,
tape recorders that work in a hollowed-out book and other Brave New
World equipment is available from the following places. Send for
their catalogues just to marvel at the level of technology.
R. B. Clifton, 1150 NW 7th Ave., Miami, Fla. 33168; Electrolab
Corp., Bank of Stateboro Building, Stateboro, Ga. 30458; or Tracer
Investigative Products, Inc., 256 Worth. Ave., Palm, Beach, Fla.
33482.
By the way, you can pick up Radio Hanoi on a short wave radio
every day from 3:00 to 3:30 PM at 15013 kilocycles on the 19 meter
band.
Demonstrations
Demonstrations always will be an important form of protest.
The structure can vary from a rally or teach-in to a massive civil
disobedience such as the confronting of the warmakers at the
Pentagon or a smoke-in. A demonstration is different from other
forms of warfare because it invites people other than those
planning the action via publicity to participate. It also is
basically non-violent in nature. A complete understanding of the
use of media is necessary to create the publicity needed to get the
word out. Numbers of people are only one of the many factors in an
effective demonstration. The timing, choice of target and tactics
to be employed are equally important. There have been
demonstrations of 400,000 that are hardly remembered and
demonstrations of a few dozen that were remarkably effective. Often
the critical element involved is the theater. Those who say a
demonstration should be concerned with education rather than
theater don't understand either and will never organize a
successful demonstration, or for that matter, a successful
revolution. Publicity includes everything from buttons and leaflets
to press conferences. You should be in touch with the best artists
you can locate to design the visual props. Posters can be silk
screened very cheaply and people can be taught to do it in a very
short time. Buttons have to be purchased. The cheapest are those
printed directly on the metal. The paint rubs off after a while,
but they are ideal for mass demonstrations. You can print 10,000
for about $250.00. Leaflets, like posters, should be well designed.
One way of getting publicity is to negotiate with the city for
permits. Again, this raises political questions, but there is not
doubt one reason for engaging in permit discussions is for added
publicity.
The date, time and place of the demonstration all have to be
chosen with skill. Know the projected weather reports. Pick a time
and day of the week that are convenient to most people. Make sure
the place itself adds some meaning to the message. Don't have a
demonstration just because that's the way it's always been done. It
is only one type of weapon and should be used as such. On the other
hand, don't dismiss demonstrations because they have always turned
out boring. You and your group can plan a demonstration within the
demonstration more accurately. Also don't tend to dismiss
demonstrations outright because the repression is too great. During
World War II the Danes held street demonstrations against the Nazis
who occupied their country. Even today there are public
demonstrations against the Vietnam War in downtown Saigon.
Repression is there, but overestimating it is more a tactical
blunder than the reverse. None the less, it's wise to go to all
demonstrations prepared for a vamping by the pigs.
DRESS
Most vamping is accompanied by clubbing, rough shoving and
dragging, gassing and occasional buckshot or rifle fire. The
clothing you wear should offer you the best protection possible,
yet be light weight enough to allow you to be highly mobile. CS and
CN are by far the most commonly employed tear gas dispersibles.
Occasionally they are combined with pepper gas to give better
results. Pepper gas is a nerve irritant that affects exposed areas
of the skin. Clothing that is tight fitting and covers as much of
the body surface as possible is advisable. This also offers some
protection if you are dragged along the ground. Gloves come in
handy as protection and if you want to pick up gas canisters and
throw them back at the pigs or chuck them through a store window.
Your shoes should be high sneakers for running or boots for
kicking. Hiking boots sold in army surplus stores serve both
purposes and are your best selection for street action. Men should
wear a jock strap or protective cup. Rib guards can be purchased
for about $6.00 at any sporting goods store. Shoulder pads and leg
pads are also available, but unless you expect heavy fighting and
are used to wearing this clumsy street armor, you'll be better off
without it.
HELMETS
Everyone should have a helmet. Your head sticks out above the
swarming crowd and dents like a tin can. Protect it! The type of
helmet you get depends on what you can afford and how often you'll
be using it. The cheapest helmet available is a heavy steel tank
model. This one is good because it offers ear protection and has a
built-in suspension system to absorb the blow. It is also bullet
proof. It's disadvantages are that it only comes in large sizes and
is the heaviest thing you'll ever have on your head. It costs about
$3.00. For $5.00 you can get a Civil Defense helmet made for
officers. It's much lighter, but doesn't offer protection for the
ears. It has a good suspension system. If you get this model, paint
it a dark color before using it and you'll be less conspicuous. Our
fashion consultants suggest anarchy black.
Construction helmets or "hard hats" run between $8.00 and
$10.00, depending on the type of suspension system and material
used. They are good for women because they are extremely
lightweight. The aluminum ones dent if struck repeatedly and the
fiberglass type can crack. Also they offer no ear protection. If
you prefer one of these you should find a way to attach a chin or
neck strap so you won't lose it while you run. If you get a hard
hat, make sure you remove the hard head before you take it home.
Probably the all-around good deal for the money is the
standard M-1 Army issue helmet. These vary in quality and price,
depending on age and condition. They run from $2.00 to $10.00.
Make sure the one you get has a liner with webbing that fits well
or is adjustable and has a chin strap. Their main disadvantage is
that they are bulky and heavy.
The snappiest demonstrators use the familiar motorcycle crash
helmet. They are the highest in price, running from $10.00 to as
high as $40.00. Being made of fiberglass, they are extremely
lightweight. They have a heavy-duty strap built in and they can be
gotten to fit quite snugly around the head. They offer excellent
ear protection. The foam rubber insulation is better than a webbing
system, and will certainly cushion most blows. Being made of
fiberglass, a few have been known to crack under repeated blows,
but that is extremely rare. Most come with plastic face guards that
offer a little added protection. Get only those with removable ones
since you might want to make use of a gas mask.
GAS MASKS
Ski goggles or the face visor on a crash helmet will protect
against Mace but will offer no protection against the chemical
warfare gasses being increasingly used by pigs to dispose crowds.
For this protection you'll need a gasmask. All the masks discussed
give ideal protection against the gasses mentioned in the chart if
used properly. If you do not have a gas mask, you should at least
get a supply of surgical masks from a hospital supply store and a
plastic bag filled with water and a cloth.
The familiar World War II Army gas mask with the filter in a
long nose unit sells new (which is the only way gas masks can be
sold) for about $5.00. Its disadvantages are that it doesn't cover
the whole face, is easy to grab and pull off and the awkwardly
placed filter makes running difficult. The Officer Civil Defense
unit sells for the same price and overcomes the disadvantages of
the World War II Army model. Most National Guard units use this
type of mask. It offers full face protection, is lightweight and
the filter canister is conveniently located. Also the adjustable
straps make for a nice tight fit. The U.S.A. Protective Field
Combat Mask M9A1 offers the same type protection as the OCD, but
costs twice as much. Its advantage is that you can get new filter
canisters when the chemicals in the one you are using becomes
ineffective. New filters cost about $1.50. When you buy a mask, be
sure and inquire if the filter has replacements. To get maximum
efficiency out of a mask it needs an active chemical filter.
The U.S. Navy ND Mark IV Mask is the most effective gas mask
available. It has replaceable filter canisters and fits snugly to
the head. It costs about $12.00. Its disadvantage is its dual tube
filter system, which is somewhat bulky. Fix it so the canister
rests on the back of your needs. It's more difficult to grab and
easier to run.
When you get your gas mask home, try it out to get the feeling
of using it. Make sure the fit is good and snug. Purchase an
anti-fog cloth for 25 cents where you got the mask. Wipe the inside
of the eye pieces before wearing to prevent the glasses from
clouding. Another good reason for wearing a mask is that it offers
anonymity. Helmets, gas masks and a host of other valuable
equipment are available at any large Army-Navy surplus store.
Kaufman's Surplus and Arms, Inc., 623 Broadway, New York, N.Y.
10012 is very well stocked. For 75 cents you can get their
catalogue and order through the mail. It's in New York though and
probably more expensive than a store in your locale. The surplus
stores buy from wholesale distributors themselves, who in turn buy
directly from the military. If you know a soldier or someone who is
married to a soldier, they have access to the Post Dispensary or PX
and can get all sorts of stuff at nothing prices. For 20 cents you
can get an invaluable pamphlet from the Government Printing Office
called How to Buy Surplus Personal Property. It has a complete list
of regional surplus wholesalers. The closest one in the Northeast
is the Naval Supply Center, Building 652, U.S. Naval Base,
Philadelphia, Pa. and in Northern California, the Naval Supply
Center, Building 502, Oakland, California. You can order by mail or
in person and the prices are very low, even though it isn't as good
as the stuff our brothers and sisters in the Viet Cong rip-off.
WALKIE-TALKIES
You should always go to a demonstration in a small group that
stays in contact with each other until the demonstration is over.
One way to keep in touch is to use walkie-talkies. No matter how
heavy the vamping gets or how spread out are the crowds, you'll be
able to communicate with these lightweight effective portable
devices. The only disadvantage is cost. A half decent unit costs at
least $18.00. It should have a minimum of 9 transistors and 100
milliwatts, although walkie-talkies can go as high as 5 watts and
broadcast over 2 miles. Anything under 1 watt will not broadcast
over ½ mile and considerably less in an area with tall buildings.
The best unit you can buy runs about $300.00. If you ever deck a
pig, steal his walkie-talkie even before you take his gun. A good
rule is to avoid the bargain gyp-joints and go to a place that
deals in electronic equipment.
The important thing to realize about all walkie-talkie
networks is that if anyone can talk, anyone else can listen and
vice versa. This applies to pigs as well as us. All walkie-talkies
work on the Civilian Band which has 23 channels. The cheaper units
are preset to channel 9 or 11. The pigs broadcast on higher
channels, usually channel 22. More expensive sets can operate on
alternative channels. By removing the front of the set, you can
adjust the transmitter and receiver to pick up and receive police
communications. Don't screw around with the inside though, unless
you know what you are doing. Allied Radio, 100 N. Western Ave.,
Chicago, Illinois 60680, will send you a good free catalogue, as
will most large electronic stores. Consider buying a number of sets
and ask about group discounts. Practice a number of times before
you actually use walkie-talkies in real action. Develop code names
and words just like the pigs do. Once you get acquainted with this
method of communications in the streets, you'll never get cut off
from the action. Watch out in close combat though. The pigs always
try to smash any electronic gear.
OTHER EQUIPMENT
A sign can be used to ward off blows. Staple it to a good
strong pole that you can use as a weapon if need be. Chains make
good belts, as do garrisons with the buckles sharpened. A tightly
rolled-up magazine or newspaper also can be used as a defensive
weapon.
Someone in your group should carry a first aid kit. A Medical
Emergency Aeronautic Kit, which costs about $5.00 has a perfect
carrying bag for street action.
Ideally you should visit the proposed site of the
demonstration before it actually takes place. This way you'll have
an idea of the terrain and the type of containment the police will
be using. Someone in your group should mimeograph a map of the
immediate vicinity which each person should carry. Alternative
actions and a rendezvous point should be worked out. Everyone
should have two numbers written on their arm, a coordination center
number and the number of a local lawyer or legal defense committee.
You should not take your personal phone books to demonstrations. If
you get busted, pigs can get mighty Nosy when it comes to phone
books. Any sharp objects can be construed as weapons. Women should
not wear earrings or other jewelry and should tie their hair up to
tuck it under a helmet. Wear a belt that you can use as a
tourniquet. False teeth and contact lenses should be left at home
if possible. You can choke on false teeth if you receive a sharp
blow while running. Contact lenses can complicate eye damage if gas
or Mace is used.
If it really looks heavy, you might want to pick up on a
lightweight adjustable bullet-proof vest, available for $14.95 from
Surplus Distributors, Inc., 6279 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys,
California 91401. Remember what the Boy Scouts say when they go
camping: "Be Prepared". When you go to demonstrations you should be
prepared for a lot more than speeches. The pigs will be.
Trashing
Ever since the Chicago pigs brutalized the demonstrators in
August of 1968, young people have been read to vent their rage over
Amerika's inhumanity by using more daring tactics than basic
demonstrations. There is a growing willingness to do battle with
the pigs in the streets and at the same time to inflict property
damage. It's not exactly rioting and it's not exactly guerrilla
warfare; it has come to be called "Trashing." Most trashing is of a
primitive nature with the pigs having the weapon and strategy
advantage. Most trashers rely on quick young legs and a nearby
rock. By developing simple gang strategy and becoming acquainted
with some rudimentary weapons and combat techniques, the odds can
be shifted considerably.
Remember, pigs have small brains and move slowly. All
formations, signals, codes and other procedures they use have to be
uniform and simplistic. The Army Plan for Containment and Control
of Civil Disorders, published by the Government Printing Office,
contains the basic thinking for all city, county and state storm
troopers. A trip to the library and a look at any basic text in
criminology will help considerably in gaining an understanding of
how pigs act in the street. If you study up, you'll find you can,
with the aid of a bullhorn or properly adjusted walkie-talkie, fuck
up many intricate pig formations. "Left flank-right turn!" said
authoritatively into a bullhorn pointed in the right direction will
yield all sorts of wild results.
You should trash with a group using a buddy system to keep
track of each other. If someone is caught by a pig, other should
immediately rush to the rescue if it's possible to do so without
sustaining too many losses. If an arrest is made, someone from your
gang should take responsibility for seeing to it that a lawyer and
bail bread are taken care of. Never abandon a member of your gang.
Avoid fighting in close quarters. You run less risk by
throwing an object than by personally delivering the blow with a
weapon you hold in your hand. We suppose this is what pigs refer to
as "duty fighting." All revolutionaries fight dirt in the eyes of
the oppressors. The British accused the Minutemen of Lexington and
Concord of fighting dirty by hiding behind trees. The U.S. Army
accuses the Viet Cong of fighting dirty when they rub a pointed
bamboo shoot in infected shit and use it as a land mine. Mayor
Daley says the Yippies squirted hair spray and used golf balls with
spikes in them against his innocent blue boys. No one ever accused
the U.S. of being sneaky for using an airforce in Southeast Asia or
the Illinois State Attorney's office of fighting dirty when it
murdered Fred Hampton and Mark Clark while they lay in bed. We say:
all power to the dirty fighters!
WEAPONS FOR STREET FIGHTING
Spray Cans
These are a very effective and educating method of property
destruction. If a liberated zone has been established or you find
yourself on a quiet street away from the thick of things, pretty up
the neighborhood. Slogans and symbols can be sprayed on rough
surfaces such as brick or concrete walls that are a real bitch to
remove unless expensive sandblasting is used.
The Slingshot
This is probably the ideal street weapon for the swarms of
little Davids that are out to down the Goliaths of Pigdom. It is
cheap, legal to carry, silent, fast-loading and any right size rock
will do for a missile. You can find them at hobby shops and large
sporting goods stores, especially those that deal in hunting
supplies. Wrist-Rocket makes a powerful and accurate slingshot for
$2.50. The Whamo Sportsman is not as good but half the price. By
selecting the right "Y" shaped branch, you can fashion a home-made
one by using a strip of rubber cut from the inner tube of a tue as
the sling. A few hours of shooting stones at cans in the back yard
or up on the roof will make you marksman enough for those fat bank
windows and even fatter pigs.
Slings
A sling is a home-made weapon consisting of two lengths of
heavy-duty cord each attached securely at one end to a leather
patch that serves as a pocket to cradle the rock. Place the rock in
the pouch and grab the two pieces of cord firmly in your hand.
Whirl the rock round and round until gravity holds it firmly in the
pouch. When you feel you have things under control, let one end of
the cord go and the rock will fly out at an incredible speed. You
should avoid using the sling in a thick crowd (rooftop shooting is
best). Practice is definitely needed to gain any degree of
accuracy.
Boomerangs
The boomerang is a neat weapon for street fighting and is as
easy to master as the Frisbee. There is a great psychological
effect in using exotic weapons such as this. You can buy one at
large hobby stores. On the East Coast you can get one from
Sportscraft, Bergenfield, New Jersey, for $2.69, and on the West
Coast from Whamo, 835 El Monte St., San Gabriel, Calif., for $1.10.
Flash Guns
Electric battery-operated flash guns are available that will
blind a power-crazy pig, thus distracting him long enough to rescue
a captured comrade. Check out camping and boating supply stores.
Tear Gas and Mace
Personalized tear gas and mace dispensers are available for
self-defense against muggers. Well, isn't a pig just an extra
vicious mugger? Write J.P. Darby, 8813 New Hyde Park, New York,
N.Y. 11040 for a variety of types and prices.
Tear gas shells are available for 12 gauge shotguns and .38
Special handguns, but it is highly inadvisable to bring guns to
street actions. A far better weapon is a specially built projection
device that shoots tear gas shells. Hercules Gas-Munitions Corp.,
5501 No. Broadway, Chicago, Ill., sells compact units complete with
cartridges for $6.95 that will fire up to 20 feet. Penguin
Associates, Inc., Pennsylvania Avenue, Malvern, Penn., also has a
variety of tear-gas propellant devices including a combination tear
gas-billyclub item. All these companies will supply a catalogue and
price list on request. Some states have laws against civilian use
of tear gas devices. New York is one of them, and unfortunately
these companies will not ship to states that forbid usage. If you
want any of these items, and your state has restrictions, have a
sister or brother in a neighboring state order for you. Just
latching onto these catalogues can be a trip and a half in terms of
getting your imagination hopping. For example Raid, Black Flag and
other insecticides shoot a 7 to 10 foot stream that burns the eyes.
You can also dissolve Drano in water and squirt it from an ordinary
plastic water pistol. That makes a highly effective defensive
weapon. A phony letterhead of a Civil Defense unit will help in
getting heavier anti-personal weapons of a defensive nature.
Anti-Tire Weapons
Don't believe all those bullshit tire ads that make tires seem
like the Superman of the streets. Roofing nails spread out on the
street are effective in stopping a patrol car. A nail sticking out
from a strong piece of wood wedged under a rear tire will work as
effectively as a bazooka. An ice pick will do the trick repeatedly
but you've got to have a strong arm to strike home. Sugar in the
gas tank of a pig vehicle will really fuck-up the engine.
Authentic Pig Game
If you really get into it, you'll probably want to be sd
heavily prepared for trashing as are the pigs. Wouldn't you just
know that the largest supplier of equipment to police in the world
is in Chicago. Kale's, 550 W. Roosevelt Rd., Chicago, Ill. 60607,
will send you, on request, the most complete catalogue you can get
for trashing. Actual police uniforms, super-riot helmets,
persuaders chemical mace, a knuckle sap, which is a glove with
powdered lead, billy clubs, secret holsters, a three-in-one mob
stick that spits Mace, emits an electric shock and allows you to
club to death a charging rhinoceros. You can also get the latest in
handcuffs and other security devices. This catalogue is a must for
the love-child of the 70's. If we want to get high we're going to
have to fight our way up.
KNIFE FIGHTING
Probably one of the most favored street weapons of all time is
the good old "shiv," "blade," "toe-jabber" or whatever you choose
to call a good sticker. Remembering that today's pig is tomorrow's
bacon, it's good to know a few handy slicing tips. The first thing
to learn is the local laws regarding the possession of knives. The
laws on possession are of the "Catch-22" vagueness. Cops can arrest
you for having a small pocket knife and claim you have a concealed
and deadly weapon in your possession. Here, as in most cases of
law, it's not what you are doing, it's who's doing the what that
counts. All areas, however, usually have a limit on length such as
blades under 4" or 6" are legal and anything over that length
concealed on a person can be considered illegal. Asking some hip
lawyers can help here.
Unfortunately, the best fighting knives are illegal.
Switchblades (and stilettos) because they can so quickly spring
into operation, are great weapons that are outlawed in all states.
If you want to risk the consequences, however, you can readily
purchase these weapons once you learn how to contact the criminal
underworld or in most foreign countries. If both of these fail, go
to any pawnshop, look in the window, and take our choice of lethal,
illegal knives.
A flat gravity knife, available in most army surplus and pawn
shops would be the best type available in regular over-the-counter
buying. It's flat style makes for easy concealment and comfort when
kept in a pocket or boot. It can be greased and the rear "heel" of
the blade can be filed down to make it fly open with a flick of the
wrist. A little practice here will be very useful.
Most inexperienced knife fighters use a blade incorrectly.
Having seen too many Jim Bowies slash their way through walls of
human flesh, they persist in carrying on this inane tradition.
Overhead and uppercut slashes are a waste of energy and blade
power. The correct method is to hold the knife in a natural, firm
grip and jab straight ahead at waist level with the arm extending
full length each time. This fencing style allows for the maximum
reach of arm and blade. By concentrating the point of the knife
directly at the target, you make defense against such an attack
difficult. Work out with this jabbing method in front of a mirror
and in a few days you'll get it down pretty well.
UNARMED DEFENSE
Let's face it, when it comes to trashing in the streets, our
success is going to depend on our cunning and speed rather than our
strength and power. Our side is all quarterbacks, and the pigs have
nothing but linemen. They are clumsy, slobbish brutes that would be
lost without their guns, clubs and toy whistles. When one grabs you
for an arrest, you can with a little effort, make him let go. In
the confusion of all the street action, you will then be able to
manage your getaway.
There are a variety of defensive twists and pulls that are
easy to master by reading a good, easily understandable book on the
subject, such as George Hunter's How To Defend Yourself (see
appendix). If a pig grabs you by the wrist you can break the grip
by twisting against his thumb. Try this on yourself by grabbing one
wrist with your hand. See how difficult it is to hold someone who
works against the thumb. If he grabs you around the waist or neck,
you can grab his thumbs or another finger and sharply bend it
backwards. By concentrating all your energy on one little finger,
you can inflict pain and cause the grip to be broken.
There are a variety of points on the body where a firm amount
of pressure skillfully directed will induce severe pain. A grip,
for example, can be broken by jabbing your finger firmly between
the pig's knuckles. (Nothing like chopped pigknuckles.) Feel
directly under your chin in back of the jawbone until your finger
rests in the V area, press firmly upward and backward towards the
center of the head. There is also a very vulnerable spot right
behind the ear lobe. Stick your fingers there and see. Get the
point!
In addition to pressure points, there are places in the body
where a sharp, well-directed whack with the side of a rigidly held
palm can easily disable a person. Performed by an expert, such a
blow can even be lethal. Try making such a rigid palm and practice
these judo chops. The fist is a ridiculous weapon to use. It's
fleshy, the blow is distributed over too wide an area to have any
real effect and the knuckles break easily. You will have to train
yourself to use judo chops instinctively, but it will prove quite
worthwhile if you are ever in trouble. A good place to aim for is
directly in the center of the chest cavity at its lowest point.
Draw a straight line up about six inches starting from your belly
button, and you can feel the point. The Adam's Apple in the center
of the neck and the back of the neck at the top of the spinal
column are also extremely vulnerable spots. With the side of your
palm, press firmly the spot directly below your nose and above your
upper lip. You can easily get an idea of what a short, forceful
chop in this area would do. The side of the head in front of the
ear is also a good place to aim your blow.
In addition to jabs, chops, twists, squeezes and bites, you
ought to gain some mastery of kneeing and kicking. If you are being
held in close and facing the porker, the old familiar
knee-in-the-nuts will produce remarkable results. A feinting motion
with the head before the knee is delivered will produce a reflexive
reaction from your opponent that will leave his groin totally
unprotected. Ouch!
Whether he has you from the front or the back, he is little
prepared to defend against a skillfully aimed kick. The best way is
to forcefully scrape the side of your shoe downward along the
shinbone, beginning just below the knee and ending with a hard
stomp on the instep of the foot. Just try this with the side of
your hand and you will get an idea of the damage you can inflict
with this scrape and stomp method. Another good place to kick and
often the only spot accessible is the side of the knee. Even a half
successful blow here will topple the biggest of honkers. Any of
these easy to learn techniques of unarmed self defense will fulfill
the old nursery rhyme that goes:
Catch a piggy by the toe When he hollers Let him go Out pops Y-0-U
GENERAL STRATEGY RAP
The guideline in trashing is to try and do as much property
destruction as possible without getting caught or hurt. The best
buildings to trash in terms of not alienating too many of those not
yet clued into revolutionary violence, are the most piggy symbols
of violence you can find. Banks, large corporations, especially
those that participate heavily in supporting the U.S. armed forces,
federal buildings, courthouses, police stations, and Selective
Service centers are all good targets. On campuses, buildings that
are noted for warfare research and ROTC training are best. When it
comes to automobiles, choose only police vehicles and very
expensive cars such as Lamborghinis and Iso Grifos. Every rock or
molotov cocktail thrown should make a very obvious political point.
Random violence produces random propaganda results. Why waste even
a rock?
When you know there is going to be a rough street scene
developing, don't play into the pig's strategy. Spread the action
out. Help waste the enemy's numbers. You and the other members of
your group should already have a target or two in mind that will
make for easy trashing. If you don't have one, setting fires in
trash cans and ringing fire alarms will help provide a cover for
other teams that do have objectives picked out. Putting out street
lights with rocks also helps the general infusion.
After a few tries at trashing, you'll begin to overcome your
fears, learn what to expect from both the pigs and your comrades,
and develop your own street strategy. Nothing works like practice
in actual street conditions. Get your head together and you'll
become a pro. Don't make the basic mistake of just naively floating
into the area. Don't think "rally" or "demonstration," think "WAR"
and "Battle Zone." Keep your eyes and ears open. Watch for mistakes
made by members of your gang and those made by other comrades.
Watch for blunders by the police. In street fighting, every soldier
should think like a general. Workshops should be organized right
after an action to discuss the strength and weaknesses of
techniques and strategies used. Avoid political bullshit at such
raps. Regard them as military sessions. Persons not versed in the
tactics of revolution usually have nothing worthwhile to say about
the politics of revolution.
People's Chemistry
STINK BOMB
You can purchase buteric acid at any chemical supply store for
"laboratory experiments." It can be thrown or poured directly in an
area you think already stinks. A small bottle can be left uncapped
behind a door that opens into the target room. When a person
enters they will knock over the bottle, spilling the liquid. Called
a "Froines," by those in the know, an ounce of buteric acid can go
a long way. Be careful not to get it on your clothing. A home-made
stink bomb can be made by mixing a batch of egg whites, Drano,
(sodium hydroxide) and water. Let the mixture sit for a few days in
a capped bottle before using.
SMOKE BOMB
Sometimes it becomes strategically correct to confuse the
opposition and provide a smoke screen to aid an escape. A real
home-made stroke bomb can be made by combining four parts sugar to
six parts saltpeter (available at all chemical supply stores). This
mixture must then be heated over a very low flame. It will blend
into a plastic substance. When this starts to gel, remove from the
heat and allow the plastic to cool. Embed a few wooden match heads
into the mass while it's still pliable and attach a fuse.*
The smoke bomb itself is a non-explosive and
non-flame-producing, so no extreme safety requirements are needed.
About a pound of the plastic will produce thick enough smoke to
fill a city block. Just make sure you know which way the wind is
blowing. Weathermen-women! If you're not the domestic type, you can
order smoke flares (yellow or black) for $2.00 a flare [12 inch]
from Time Square Stage Lighting Co., 318 West 47th Street,
New York, NY 10036.
*You can make a good homemade fuse by dipping a string in glue and
then rolling it lightly in gunpowder. When the glue hardens, wrap
the string tightly and neatly with scotch tape. This fuse can be
used in a variety of ways. Weight it on one end and drop a rock
into the tank of a pig vehicle. Light the other end and run like
hell.
CBW
LACE (Lysergic Acid Crypto-Ethelene) can be made by mixing LSD
with DMSO, a high penetrating agent, and water. Sprayed from an
atomizer or squirted from a water pistol, the purple liquid will
send any pig twirling into the Never-Never Land of chromosome
damage. It produces an involuntary pelvic action in cops that
resembles fucking. Remember when Mace runs out, turn to Lace.
How about coating thin darts in LSD and shooting them from a
Daisy Air Pellet Gun? Guns and darts are available at hobby and
sports shops. Sharpening the otherwise dull darts will help in
turning on your prey.
MOLOTOV COCKTAIL
Molotov cocktails are a classic street fighting weapon served
up around the world. If you've never made one, you should try it
the next time you are in some out-of-the-way barren place just to
wipe the fear out of your mind and know that it works. Fill a
thin-walled bottle half full with gasoline. Break up a section of
styrofoam (cups made of this substance work fine) and let it sit in
the gasoline for a few days. The mixture should be slushy and
almost fill the bottle. The styrofoam spreads the flames around and
regulates the burning. The mixture has nearly the same properties
as napalm. Soap flakes (not detergents) can be substituted for
styrofoam. Rubber cement and sterno also work. In a pinch, plain
gasoline will do nicely, but it burns very fast. A
gasoline-kerosene mixture is preferred by some folks.
Throwing, although by far not the safest method, is sometimes
necessary. The classic technique of stuffing a rag in the neck of a
bottle, lighting and tossing is foolish. Often gas fumes escape
from the bottle and the mixture ignites too soon, endangering the
thrower. If you're into throwing, the following is a much safer
method: Once the mixture is prepared and inside the bottle, cap it
tightly using the original cap or a suitable cork. Then wash the
bottle off with rubbing alcohol and wipe it clean. Just before you
leave to strike a target, take a strip of rag or a tampax and dip
it in gasoline. Wrap this fuse in a small plastic baggie and attach
the whole thing to the neck of the capped bottle with the aid of
several rubber bands. When you are ready to toss, use a lighter to
ignite the baggie. Pall back your arm and fling it as soon as the
tampax catches fire. This is a very safe method if followed to the
letter. The bottle must break to ignite. Be sure to throw it with
some force against a hard surface.
Naturally, an even safer method is to place the firebomb in a
stationary position and rig up a timing fuse. Cap tightly and wipe
with alcohol as before. The alcohol wipe not only is a safety
factor, but it eliminates tell-tale fingerprints in case the
Molotov doesn't ignite. Next, attach an ashcan fire cracker (M-80)
or a cherry bomb to the side of the bottle using epoxy glue. A
fancier way is to punch a hole in the cap and pull the fuse of the
cherry bomb up through the hole before you seal the bottle. A dab
of epoxy will hold the fuse in place and insure the seal. A
firecracker fuse ignites quickly so something will have to be
rigged that will deal the action enough to make a clean getaway.
When the firebomb is placed where you want it, light up a
non-filter cancerette. Take a few puffs (being sure not to inhale
the vile fumes) to get it going and work the unlighted end over the
fuse of the firecracker. This will provide a delay of from 5 to 15
minutes. To use this type of fuse successfully, there must be
enough air in the vicinity so the flame won't go out. A strong wind
would not be good either. When the cancerette burns down, it sets
off the firecracker which in turn explodes and ignites the mixture.
The flames shoot out in the direction opposite to where you attach
the firecracker, thus allowing you to aim the firebomb at the most
flammable material. With the firecracker in the cap, the flames
spread downward in a halo. The cancerette fuse can also be used
with a book of matches to ignite a pool of gasoline or a trash can.
Stick the unlighted end behind the row of match heads and close the
cover. A firecracker attached to a gallon jug of red paint and set
off can turn an office into total abstract art.
Commercial fuses are available in many hobby stores. Dynamite
fuses are excellent and sold in most rural hardware stores. A good
way to make a homemade fuse is described above under the Smoke Bomb
section. By adding an extra few feet of fuse to the device and then
attaching the lit cancerette fuse, you add an extra measure of
caution. It is most important to test every type of fuse device you
plan to use a number of times before the actual hit. Some
experimentation will allow you to standardize the results. If you
really want to get the job done right and have the time, place
several molotov cocktails in a group and rig two with fuses (in
case one goes out). When one goes, they all go . . .BAROOOOOOOOOOM!
STERNO BOMB
One of the simplest bombs to make is the converted sterno can.
It will provide some bang and a widely dispersed spray of jellied
fire. Remove the lid from a standard, commercially purchased can
and punch a hold in the center big enough for the firecracker fuse.
Take a large spoonful of jelly out of the center to make room for
the firecracker. Insert the firecracker and pull the fuse up
through the hole in the lid. When in place, cement around the hole
with epoxy glue. Put some more glue around the rim of the can and
reseal the lid. Wipe the can and wash off excess with rubbing
alcohol. A cancerette fuse should be used. The can could also be
taped around a bottle with Molotov mixture and ignited.
AEROSOL BOMB
You can purchase smokeless gunpowder at most stores where guns
and ammunition are sold. It is used for reloading bullets. The back
of shotgun shells can be opened and the powder removed. Black
powder is more highly explosive but more difficult to come by. A
graduate chemist can make or get all you'll need. If you know one
that can be trusted, go over a lot of shit with him. Try turning
him on to learning how to make "plastics" which are absolutely the
grooviest explosive available. The ideal urban guerrilla weapons
are these explosive plastic compounds.
The neat homemade bomb that really packs a wallop can be made
from a regular aerosol can that is empty. Remove the nozzle and
punch in the nipple area on the top of the can. Wash the can out
with rubbing alcohol and let dry. Fill it gently and lovingly with
an explosive powder. Add a layer of cotton to the top and insert a
cherry bomb fuse. Use epoxy glue to hold the fuse in place and seal
the can. The can should be wiped clean with rubbing alcohol.
Another safety hint to remember is never store the powder and your
fuses or other ignition material together. Powder should always be
treated with a healthy amount of respect. No smoking should go on
in the assembling area and no striking of hard metals that might
produce a spark. Use your head and you'll get to keep it.
PIPE BOMBS
Perhaps the most widely used homemade concussion bombs are
those made out of pipe. Perfected by George Metesky, the renown
New York Mad Bomber, they are deadly, safe, easy to assemble, and
small enough to transport in your pocket. You want a standard steel
pipe (two inches in diameter is a good size) that is threaded on
both ends so you can cap it. The length you use depends on how big
an explosion is desired. Sizes between 3-10 inches in length have
been successfully employed. Make sure both caps screw on tightly
before you insert the powder. The basic idea to remember is that a
bomb is simply a hot fire burning very rapidly in a tightly
confined space. The rapidly expanding gases burst against the walls
of the bomb. If they are trapped in a tightly sealed iron pipe,
when they finally break out, they do so with incredible force. If
the bomb itself is placed in a somewhat enclosed area like a
ventilation shaft, doorway or alleyway, it will in turn convert
this larger area into a "bomb" and increase the over-all explosion
immensely.
When you have the right pipe and both caps selected, drill a
hole in the side of the pipe (before powder is inserted) big enough
to pull the fuse through. If you are using a firecracker fuse,
insert the firecracker, pull the fuse through and epoxy it into
place securely. If you are using long fusing either with a
detonator (difficult to come by) timing device or a simple
cancerette fuse, drill two holes and run two lines of fuse into the
pipe. When you have the fuse rigged to the pipe, you are ready to
add the powder. Cape one end snugly, making sure you haven't
trapped any grains of powder in the threads. Wipe the device with
rubbing alcohol and you're ready to blast off.
A good innovation is to grind down one half of the pipe before
you insert the powder. This makes the walls of one end thinner than
the walls of the other end. When you place the bomb, the explosion,
following the line of least resistance, will head in that
direction. You can do this with ordinary grinding tools available
in any hardware or machine shop. Be sure not to have the powder
around when you are grinding the pipe, since sparks are produced.
Woodstock Nation contains instructions for more pipe bombs and a
neat timing device (see pages 115-117).
GENERAL BOMB STRATEGY
This section is not meant to be a handbook on explosives.
Anyone who wishes to become an expert in the field can procure a
number of excellent books on the subject catalogued in the
Appendix. In bombing, as in trashing, the same general strategy in
regard to the selection of targets applies. Never use
anti-personnel shrapnel bombs. Always be careful in placing the
devices to keep them away from glass windows and as far away from
the front of the building as possible. Direct them away from any
area in which there might be people. Sophisticated electric timers
should be used only by experts in demolitions. Operate in the wee
hours of the night and be careful that you don't injure a night
watchman or guard. Telephone in warnings before the bomb goes off.
The police record all calls to emergency numbers and occasionally
people have been traced down by the use of a voice-o-graph. The
best way to avoid detection is by placing a huge wad of chewed up
gum on the roof of your mouth before you talk. Using a cloth over
the phone is not good enough to avoid detection. Be as brief as
possible and always use a pay phone.
When you get books from companies or libraries dealing with
explosives or guerrilla warfare, use a phony name and address.
Always do this if you obtain chemicals from a chemical supply
house. These places are being increasingly watched by the F.B.I.
Store your material and literature in a safe cool place and above
all, keep your big mouth shut!
First Aid For Street Fighters
Without intending to spook you, we think it is becoming
increasingly important for as many people as possible to develop
basic first aid skills. As revolutionary struggle intensifies, so
will the number and severity of injuries increase. Reliance on
establishment medical facilities will become risky. Hospitals that
border on "riot" areas are used by police to apprehend suspects.
All violence-induced injuries treated by establishment doctors
might be reported. Knife and gunshot wounds in all states by law
must be immediately phoned in for investigation. At times a victim
has no choice but to run such risks. If you can, use a phony name,
but everyone should know the location of sympathetic doctors.
Chaos resulting from the gassing, clubbing and shooting
associated with a police riot also makes personal first aid
important. Most demonstrations have medical teams that run with the
people and staff mobile units, but often these become the target of
assault by the more vicious pigs. Also, in the confusion, there is
usually too much work for the medical teams. Everyone must take
responsibility for everyone else if we are to survive in the
streets. If you spot someone lying unconscious or badly injured,
take it upon yourself to help the victim. Immediately raise your
arm or wave your Nation flag and shout for a medic. If the person
is badly hurt, it is best not to move him, or her, but if there is
the risk of more harm or the area is badly gassed, the victim
should be moved to safety. Try to be as gentle as possible. Get
some people to help you.
WHAT TO DO
Your attitude in dealing with an injured person is extremely
important. Don't panic at the sight of blood. Most bloody injuries
look far worse than they are. Don't get nervous if the victim is
unconscious. If you're not able to control your own fear about
treating someone, call for another person. It helps to attend a few
first aid classes to overcome these fears in practice sessions.
When you approach the victim, identify yourself. Calmly, but
quickly figure out what's the matter. Check to see if the person is
alive by feeling for the pulse. There are a number of spots to
check if the blood is circulating, under the chin near the neck,
the wrists, and ankles are the most common. Get in the habit of
feeling a normal pulse. A high pulse (over 100 per minute) usually
indicates shock. A low pulse indicates some kind of injury to the
heart or nervous system. Massaging the heart can often restore the
heartbeat, especially if its loss is due to a severe blow to the
chest. Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation should be used if the victim is
not breathing. Both these skills can be mastered in a first aid
course in less than an hour and should become second nature to
every street fighter.
When it comes to dealing with bleeding or possible fractures,
enlisting the victim's help as well as adopting a firm but calm
manner will be very reassuring. This is important to avoid shock.
Shock occurs when there is a serious loss of blood and not enough
is being supplied to the brain. The symptoms are high pulse rate;
cold, clammy, pale skin; trembling or unconsciousness. Try to keep
the patient warm with blankets or coats. If a tremendous amount of
blood has been lost, the victim may need a transfusion. Routine
bleeding can be stopped by firm direct pressure over the source of
bleeding for 5 to 10 minutes. If an artery has been cut and
bleeding is severe, a tourniquet will be needed. Use a belt, scarf
or torn shirtsleeve. Tie the tourniquet around the arm or leg
directly above the bleeding area and tighten it until the bleeding
stops. Do not loosen the tourniquet. Wrap the injured limb in a
cold wet towel or ice if available and move the person to a doctor
or hospital before irreparable damage can occur. Don't panic,
though, you have about six hours.
A painful blow to a limb is best treated with an ice pack and
elevation of the extremity by resting it on a pillow or rolled-up
jacket. A severe blow to the chest or side can result in a rib
fracture which produces sharp pains when breathing and/or coughing
up blood. Chest X-rays will eventually be needed. Other internal
injuries can occur from sharp body blows such as kidney injuries.
They are usually accompanied by nausea, vomiting, shock and
persistent abdominal pain. If you feel a bad internal injury has
occurred, get prompt professional help.
Head injuries have to be attended to with more attention than
other parts of the body. Treat them by stopping the bleeding with
direct pressure. They should be treated before other injuries as
they more quickly can cause shock. Every head injury should be
X-rayed and the injured person should be watched for the next 24
hours as complications can develop hours after the injury was
sustained. After a severe blow to the head, be on the look-out for
excessive sleepiness or difficulty in waking. Sharp and persistent
headaches, vomiting and nausea, dizziness or difficulty maintaining
balance are all warning signs. If they occur after a head injury,
call a doctor.
If a limb appears to be broken or fractured, improvise a
splint before moving the victim. Place a stiff backing behind the
limb such as a board or rolled-up magazine and wrap both with a
bandage. Try to avoid moving the injured limb as this can lead to
complicating the fracture. Every fracture must be X-rayed to
evaluate the extent of the injury and subsequent treatment.
Bullet wounds to the abdomen, chest or head, if loss of
consciousness occurs are extremely dangerous and must be seen by a
doctor immediately. If the wound occurs in the limb, treat as you
would any bleeding with direct pressure bandage and tourniquet only
if nothing else will stop the bleeding.
If you expect trouble, every person going to a street scene
should have a few minimum supplies in addition to those mentioned
in the section on Demonstrations for protection. A handful of
bandaids, gauze pads (4x4), an ace bandage (3 inch width), and a
roll of 1/2 inch adhesive tape can all easily fit in your pocket. A
plastic bag with cotton balls pre-soaked in water will come in
handy in a variety of situations where gas is being used, as will a
small bottle of mineral oil. You should write the name, phone
number and address of the nearest movement doctor on your arm with
a ballpoint pen. Your arm's getting pretty crowded, isn't it? If
someone is severely injured, it may be better to save their life by
taking them to a hospital, even though that means probable capture
for them, rather than try to treat it yourself. However, do not
confuse the police with the hospital. Many injured people have been
finished off by the porkers, and that's no joke. It is usually
better to treat a person yourself rather than let the pigs get
them, unless they have ambulance equipment right there and don't
seem vicious. Even then, they will often wait until they get two or
three victims before making a trip to the hospital.
If you have a special medical problem, such as being a
diabetic or having a penicillin allergy, you should wear a
medi-alert tag around your neck indicating your condition. Every
person who sees a lot of street action should have a tetanus shot
at least once in every five years.
Know just this much, and it will help to keep down serious
injuries at demonstrations. A few lessons in a first aid class at
one of the Free Universities or People's Clinics will go a long way
in providing you with the confidence and skill needed in the
street.
MEDICAL COMMITTEES
Here is a partial list of some Medical Committees for Human
Rights. They will be glad to give you first aid instructions and
often organize medical teams to work demonstrations. A complete
list is available from the Chicago office.
- BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, 21215 - 6012 Wallis Ave.
- BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, 94609 - 663 Alcartz
- BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, 35205 - 2122 9th Ave. South
- CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - 1512 E. 55th St.
- CLEVELAND, OHIO, 44112 - Outpost, 13017 Euclid Ave.
- DETROIT, MICHIGAN, 48207 - 1300 E. Lafayette
- HARTFORD, CONN., 06112 - 161 Ridgefield St.
- LOS ANGELES, CALIF. - PO Box 2463, Sepulveda, Calif. 91343 (mail)
- NASHVILLE,TENN., 37204 - 3301 Leland Land
- NEW HAVEN, CONN., - 30 Bryden Terrace, Hamden, Conn. 06514 (mail)
- NEW ORLEANS LA., 70130 - 623 Bourbon St.
- NEW YORK, NY 10014 - 15 Charles St.
- PHILADELPHIA, PA., 19119 - 6705 Lincoln Drive
- PITTSBURGH, PA., 15222 - 617 Empire Building
- SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF., 94115 - 2519 Pacific Ave.
- SYRACUSE, NY, 13210 - 931 Comstock Ave.
- WASHINGTON, D.C. - 3410 Taylor St., Chevy Chase, Md. 20015 (mail)
Hip-Pocket Law
LEGAL ADVICE
Any discussion about what to do while waiting fur the lawyer
has to be qualified by pointing out that from the moment of arrest
through the court appearances, cops tend to disregard a defendant's
rights. Nonetheless, you should play it according to the book
whenever possible as you might get your case bounced out on a
technicality. When you get busted, rule number one is that you have
the right to remain silent. We advise that you give only your name
and address. There is a legal dispute about whether or not you are
obligated under the law to do even that, but most lawyers feel you
should. The address can be that of a friend if you're uptight about
the pigs knowing where you live.
When the pigs grab you, chances are they are going to insult
you, rough you up a little and maybe even try to plant some
evidence on you. Try to keep your cool. Any struggle on your part,
even lying on the street limp, can be considered resisting arrest.
Even if you beat the original charge, you can be found guilty of
resisting and receive a prison sentence. Often if the pigs beat
you, they will say that you attacked them and generally charge you
with assault.
If you are stopped in the street on suspicion (which means
you're black or have long hair), the police have the right to pat
you down to see if you are carrying a weapon. They cannot search
you unless they place you under arrest. Technically, this can only
be done in the police station where they have the right to examine
your possessions. Thus, if you are in a potential arrest situation,
you should refrain from carrying dope, sharp objects that can be
classified as a weapon, and the names and phone numbers of people
close to you, like your dealer, your local bomb factory, and your
friends underground.
Forget about talking your way out of it or escaping once
you're in the car or paddy wagon. In the police station, insist on
being allowed to call your lawyer. Getting change might be a
problem so you should always have a few dimes hidden. Since many
cases are dismissed because of this, you'll generally be allowed to
make some calls, but it might take a few hours. Call a close friend
and tell him to get all the cash that can be quickly raised and
head down to the court house. Usually the police will let you know
where you'll be taken. If they don't, just tell your friend what
precinct you're being held at, and he can call the central police
headquarters and find out what court you'll be appearing in. Ask
your friend to also call a lawyer which you also should do if you
get another phone call. Hang up and dial a lawyer or defense
committee that has been set up for demonstrations. The lawyer will
either come to the station or meet you in court depending on the
severity of the charge and the likelihood you'll be beaten in the
station. When massive demonstrations are occurring where a number
of busts are anticipated, it's best to have lawyers placed in
police stations in the immediate vicinity.
The lawyer will want to know as many details as possible of
the case so try and concentrate on remembering a number of things
since the pigs aren't going to let you take notes. If you can,
remember the name and badge number of the fink that busted you.
Sometimes they'll switch arresting officers on you. Remember the
time, location of the bust and any potential witnesses that the
lawyer might be able to contact.
If you are unable to locate a lawyer, don't panic, the court
will assign you one at the time of the arraignment. Legal Aid
lawyers are free and can usually do as good a job as a private
lawyer at an arraignment. Often they can do better, as the judge
might set a lower bail if he sees you can't afford a private
lawyer. The arraignment is probably the first place you'll find out
what the charges are against you. There will also be a court date
set and bail established. The amount of bail depends on a variety
of factors ranging from previous convictions to the judge's
hangover. It can be put up in collateral, i.e., a bank book, or
often there is a cash alternative offered which amounts to about
10% of the total bail.
Your friend should be in the court with some cash (at least a
hundred dollars is recommended). For very high bail, there are the
bail bondsmen in the area of the courthouse who will cover the bail
for a fee,generally not to exceed 5%. You will need some signatures
of solid citizens to sign the bail papers and perhaps put up some
collateral.
Once you get bailed out, you should contact a private lawyer,
preferably one that has experience with your type of case. If you
are low on bread, check out one of the community or movement legal
groups in your area. It is not advisable to keep the legal aid
lawyer beyond the arraignment if at all possible.
If you're in a car or in your home, the police do not have a
right to search the premises without a search warrant or probable
cause. Do not consent to any search without a warrant, especially
if there are witnesses around who can hear you. Without your
consent, the pigs must prove probable cause in the court. It's
unbelievable the number of defendants that not only come naked, but
pull their own pants down. Make the cops kick in the door or break
open the trunk themselves. You are under no obligation to assist
them in collecting evidence, and helping them weakens your case.
LAWYERS GROUPS
National Lawyers Guild
The "Guild" provides various free legal services especially
for political prisoners. If you have any legal hassles, call and
see if they'll help you. You can call the one nearest you and get
the name of a good lawyer in your area.
- BOSTON - 70 Charles St.
- DETROIT - 5705 N. Woodward St.
- LOS ANGELES - c/o Haymarket, 507 N. Hoover St.
- NEW YORK - 1 Hudson St.
- SAN FRANCISCO - 197 Steiner St.
Outside of these areas, there are no offices, but people to
contact in the following cities are:
- FLINT, MICH., Carl Bekofske, 1003 Church St.
- PHILADELPHIA, PA. - A. Harry Levitan, 1412 Fox Building
- WASHINGTON, D.C. - S. David Levy, 2812 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
American Civil Liberties Union
The ACLU is not as radical as the Guild, but will in rare
instances provide good lawyers for a variety of civil liberty cases
such as censorship, denial of permits to demonstrations, and the
like. But beware of their tendency to win the legal point while
losing the case. Here is a list of some of their larger offices.
- ALABAMA - Box 1972, University, Alabama 35486
- CALIFORNIA - ACLU of Northern California, 503 Market St.,
- SAN FRANCISCO, CA - 94105 (EX 2-4692)
- COLORADO - 1452 Pennsylvania St., Denver, Colorado 80203
(303-TA5-2930)
- GEORGIA - 5 Forsyth St. N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30303 (404-523-5398)
- ILLINOIS - 6 S. Clark, Chicago, Illinois 60603 (312-236-5564)
- MICHIGAN - 234 State St., Detroit, Mich. 48226 (313-961-4662)
- MONTANA - 2707 Glenwood Land, Billings, Montana 59102
(406-651-2328)
- NEW MEXICO - 131 La Vega S.W., Albuquerque, New Mexico 87105
(505-877-5286)
- NEW YORK - 156 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10010 (212-WA9-6076)
- NORTH DAKOTA - Ward County (Minot), Box 1000, Minot, North Dakota
58701 (702-838-0381)
- OHIO - Suite 200, 203 E. Broad St., Columbus, Ohio 43215
- WASHINGTON, DC - (NCACLU) 1424 16th St. NW, Suite 501,
- WASHINGTON, DC - 20036 (202-483-3830) (202-483-3830)
- WEST VIRGINIA - 1228 Seventh St., Huntington, West Virginia 25701
- WISCONSIN - 1840 N. Farwell Ave., Rm. 303, Milwaukee, Wisc. 53202
(414-272-4032)
To obtain a complete list of all the ACLU chapters, write:
American Civil Liberties Union, 156 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10010,
or call them at (212) WA 9-6076.
JOIN THE ARMY OF YOUR CHOICE
The first rule of our new Nation prohibits any of us from
serving in the army of a foreign power with which we do not have an
alliance. Since we exist in a state of war with the Pig Empire, we
all have a responsibility to beat the draft by any means necessary.
First check out your medical history. Review every chronic or
long-term illness you ever had. Be sure to put down all the serious
infections like mono or hep. Next, make note of your physical
complications. When you have assembled a complete list, get a copy
of Physical Deferments or one of the other draft counseling manuals
and see if you qualify. If you have a legitimate deferment,
document it with a letter from a doctor.
The next best deal is a Conscientious Objection status (C.O.)
or a psychiatric deferment (psycho). The laws have been getting
progressively broader in defining C.O. status during the past few
year s. The most recent being, "sincere moral objections to war,"
without necessarily a belief in a supreme being. There are general
guidelines sent out by the National Office of Selective Service
that say it is a matter of conscience. The decision, however, is
still pretty much in the hands of the local board. Visit a Draft
Counseling Center if you feel you have a chance for this type of
story. They'll know how your local board tends to rule. There are
still some more cases to be heard by the Supreme Court before
objection to a particular war is allowed or disallowed. It is not
grounds for deferment as of now.
Psychos are our specialty. Chromosome damage has totally wiped
out our minds when it comes to concentrating on killing innocent
people in Asia. When you get your invite to join the army, there
are lots of ways you can prepare yourself mentally. Begin by
staggering up to a cop and telling him you don't know who you are
or where you live. He'll arrange for you to be chauffeured to the
nearest mental hospital. There you repeat your performance,
dropping the clue that you have used LSD in the past, but you
aren't sure if you're on it now or not. In due time, they'll put
you up for the night. When morning comes, you bounce out of bed,
remember who you are, swear you'll never drop acid again and thank
everyone who took care of you. Within a few hours, you'll be
discharged. Don't be uptight about thinking how they'll lock you up
forever cause you really are nuts. The hospitals measure victories
by how quickly they can throw you out the door. They are all
overcrowded anyway.
In most areas, a one-night stand in a mental hospital is
enough to convince the shrink at the induction center that you're
capable of eating the flesh of a colonel. Just before you go, see a
sympathetic psychiatrist and explain your sad mental shape. He'll
get verification that you did time in a hospital and include it in
his letter, that you'll take along to the induction center.
When you get to the physical examination, a high point in any
young man's life, there are lots of things working in your favor.
Here, long hair helps; the army doesn't want to bother with
trouble-makers. Remember this even though a tough looking sergeant
runs down bullshit about "how they're gonna fix your ass" and
"anybody with a trigger finger gets passed." He's just auditioning
for the Audie Murphy movies, so don't believe anything he lays
down.
Talk to the other guys about how rotten the war in Vietnam is
and how if you get forced to go, you'll end up shooting some
officers. Tell them you'd like the training so you can come back
and take up with the Weathermen.
Check off as many items as can't be verified when given the
forms. Suicide, dizzy spells, bed-wetting, dope addiction,
homosexuality, hepatitis. Be able to drop a few symptoms on the
psychiatrist to back up your story of rejection by a cold and
brutal society that was indifferent, from a domineering father that
beat you, and mother that didn't understand anything. Be able to
trace your history of bad family relationships, your taking to the
streets at 15 and eventually your getting "hooked." Let him "pry"
things out of you if possible. Show him your letter if you had the
foresight to get one.
Practice a good story before you go for the physical with
someone who has already beat the system. If your local board is
fucked up, you can transfer to an area that disqualifies almost
everyone who wants out, such as the New York City boards. If you
can't think of anything you can always get FUCK ARMY tattooed on
the outside of the baby finger of your right hand and give the
tough sergeant a snappy salute and a hearty "yes sir!"*
*If unfortunately you get hauled in. The Army gives you a life
insurance policy. By making Dan Berrigan or Angela Davis the
beneficiary you might avoid front-line duty.
CANADA, SWEDEN & POLITICAL ASYLUM
If you've totally fucked up your chances of getting a
deferment or already are in the service and considering ditching,
there are some things that you should know about asylum.
There are three categories of countries that you should be
interested in if you are planning to ship out to avoid the draft or
a serious prison term. The safest countries are those with which
Amerika has mutual offense treaties such as Cuba, North Korea and
those behind the so-called Iron Curtain. The next safest are
countries unfriendly to the U.S. but suffer the possibility of a
military coup which might radically affect your status. Cambodia is
a recent example of a border-line country. Some cats hijacked a
ship bound for Vietnam and went to Cambodia where they were granted
asylum. Shortly thereafter the military with a good deal of help
from the CIA, took over and now the cats are in jail. Algeria is
currently a popular sanctuary in this category.
Sweden will provide political asylum for draft dodgers and
deserters. It helps to have a passport, but even that isn't
necessary since they are required by their own laws to let you in.
There are now about 35,000 exiles from the Pig Empire living in
Sweden. The American Deserters Committee, Upplandsgaten 18,
Stockholm, phone 08-344663, will provide you with immediate help,
contacts and procedural information once you get there. If you
enter as a tourist with a passport, you can just go to the local
police station, state you are seeking asylum and fill out a form.
It's that sample. They stamp your passport and this allows you to
hustle rent and food from the Swedish Social Bureau. It takes six
months for you to get working papers that will permit you to get
employment, but you can live on welfare until then with no hassle.
The following places can be contacted, for additional help. They
are all in Stockholm:
- Reverend Tom Hayes 82-42-11 or 21-45-86
- Kristina Nystrom of the Social Bureau 08-230570
- Bengt Suderstrom 31-84-32 (legal)
- Hans-Goran Franck 10-25-02(legal)
Canada does not offer political asylum but they do not support
the U.S. foreign policy in Southeast Asia so they allow draft
dodgers and deserters to the current tune of 50,000 to live there
unmolested. Do not tell the officials at the border that you are a
deserter or draft dodger, as they will turn you in. Pose as a
visitor. To work in Canada you have to qualify for landed
immigration status under a point system.
There will be a number of background questions asked and you
have to score 50 points or better to pass and qualify. You get one
point for each year of formal education, 10 points if you have a
professional skill, 10 points for being between 18-35 years of age,
more points for having a Canadian home and job waiting for you, for
knowing English or French and a whopping 15 points for having a
stereotyped middle class appearance and life-style. Letters from a
priest or rabbi will help here. Some entry points are easier than
others. Kingsgate, for example, just north of Montana is very good
on weekdays after 10:00 P.M.
The best approach if you are considering going to Canada is to
write or, better still, visit the Montreal Council to Aid War
Resisters, Case Postale 5, Westmount, Montreal, 215 Quebec or
American Deserters Committee, 3837 Blvd., Saint Laurent, St. Louis,
Montreal 3, Quebec. They will provide you with the latest info on
procedures and the problems of living in Canada as a war resister.
If you can't make it up there, see a local anti-war organization
for counseling. If you are already in the army, you should find out
all you need to know before you ditch. It's best to cross the
border while you're on leave as it might mean the difference
between going AWOL and desertion if you decide to come back. In any
event, no one should renounce their citizenship until they have
qualified for landed immigration status as that would classify the
person as a non-resident and make it possible for the Canadian
police to send you back, which on a few rare occasions has
happened.
Because there have been few cases of fugitives from the U.S.
seeking political asylum, there is not a clear and ample formula
that can be stated. Germany, France, Belgium and Sweden will often
offer asylum for obvious political cases but each case must be
considered individually. Go there incognito. Contact a movement
organization or lawyer and have them make application to the
government. Usually they will let you stay if you promise not to
engage in political organizing in their country. In any event if
they deport you these countries are good enough to let you pick the
country to which you desire to be sent.
We feel it's our obligation to let people know that life in
exile is not all a neat deal, not by a long shot. You are removed
from the struggle here at home, the problems of finding work are
immense and the customs of the people are strange to you. Most
people are unhappy in exile. Many return, some turn themselves in
and others come back to join the growing radical underground making
war in the belly of the great white whale.
Steal Now, Pay Never
SHOPLIFTING
This section presents some general guidelines on thievery to
put you ahead of the impulse swiping. With some planning ahead,
practice and a little nerve, you can pick up on some terrific
bargains.
Being a successful shoplifter requires the development of an
outlaw mentality. When you enter a store you should already have
cased the joint so don't browse around examining all sorts of
items, staring over your shoulder and generally appearing like
you're about to snatch something and are afraid of getting caught.
Enter, having a good idea of what you want and where it's located.
Camouflage is important. Be sure you dress the part by looking
like an average customer. If you are going to rip-off expensive
stores (why settle for less), act like you have a chauffeur driven
car double parked around the corner. A good rule is dress in the
style and price range of the clothes, etc., you are about to
shoplift. The reason we recommend the more expensive stores is that
they tend to have less security guards, relying instead on
mechanical methods or more usually on just the sales people. Many
salespeople are uptight about carrying out a bust if they catch
you. A large number are thieves themselves, in fact one good way to
steal is simply explain to the salesclerk that you're broke and ask
if you can take something without paying. It's a great way to
radicalize shop personnel by rapping to them about why they
shouldn't give a shit if the boss gets ripped off.
The best time to work out is on a rainy, cold day during a
busy shopping season. Christmas holiday is a shoplifter's paradise.
In these periods you can wear heavy overcoats or loose raincoats
without attracting suspicion. The crowds of shoppers will keep the
nosy "can-I-help-you's" from fucking up your style.
Since you have already checked out the store before hitting
it, you'll know the store's "blind-spots" where you can be busy
without being observed too easily. Dressing rooms, blind alley
aisles and washrooms are some good spots. Know where the cashier's
counter is located, where the exits to the street and storage rooms
are to be found, and most important, the type of security system in
use.
If you are going to snatch in the dressing room, be sure to
carry more than one item in with you. Don't leave tell-tale empty
hangers behind. Take them out and ditch them in the aisles.
An increasingly popular method of security is a small
shoplifting plastic detector attached to the price tag. It says "Do
Not Remove" and if you do, it electronically triggers an alarm in
the store. If you try to make it out the door, it also trips the
alarm system. When a customer buys the item, the cashier removes
the detector with a special deactivation machine. When you enter
the store, notice if the door is rigged with electronic eyes. They
are often at the waist level, which means if the item is strapped
to your calf or tucked under your hat, you can walk out without a
peep from the alarm. If you trigger the alarm either inside the
store or at the threshold, just dash off lickety-split. The
electronic eyes are often disguised as part of the decor. By
checking to see what the cashier does with merchandise bought, you
can be sure if the store is rigged. Other methods are undercover
pigs that look like shoppers, one-way mirrors and remote control
television cameras. Undercover pigs are expensive so stores are
usually understaffed. Just watch out (without appearing to watch
out) that no one observes you in action. As to mirrors and cameras
there are always blind spots in a store created when displays are
moved around, counters shifted, and boxes piled in the aisles.
Mirrors and cameras are rarely adjusted to fit these changes.
Don't get turned off by this security jazz. The percentage of
stores that have sophisticated security systems such as those
described is very small. If you work out at lunch time, the
security guards and many of the sales personnel will be out of the
store. Just before closing is also good, because the clerks are
concentrating on going home.
By taking only one or two items, you can prevent a bust if
caught by just acting like a dizzy klepto socialite getting kicks
or use the "Oh-gee-I-forgot-to-pay" routine. Stores don't want to
hassle going into court to press charges, so they usually let you
go after you return the stuff. If you thought ahead, you'll have
some cash ready to pay for the items you've pocketed, if caught.
Leave your I.D. and phone book at home before going shopping.
People rarely go to jail for shoplifting, most if caught never even
see a real cop. Just lie like a fucker and the most you'll get is a
lecture on law and order and a warning not to come back to that
store or else.
TECHNIQUES
The lining of a bulky overcoat or loose raincoat can be
elaborately outfitted with a variety of custom-made large pockets.
The openings to these pockets are not visible since they are inside
the coat. The outside pockets can be torn out leaving only the
opening or slit. Thus you can reach your hand (at counter level)
through the slit in your coat and drop objects into the secret
pockets sewn into the lining. Pants can also be rigged with secret
pockets. The idea is to let your fingers do the walking through the
slit in your coat, while the rest of the body remains the casual
browser. You'll be amazed at how much you can tuck away without any
noticeable bulge.
Another method is to use a hidden belt attached to the inside
of your coat or pants. The belt is specially designed with hooks or
clothespins to which items can be discretely attached. Ditching
items into hidden pockets requires a little cunning. You should
practice before a mirror until you get good at it.
A good idea is to work with a partner. Dig this neat duet. A
man and woman walk into a store together looking like a respectable
husband and wife. The man purchases a good belt or shirt and
engages the salesman in some distracting conversation as he rings
up the sale. Meanwhile, back in the aisle, "wife" is busy rolling
up two or three suits. Start from the bottom while they are still
on the rack and roll them up, pants and jackets together, the way
you would roll a sleeping bag. The sleeves are tied around the roll
making a neat little bundle. The bundle is then tucked between your
thighs. The whole operation takes about a minute and with some
practice you can walk for hours with a good size bundle between
your legs and not appear like you just shit in your pants. Try this
with a coat on in front of a mirror and see how good you get at it.
Another team method is for one or more partners to distract
the sales clerks while the other stuffs. There are all sorts of
theater skits possible. One person can act drunk or better still
appear to be having an epileptic fit. Two people can start a fight
with each other. There are loads of ways, just remember how they do
it in the next spy movie you see.
One of the best gimmicks around is the packaging technique.
Once you have the target item in hand, head for the fitting room or
other secluded spot. Take out a large piece of gift wrapping and
ribbon. Quickly wrap up the item so it will look like you brought
it in with you. Many stores have their own bags and staple the cash
register receipt to the top of the bag when you make a purchase.
Get a number of these bags by saving them if you make a purchase or
dropping around to the receiving department with a request for some
bags for your Christmas play or something. Next collect some sales
receipts, usually from the sidewalk or trash cans in front of the
store. Buy or rip-off a small pocket stapler for less than a
dollar. When you get the item you want, drop it in the bag and
staple it closed, remembering to attach the receipt. This is an
absolutely perfect method and takes just a few seconds. It
eliminates a lot of unsightly bulges in your coat and is good for
warm-weather heisting.
A dummy shopping bag can be rigged with a bit of ingenuity.
The idea is to make it look like the bag is full when there's still
lots of room left. Use strips of cardboard taped to the inside of
the bag to give it some body. Remember to carry it like it's filled
with items, not air. Professional heisters often use a "booster
box," usually a neatly wrapped empty package with one end that
opens upon touch. This is ideal for electrical appliances, jewelry,
and even heavy items such as portable television sets. The trick
side can be fitted with a spring door so once the toaster is inside
the door slams shut. Don't wear a black hat and cape and go around
waving a wand yelling "Abracadabra," just be your usual shlep
shopper self. If you can manage it, the trick side just can be an
opening without a trick door. Just carry the booster box with the
open side pressed against your body. Briefcases, suitcases and
other types of carrying devices can all be made to hold items. Once
you have something neatly tucked away in a bag or box, it's pretty
hard to prove you didn't come in with it.
ON THE JOB
By far the easiest and most productive method of stealing is
on the job. Wages paid to delivery boys, sales clerks, shippers,
cashiers and the like are so insulting that stealing really is a
way of maintaining self-respect. If you are set on stealing the
store dry when you apply for the job, begin with your best foot
forward. Make what employment agencies call a "good appearance."
Exude cleanliness, Godliness, sobriety and all the other WASPy
virtues third grade teachers insist upon. Building up a good front
will eliminate suspicion when things are "missing."
Mail clerks and delivery boys can work all sorts of neat
tricks. When things get a little slow, type up some labels
addressed to yourself or to close friends and play Santa Claus.
Wrap yourself a few packages or take one that is supposed to go to
a customer and put your label over theirs. Blame it on the post
office or on the fact that "things get messed up `cause of all the
bureaucracy." It's great to be the one to verbalize the boss's own
general feelings before he does when something goes awry. The best
on-the-job crooks always end up getting promoted.
Cashiers and sales persons who have access to money can pick
up a little pocket change without too much effort, no matter how
closely they are watched by supervisors. Women can make use of torn
hems to stash coins and bills. Men can utilize cuffs. Both can use
shoes and don't forget those secret little pockets you learned
about in the last section. If you ring up items on a cash register,
you can easily mistake $1.39 for 39¢ or $1.98 for 98¢ during the
course of a hectic day. Leave pennies on the top shelf of the cash
register and move one to the far right side every time you skip a
dollar. That way at the end of the day, you'll know how much to
pocket and won't have to constantly be stuffing, stuffing,
stuffing.
If you pick up trash or clean up, you can stick all sorts of
items into wastebaskets and later sneak them out of the store.
There are many ways of working heists with partners who pose
as customers. See the sections on free food and clothing for these.
There are also ways of working partnerships on the job. A cashier
at a movie theater and a doorman can work out a system where the
doorman collects the tickets and returns them to the cashier to
sell again.
A neat way to make a large haul is to get a job through an
agency as a domestic for some rich slob. You should use a phony
identification when you sign up at the agency. Once you are busy
dusting the town house, check around for anything valuable to be
taken home. Pick up the phone, order all sorts of merchandise, and
have it delivered. A friend with a U-haul can help you really clean
up.
CREDIT CARDS
Any discussion of shoplifting and forgeries inevitably leads
to a rap on credit cards; those little shiny plastic wonder passes
to fantasy land that are rendering cash obsolete. There are many
ways to land a free credit card. You can get one yourself if your
credit is good, or from a friend: report it stolen and go on a
binge around town. Sign your name a little funny. Super underworld
types might know where you can purchase a card that's not too hot
on the black market. You might heist one at a fashionable party or
restaurant. If you're a hat check girl at a night club, don't
forget to check out pockets and handbags for plastic goodies.*
Finally, you can redo a legitimate card with a new number and
signature and be sure that it's on no one's "hot list." Begin by
removing the ink on the raised letters with any polyester resin
cleaner. Next, the plastic card should be held against a flat iron
until the raised identification number is melted. You can use a
razor blade to shave off rough spots. This combination of razor
blade and hot iron, when worked skillfully, will produce a perfect
blank card. When the card is smooth as new, reheat it using the
flat iron and press an addressograph plate into the soft plastic.
The ink can be replaced by matching the original at any stationary
store. If this is too hard, you can buy machines to make your own
credit cards, which are made for small department stores. Granted,
this method is going require some expertise, but once you've
learned to successfully forge a credit card, buy every item
imaginable, eat fancy meals, and even get real money from a bank.
*The absolute best method is to have an accomplice working in the
post office rip off the new cards that are mailed out. They get to
know quickly which envelopes contain new credit cards. Since the
person never receives the card it never dawns on them to report it
stolen. This gives you at least a solid month of carefree spending
and your signature will be perfect.
Whether your credit card is stolen, borrowed or forged, you
still have to follow some guidelines to get away without any
hassle. Know the store's checking method before you pass the hot
card. Most stores have a fifty-dollar limit where they only call
upstairs on items costing fifty dollars or more. In some stores
it's less. Some places have a Regiscope system that takes your
picture with each purchase. You should always carry at least one
piece of back-up identification to use with the phony card as the
clerk might get suspicious if you don't have any other ID. They can
check out a "hot list" that the credit card companies send out
monthly, so if you're uptight about anything watch the clerk's
movements at all times. If things get tight, just split real quick.
Often, even if a clerk or boss thinks it's a phony, they'll OK the
sale anyway since the credit card companies make good to the stores
on all purchases; legit or otherwise. Similarly, the insurance
companies make good to the credit companies and so on until you get
to a little group of hard working elves in the basement of the U.S.
Mint who do nothing but print free money and lie to everybody about
there being tons of gold at Fort Knox to back up their own little
forging operation.
Monkey Warfare
If you like Halloween, you'll love monkey warfare. It's ideal
for people uptight about guns, bombs and other children's toys, and
allows for imaginative forms of protesting, many of which will
become myth, hence duplicated and enlarged upon. A syringe (minus
the needle) or a cooking baster can be filled with a dilute
solution of epoxy glue. Get the two tubes in a hardware store and
squeeze into a small bottle of rubbing alcohol. Shake real good and
pour into the baster or syringe. You have about thirty minutes
before the mixture gets too hard to use. Go after locks, parking
meters, and telephones. You can fuck up the companies that use IBM
cards by buying a cheap punch or using an Exacto knife and cutting
an extra hole in the card before you return it with your payment.
By the way, when you return payments always pay a few cents under
or over. The company has to send you a credit or another bill and
it screws up their bookkeeping system. Remember, always bend, fold,
staple or otherwise mutilate the card. By the way if you ever find
yourself in a computer room during a strike, you might want to fuck
up the school records. You can do this by passing a large magnet or
portable electro-magnet rapidly back and forth across the reels of
tape, thus erasing them. And don't miss the tour of the IBM plant,
either.
Another good bit is to rent a safe deposit box (only about
$7.00 a year) in a bank using a phony name. That usually only need
a signature and don't ask for identification. When you get a box,
deposit a good size dead fish inside the deposit box, close it up
and return it to its proper niche. From then on, forget about it.
Now think about it, in a few months there is going to be a
hell-of-a-smell from your small investment. It's going to be almost
impossible to trace and besides, they can never open the box
without your permission. Since you don't exist, they'll have no
alternative but to move away. Invest in the Stank of Amerika
savings program. Just check out Lake Erie and you'll see saving
fish isn't such a dumb idea. If you get caught, tell them you
inherited the fish from your grandmother and it has sentimental
value.
There are lots of things you can send banks, draft boards and
corporations that contribute to pollution via the mails. It is
possible to also have things delivered. Have a hearse and flowers
sent to the chief of police. We know someone who had a truckload of
cement dumped in the driveway of her boss under the fib that the
driveway was going to be repaved.
By getting masses of people to use electricity, phones or
water at a given time, you can fuck up some not-so-public utility.
The whole problem is getting the word out. For example, 10,000
people turning on all their electrical appliances and lights in
their homes at a given time can cause a blackout in any major city.
A hot summer day at about 3:00 PM is best. Five thousand people
calling up Washington, D.C. at 3:00 PM on a Friday (one of the
busiest hours) ties up the major trunk lines and really puts a
cramp in the government's style of carrying on. Call (202)
555-1212, which is information and you won't even have to pay for
the call. If you call a government official, ask some questions
like "How many kids did you kill today?" or "What kind of liquor do
Congressmen drink?" or offer to take Teddy Kennedy for a ride. A
woman can cause some real excitement by calling a Congressman's
office and screaming "Tell that bastard he forgot to meet Irene at
the motel this afternoon."
A Washington call-in would work even better by phoning direct
to homes of the big boys. For starters you can call collect the
following*:
- Richard M. Nixon - El Presidente - (202) 456-1444
- Spiro T. Agnew - El Toro - (202) 265-2000 ext. 6400
- John N. Mitchell - El Butcher - (202) 965-2900
- Melvin R. Laird - El Defendo - (301) 652-4449
- Henry A. Kissinger - El Exigente - (202) 337-0042
- William P. Rogers - El Crapper - (301) 654-7125
- General Earl G. Wheeler - El Joint Bosso - (703) 527-6119
- General William C. Westmoreland - El Pollutoni - (703) 527-6999
- Richard M. Helms - El Assassin - (301) 652-4122
- John N. Chafee-El Sinko Swimmi-(703) 536-5411
*Any group who elopes with any of the persons listed is entitled to
a free copy of this book. Anyone who parlays all 10 in a lift-off
can have all the royalties. Send ears for verification.
A great national campaign can be promoted that asks people to
protest the presidential election farces on Inauguration Day. When
a president says "So help me God," rush in and flush the toilet. A
successful Flush for God campaign can really screw up the water
system.
If you want to give Ma Bell an electric permanent, consider
this nasty. Cut the female device off an ordinary extension cord
and expose the two wires. Unscrew the mouthpiece on the phone and
remove the voice amplifier. You will see a red and a black wire
attached to two terminals. Attach each of the wires from the
extension cord to each one from the phone. Next plug in the
extension cord to a wall socket. What you are doing is sending 120
volts of electricity back through equipment which is built for only
volts. You can knock off thousands of phones, switchboards and
devices if all goes right. It's best to do this on the phone in a
large office building or university. You certainly will knock out
their fuses. Unfortunately, at home your own phone will probably be
knocked out of commission. If that happens, simply call up the
business office and complain. They'll give you a new phone just the
way they give the other seven million people that requested them
that day.
Remember, January is Alien Registration Month, so don't forget
to fill out an application at the Post Office, listing yourself as
a citizen of Free Nation. Then when they ask you to "Love it or
leave it," tell them you already left!
Piece Now
It's ridiculous to talk about a revolution without a few words
on guns. If you haven't been in the army or done some hunting, you
probably have a built-in fear against guns that can only be
overcome by familiarizing yourself with them.
HANDGUNS
There are two basic types of handguns or pistols: the
revolver carries a load of 5 or 6 bullets in a "revolving"
chamber. The automatic usually holds the same number, but some
can hold up to 14 bullets. Also, in the automatic the bullets
can be already packed in a magazine which quickly snaps into
position in the handle. The revolver must be reloaded one
bullet at a time. An automatic can jam on rare occasions, or
misfire, but with a revolver you just pull the trigger and
there's a new bullet ready to fire. Despite pictures of Roy
Rogers blasting a silver dollar out of the sky, handguns are
difficult to master a high degree of accuracy with and are
only good at short ranges. If you can hit a pig-size object at
25 yards, you've been practicing.
Among automatics, the Colt 45 is a popular model with a long
record of reliability. A good popular favorite is a Parabellum 9
mm, which has the advantage of a double action on the first shot,
meaning that the hammer does not have to be cocked, making possible
a quick first shot without carrying a cocked gun around. By the
way, do not bother with any handgun smaller than a .38 caliber,
because cartridges smaller than that are too weak to be effective.
Revolvers come in all sizes and makes, as do automatics. The
most highly recommended are the .38 Special and the .357 Magnum.
Almost all police forces use the .38 Special. They are light,
accurate and the small-frame models are easy to conceal. If you get
one, use high velocity hollow pointed bullets, such as the Speer
DWM (146 grain h.p.) or the Super Vel (110 grain h.p.). The hollow
point shatters on contact, insuring a kill to the not-so-straight
shooters. Smith and Wesson makes the most popular .38 Special. The
Charter Arms is a favorite model. The .357 Magnum is an extremely
powerful handgun. You can shoot right through the wall of a thick
door with one at a distance of 20 yards. It has its own ammo, but
can also use the bullets designed for the .38. Both guns are about
the same in price, running from $75-$100 new. An automatic
generally runs about $25 higher.
RIFLES
There are two commonly available types of rifles; the bolt
action and the semi-automatic. War surplus bolt action rifles are
cheap and usually pretty accurate, but have a slower rate of fire
than a semi-automatic. A semi-automatic is preferable in nearly all
cases. The M-1 carbine is probably the best semi-automatic for the
money (about $80). It's light, short, easy to handle and has only
the drawback of a cartridge that's a little underpowered. Among
bolt actions, the Springfield, Mauser, Royal Enfield, Russian 7.62,
and the Lee Harvey Oswald Special, the Mannlicher-Carcano, are all
good buys for the money (about $20).
One of the best semi-automatics is the AR-18, which is the
civilian version of the military M-16. In general, this is a
fantastic gun with a high rate of fire, minimal recoil, high
accuracy, light weight, and easy maintenance. If kept clean, it
will rarely jam, and the bullet has astounding stopping power. It
sells for around $225.
SHOTGUNS
The shotgun is the ideal defensive weapon. It's perfect for
the vamping band of pigs or hard-heads that tries to lynch you.
Being a good shot isn't that necessary because a shotgun shoots a
bunch of lead pellets that spread over a wide range as they leave
the barrel. There are two common types: the pump action and the
semi-automatic. Single shot types and double-barrel types do not
have a high enough rate of fire for self-defense.
The pump action is easy to use and reliable. It usually holds
about five shells in a tube underneath the barrel. For self-defense
you should use 00 buckshot shells. Shotguns come in various gauges,
but you will want the largest commonly available, the 12 gauge. The
Mossberg Model 500 A is a super weapon in this category which sells
for about $90. When buying one, try to get a shotgun with a barrel
as short as possible up to the legal limit of 18 inches. It is easy
to cut down a longer barrel, too. This increases the area sprayed.
The semi-automatic gun is not used too much for self-defense,
as they usually hold only three shells. With some practice, you can
shoot a pump nearly as fast as a semi-automatic, and they are much
cheaper. See the gun books catalogued in the Appendix for more
information.
There are many other good guns available, and a great deal to
know about choosing the right gun for the right situation. Reading
a little right wing gun literature will help.
OTHER WEAPONS
If you are around a military base, you will find it relatively
easy to get your hands on an M-79 grenade launcher, which is like a
giant shotgun and is probably the best self-defense weapon of all
time. Just inquire discreetly among some long-haired soldiers.
TRAINING
Owning a gun ain't shit unless you know how to use it. They
make a hell of a racket when fired so you just can't work out in
your den or cellar except with a BB gun, which is good in between
real practice sessions. Find a buddy who served in the military or
is into hunting or target-shooting and ask him to teach you the
fundamentals of gun handling and safety. If you're over 18, you can
practice on one of your local firing ranges. Look them up in the
Yellow Pages, call and see if they offer instructions. They are
usually pretty cheap to use. In an hour, you can learn the basics
you need to know about guns and the rest is mostly practice,
practice, just like in the westerns. Contact the National Rifle
Association, Washington D.C. and ask for information on forming a
gun club. If you can, you are entitled to great discounts, have no
trouble using ranges and get excellent info on all matters relating
to weapons.
A secluded place in the country outside city limits, makes an
ideal range for practicing. Shoot at positioned targets. A good
idea is to blow up balloons and attach them to pieces or boxes.
Position yourself downstream alongside a running brook. A partner
can go upstream and release the balloons into the water. As they
rush downstream, they simulate an attacker charging you and make
excellent moving targets. Watch out for ricochetting bullets. Have
any bystander stand by behind you. A clothesline with a pulley
attachment can be rigged up to also allow practice with a moving
target.
GUN LAWS
Once you decide to get a gun, check out the local laws. There
are federal ones, but they're not stricter than any state
ordinance. If you're unsure about the laws, send 75¢ to the U.S.
Government Printing Office for the manual called Published
Ordinances: Firearms. It runs down the latest on all state laws. In
most states you can buy a rifle or shotgun just for the bread from
a store or individual if you are over 18 years old. You can get a
handgun when you can prove you're over 21, although you generally
need a special permit to carry it concealed on your person or in
your car. A concealed weapon permit is pretty hard to get unless
you're part of the establishment. You can keep a handgun in your
home, though. It's also generally illegal to walk around with a
loaded gun of any type. Once you get the hang of using a gun,
you'll never want to go back to the old peashooter.
The Underground
Amerika is just another Latin dictatorship. Those who have
doubts, should try the minimal experience of organizing a large
rock festival in their state*, sleeping on some beach in the summer
or wearing a flag shirt. Ask the blacks what it's been like living
under racism and you'll get a taste of the future we face. As the
repression increases so will the underground-deadly groups of
stoned revolutionaries sneaking around at night and balling all
day. As deadly as their southern comrades the Tupamaros. Political
trials will only occur when the heavy folks are caught. Too many
sisters and brothers have been locked up for long stretches having
maintained a false faith in the good will of the court system.
Instead, increased numbers have chosen to become fugitives from
injustice: Bernadine Dohrn, Rap Brown, Mark Rudd, hundreds of
others. Some including Angela Davis, Father Berrigan and Pun
Plamondon have been apprehended and locked in cages, but most roam
freely and actively inside the intestines of the system. Their
growth leads to persistent indigestion for those who sit at the
tables of power. As they form into active isolated cells they make
apprehension difficult. Soon the FBI will have a Thousand Most
Wanted List. Our heroes will be hunted like beasts in the jungle.
Anyone who provides information leading to the arrest of a fugitive
is a traitor.
*Unless you want to use our music to attack our politics as the
governor of Oregon did to drain support away from demonstrations
against the AmeriKKKan Legion. In such a situation the concert
should be sabotaged along with political education as to why such
an action has been taken. Don't let the pigs separate our culture
from our politics.
Well fellow reader, what will you do when Rap or Bernadine
call up and ask to crash for the night? What if the Armstrong
Brothers want to drop some acid at your pad or Kathy Boudin needs
some bread to keep on truckin'? The entire youth culture, everyone
who smiles secretly when President Agnew and General Mitchell refer
to the growing number of "hot-headed revolutionaries", all the
folks who hope the Cong wins, who cheer the Tupamaros on, who want
to exchange secret handshakes with the Greek resistance movement,
who say "It's about time" when the pigs get gunned down in the
black community, all of us have an obligation to support the
underground. They are the vanguard of our revolution and in a sense
this book is dedicated to their courage.
If you see a fugitive's picture on the post office wall take
it home for a souvenir. But watch out, because this is illegal.
Soon the FBI will be printing all our posters for free. Right on,
FBI! Print up wanted posters of the war criminals in Washington and
undercover agents (be absolutely sure) and put them up instead.
Since the folks underground move freely among us, we must be
totally cool if by chance we recognize a fugitive through their
disguise. If they deem it necessary to contact you, they will make
the first move. If you are very active in the aboveground movement,
chances are you are being watched or tapped and it would be
foolhardy to make contact. The underground would be meaningless
without the building of a massive community with corresponding
political goals. People above ground demonstrate their love for
fugitives by continuing and intensifying their own commitment.
If the FBI or local subversive squad of the police department
is asking a lot of questions about certain fugitives, get the word
out. Call your underground paper or make the announcement at large
movement gatherings or music festivals; the grapevine will pass
information on to those that need to know.
If you're forced to go underground, don't think you need to
link up with the more well-known groups such as the Weathermen. If
you go under with some close friends, stick together if it's
possible. Build contacts with aboveground people that are not that
well known to the authorities and can be totally trusted.
You should change the location in which you operate and move
to a place where the heat on yon won't be as heavy. A good disguise
should be worked out. The more information the authorities have on
you and the heavier the charges determine how complete your
disguise should be. There are some good tips in the books on
make-up listed in the Appendix. Only in rare cases is it necessary
to abandon the outward appearance of belonging to the youth
culture. In fact, even J. Edgar Freako admits that our culture is
our chief defense. To infiltrate the youth culture means becoming
one of us. For an FBI agent to learn an ideological cover is a
highly disciplined organization is relatively easy. To penetrate
the culture means changing the way they live. The typical agent
would stand out like Jimmy Stewart in a tribe of Apaches.
In the usual case the authorities do not look for a fugitive
in the sense of carrying on a massive manhunt. Generally, people
are caught for breaking some minor offense and during the routine
arrest procedure, their fingerprints give them away. Thus for a
fugitive having good identification papers being careful about
violations such as speeding or loitering, and not carrying weapons
or bombing manuals become an important part of the security. It is
also a good idea to have at least a hundred dollars cash on you at
all times. Often even if you are arrested you can bail yourself out
and split long before the fingerprints or other identification
checks are completed.
If by some chance you are placed on the "10 Most Wanted List"
that is a signal that the FBI are indeed conducting a manhunt. It
is also the hint that they have uncovered some clues and feel
confident they can nab you soon. The List is a public relations
gimmick that Hooper, or whatever his name is, dreamed up to show
the FBI as super sleuths, and compliment the bullshit image of them
that Hollywood lays down. Most FBI agents are southerners who
majored in accounting or some other creative field. When you are
placed on the List, go deeper underground. It may become necessary
to curtail your activities for a while. The manhunt lasts only as
long as you are newsworthy since the FBI is very media conscious.
Change your disguise, identification and narrow your circle of
contacts. In a few months, when the heat is off, you'll be able to
be more active, but for the time, sit tight.
IDENTIFICATION PAPERS
An amateur photographer or commercial artist with good
processing equipment can make passable phony identification papers.
Using a real I.D. card, mask out the name, address, and signature
with thin strips of paper the same color as the card itself. Do a
neat gluing job. Next, photograph the card using bright overhead
lighting to avoid shadows, or xerox it. Use a paper of a color and
weight as close to the real thing as you can get. If you use phony
state and city papers such as birth certificate or driver's
license, choose a state that is far away from the area in which you
are located. Have a complete understanding of all the information
you are forging. Dates, cities, birthdays and other data are often
part of a coding system. Most are easy to figure out simply by
studying a few similar authentic cards.
Almost all I.D. cards use one or another IBM Selectric type to
fill in the individual's papers. You can buy the exact model used
by federal and state agencies for less than $20.00 and install the
ball in 5 seconds on any Selectric machine. When you finish the
typing operation, sign your new name and trim the card to the size
you want. Rub some dirt on the card and bend it a little to
eliminate its newness.
Another method is to obtain a set of papers from a close
friend of similar characteristics. Your friend can replace the
originals without too much trouble. In both cases it might be
advisable to get authentic papers using the phonies you have in
your possession. In some states getting a license or voting
registration card is very easy. Library cards and other
supplementary I.D.'s are simple to get. A passport should not be
attempted until you definitely have made up your mind to split the
country. That way agencies have less time to check the information
and you can decide on the disguise to be used for the picture.
Unless you expect to get hotter than you are right now, in which
case, get it now.
It is wise to have two sets of identification to be on the
safe side but never have both in your possession at the same time.
If you sense the authorities are close to mailing you and choose to
go underground, prepare all the identification papers well in
advance and store them in a secure place. Inform no one of your
possible new identity.
Before you start passing phony I.D.'s to cops, banks and
passport offices, you should have experience with lesser targets so
you feel comfortable using them. There are stiff penalties for this
if you get caught. A few better methods than the ones listed above
exist, but we feel they should not be made this public. With a
little imagination you'll have no trouble. Dig!
COMMUNICATION
Living underground, like exile, can be extremely lonely,
especially during the initial adjustment period when you have to
reshuffle your living habits. Psychologically it becomes necessary
to maintain a few close contacts with other fugitives or folks
aboveground. This is also necessary if you plan to continue waging
revolutionary struggle. This means communication. If you contact
persons or arrange for them to contact you, be super cool. Don't
rush into meetings. Stay OFF the phone! If you must, use pay
phones. Have the contact person go to a prescribed booth at
prescribed time. Knowing the phone number beforehand, you can call
from another pay phone. The pay phone system is superior to
debugging devices and voice scramblers. Even so, some pay phones,
that local police suspect bookies use, are monitored.
Keep your calls short and disguise your voice a bit. If you
are a contact and the call does not come as scheduled, don't panic.
Perhaps the booth at the other end is occupied or the phone you are
on is out of order. In New York, the latter is usually true. Wait a
reasonable length of time and then go about your business. Another
contact will be made. Personal rendezvous should take place at
places that are not movement hangouts or heavy pig scenes.
Intermediaries should be used to see if anyone was followed. Just
groove on a few good spy flicks and you'll figure it all out.
Communicating to masses of people above ground is very
important. It drives the MAN berserk and gives hope to comrades in
the struggle. The most important message is that you are alive, in
good spirits and carrying on the struggle. The communications of
the Weathermen are brilliantly conceived. Develop a mailing list
that you keep well hidden in case of a bust. You can devise a
system of mailing stuff in envelopes (careful of fingerprints)
inside larger envelopes to a trusted contact who will mail the
items from another location to further camouflage your area of
operation. A host of communication devices are available besides
handwritten notes and typed communications. Tape recorders are
excellent but better still are video-tape cassette machines. You
can wear masks, do all kinds of weird theatrical stuff and send the
tapes to television stations. At times you might want to risk being
interviewed by a newsman, but this can be very dangerous unless you
conceive a super plan and have some degree of trust in the word of
the journalist. Don't forget a grand jury could be waiting for him
with a six months contempt or perjury charge when he admits contact
and does not answer their questions.
The only other advice is to dress warm in the winter and cool
in the summer, stay high and.
LIBERATION!
fuck new york
HOUSING
You can always sleep up in Central Park during the daytime,
although the muggers come out to play at night. Free night crashing
can be found in the waiting room of the Pennsylvania Railroad
station, 34th St. and 7th Ave. The cops will leave you alone until
about 7:00 AM when they kick you out. You can put your rucksack in
a locker for twenty-five cents to avoid it being ripped-off.
The Boys Emergency Shelter, 69 St. Marks Place, (777-1234)
provides free room and board for males 16-20 years of age. The
Living Room can be found on the same block. It's a heavy religious
scene, but they will help with room and board. Their hours are 6:30
PM to 2:00 AM, phone 982-5988. Also on the Lower East Side is the
Macauley Mission at 90 Lafayette St.
On the West Side, there's a poet named Delworth at
125 Sullivan St. that houses kids if he's got room. The Judson
Memorial Church, Washington Square South always has one or more
housing programs going. If you're really hard up, try the Stranded
Youth Program, 111 W. 31st St. (554-8897). Teenagers 16-20 are sent
home; if you don't want to go back but need room and board, give
them phony identification.
The Graymoor Monastery (CA 6-2388) offers free room and board
for young people in the country. They provide transportation.
FOOD
Hunt's Point Market, Hunt's Point Ave. and 138th St. in the
Bronx will lay enough fruit and vegetables on your family to last a
week or more. Lettuce, squash, carrots, cantaloupe, grapefruit,
even artichokes and mushrooms all crated. You'll need a car or
truck and they only give stuff away in the early morning. Just tell
them you're doing a free food thing and it's yours. Outasight!
The large slaughterhouse area is in the far West Village, west
of Hudson and south of 14th St. Get a letter from a clergyman
saying you need meat for a church-sponsored meal.
The fish market is located on Fulton and South Streets under
the East River Drive overpass in lower Manhattan. You can always
manage to find some sympathetic fisherman early in the morning who
will lay as much fish on you as you can cart away.
If you pick up on a car, take a trip to Long Island City.
There you will find the Gordon Baking Company at 42-25 21st, Pepsi
Cola at 4602 Fifth Ave., Borden Company at 35-10 Steinway St. and
Dannon Yogurt at 22-11 38th Ave. All four places give out samples
for free if you call or write ahead and explain how it's for a
block party.
Along 2nd and 3rd Avenues on the upper east side are a host of
swank bars with free hors-d'oeuvres beginning at five. All
Longchamps are good, as is Max's Kansas City.
For real class, check the back pages of the New York Times for
ocean cruises and those swinging bon voyage parties. If you look
kind of straight or want to disguise yourself and see the other
half at it, sneak into conventions for drinks, snacks and all kinds
of free samples. Call the New York Convention Bureau, 90 E. 42nd
St. MU 7-1300 for info. You can also get free tickets to theater
events here at 9:00 AM on weekdays.
Other free meals can be gotten at the various missions.
- Bowery Mission - 227 Bowery (674-3456). Pray and eat from 4:00 to
6:00 PM only. Heavy religious orientation.
- Catholic Worker - 36 E. First St. Soup line from 10:00 to 11:00 AM.
Clothes for women on Thursday from 12:00 to 2:00 PM. Clothes for
men after 2:00 PM weekdays.
Sometimes lodging.
- Holy Name Center for Homeless Men - 18 Bleeker St. (CA 6-5848 or
CA 6-2338) Clothes and morning showers from 7:00 to 11:00 AM.
- Macauley Mission - 90 Lafayette St. (CA 6-6214) Free room and
board. Free food Saturdays at 5:00 PM. Sometimes free clothes.
- Moravian Church - 154 Lexington Ave. (MU 3-4219 or 533-3737) Free
spaghetti dinner on Tuesday at 1:00 PM.
- Quakers - 328 E. 15th St. Meals at 6:00 PM Tuesdays.
- Wayward - 287 Mercer St. Free meals nightly.
The International Society For Krishna Consciousness is located
at 41 Second Ave. Every morning at 7:00 AM a delicious cereal
breakfast is served free along with chanting and dancing. Also at
noon, more food and chanting and on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at
7:00 PM, again food and chanting. Then it's all day Sunday in
Central Park Sheepmeadow (generally) for still more chanting (sans
food). Hari Krishna is the freest high going if you can get into it
and dig cereal and of course, more chanting.
The Paradox Restaurant, at 64 E. 7th St. is a neat cheap
health joint that will give you a free meal if you help peel shrimp
or do the dishes.
MEDICAL CARE
The latest dope on family planning and the new abortion law
can be obtained from Planned Parenthood, 300 Park Ave. (777-2015).
They provide a free directory on city-wide services in this area.
The Black Panther Free Health Clinic on 180 Sutter Ave. in Brooklyn
is radical medicine in action. If you ripped off this book, why not
send them or another group mentioned in this book a check so they
can continue serving the people. Two fantastic clinics on the Lower
East Side are the St. Marks People's Clinic at 44 St. Marks Place
(533-9500), open weekdays 6-10 PM and NENA at 290 E. Third St.
(677-5040) which also functions as a switchboard for the area.
The Beth Israel Teenage Clinic at 17th St. and 1st Ave.
673-3000 ext. 2424) services young people. Millie at the Village
Project, 88 2nd Ave. can arrange for free glasses. The New York
University Dental Clinic, 421 First Ave. will give you the cheapest
dental care in Gotham. Stuyvesant-Poly Clinic, 137 Second Ave.
(674-0232) has an emergency day clinic with the quickest service.
Dial-a-freakout is 324-0707. Ambulance service is at 440-1234. You
ought to know the cops accompany ambulance calls. The following is
a list of the New York City Health Department Centers. They provide
a number of free services including X-rays, venereal examinations
and treatment, shots for children's diseases, vaccinations, tetanus
shots and a host of other services.
Manhattan
- Central Harlem-2238 Fifth Ave. AU 3-1900
- East Harlem-158 E. 115th St. TR 6-0300
- Lower East Side-341 E. 25th St. MU 9-6353
- Manhattanville-21 Old Broadway MO 5-5900
- Morningside-264 W. 118th St. UN6-2500
- Washington Heights-600 W. 168th St. WA 7-6300
Bronx
- Morrisania- 1309 Fulton St. WY 2-4200
- Mott Haven-349 E. 140th St. MO 9-6010
- Tremont-Fordham-1826 Arthur Ave. LU 3-5500
- Westchester-Pelham-2527 Glebe Ave. SY 2-0100
Brooklyn
- Bedford-485 Throop Ave. GL 2-7880
- Brownsville-259 Briston St. HY 8-6742
- Bushwick-335 Central Ave. HI 3-5000
- Crown Heights-1218 Prospect Place SL 6-8902
- Flatbush-Gravesend-1601 Ave. S NI 5-8280
- Ft. Greene-295 Flatbush Ave. Ext. 643-8934
- Red Hook-Gowanus-250 Baltic St. 643-5687
- Sunset Park-514 49th St. GE 6-2800
- Williamsburg-Greenpoint-151 Mayier St. EV 8-3714
Queens
- Astoria-Maspeth-12-1631st Ave. L.I.C. AS 8-5520
- Corona-Flushing-34-33 Junction Blvd., Jackson Heights HI 6-3570
- Jamaica-90-37 Parsons Blvd. OL 8-6600
- Rockaway-67-10 Rockaway Beach Blvd.; Arvenne NE 4-7700
- Richmond-51 Stuyvesant Place SA 7-6000
The key to getting overall medical care for free is to pick up
on a Medicaid card. You can apply at any metropolitan hospital.
After filling out a long form and waiting three weeks you'll get
your card in the mail. Have a good story when interviewed about why
you're not working or only making under $2900 a year. There is an
age limit in that only folks over 21 can qualify, but the rule is
liberally enforced and younger people can get the card with the
right hardship story.
LEGAL AID
The Lawyer's Commune is a group of revolutionary young lawyers
pledged to make a limited income and handle the toughest political
cases. They handle all our cases. Find them at 640 Broadway on the
fifth floor (677-1552).
New York radicals are fortunate in having a number of good
legal assistance agencies. One of the following is bound to be able
to help you out of a jam.
- Emergency Civil Liberties Committee-25 E. 26th St. 683-8120 (civil
liberties)
- Legal Aid Society-100 Centre St. BE 3-0250 (criminal matters)
- Mobilization for Youth Legal Services-320 E. Third St. 777-5250
(all types of services)
- National Lawyers Guild-5 Beekman St. 277-0385 or 227-1078
(political)
- New York Civil Liberties Union-156 Fifth Ave. 929-6076
(civil liberties)
- New York University Law Center Office-249 Sullivan St. GR 3-1896
(civil matters)
DRAFT COUNSELING
Bronx
- Claremont Neighborhood Center - 169th St. and Washington Ave.
588-1000. Hours are from 2:00 to 10:00 weekdays.
Brooklyn
- Black Anti-Draft Union - 448 Nostrand Ave.
- Church of St. John the Evangelist - 195 Mayier St. 387-8721
- Society for Ethical Culture - 53 Prospect Park West SO 8-2972
Manhattan
- American Friends Service Committee - 15 Rutherford Place 777-4600
- Chelsea Draft Information - 346 W. 20th St. WA 9-2391
- Community Free Draft Counseling Center - 470 Amsterdam Ave.
787-8500
- Greenwich Village Peace Center - 137 W. Fourth St. 533-5120
- Harlem Unemployment Center - 2035 Fifth Ave. 831-6591
- LEMPA - 105 Avenue B 477-9749
- New York Civil Liberties Union - 156 Fifth Ave. 675-5990
- New York Workshop in Nonviolence - 339 Lafayette St. 227-0973
- Resistance - 339 Lafayette St. 674-9060
- Union Theological Seminary - 606 W. 122nd St. MO 3-9090
- War Resisters League - 339 Lafayette St. 228-0450
- Westside Draft Information - 602 Columbus Ave. (89th St.) 874-7330
- Woman's Strike for Peace - 799 Broadway 254-1925
PLAY
Botanical Gardens
- Conservatory Gardens - Central Park, 105th St. and Fifth Ave.
Seasonal display. LE 4-4938
- Brooklyn Botanical Gardens - Flatbush and Washington Aves. Rose
Oriental Garden, Rose Garden, Native Wild Flower Garden, Rock
Garden, Conservatory. Seasonal display. MA 2-4433.
- New York Botanical Gardens, Bronx Park, 200th St., east of Webster
Ave. Gardens and Conservatories. Seasonal displays. Parking fee:
$1.00 on Saturday, Sunday and holidays. Open: Grounds - 10:00 AM to
dark, Greenhouses - 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. 933-9400.
- Queens Botanical Gardens, 43-50 Main St., between Dahilia and Elder
Aves., Flushing. TU 6-3800.
These gardens are really beautiful places to fuck around for a
day. The best ones are the Bronx and Brooklyn. Bring a picnic, a
few friends, some grass, and plant the seeds. It's all free.
Zoos
- Central Park - 64th St. and Fifth Ave. Free. Open 11 AM to 5 PM.
- Children's Zoo - 64th St. and Fifth Ave. Open 10 AM to 5 PM.
Admission is 10 cents. No tickets are sold after 4:30 PM. Free
story-telling sessions with motion pictures or color slides at 3:30
PM, Mondays through Friday.
- Bronx Park - Fordham Road and Southern Blvd. WE 3-1500. Open daily
from 10 AM to 5 PM. November, December, January closes at 4:30 PM.
Admission on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays is 25 cents for
adults and children over 5 years. Free on other days and all legal
holidays. Children's Zoo closes November 1st.
- Barrett Park Zoo - in Richmond, Broadway, Glenwood Place and Clove
Road. Open daily 10 AM to 5 PM. GI 2-3100.
Unlike the barbaric cages in Central Park, the 18-acre Flushing
Meadow Zoo in Queens has been designed so that visitors can view
the animals and buds in their natural surroundings, without bars.
Take the Main Street Flushing Line Subway (train number 7) from
Times Square to 111th St. in Queens. Bronx Zoo which is the largest
in the United States and Flushing Meadow Zoo are fantastic.
Beaches
- Brooklyn - Coney Island Beach and Boardwalk ES 2-1670
- Manhattan Beach - Oriental Blvd., from Ocean Ave. to Makenzie St.
DE 26794
- Bronx - Pelham Bay Park - Orchard Beach and Boardwalk TI 5-1828
- Queens - Jacob Riis Park - Jamaica Bay, Beach 149 to Beach 169
GR 4-4600
- Rockaway Beach - First St. to 149th St. GR 4-3470
- Richmond - Great Kills Park - Hylan Blvd., Great Kills EL 1-1977
- South Beach and Boardwalk - Ft. Wadsworth to Miller Field, New Dorp
YU 7-0709
- Wolfs Pond Park - Holten and Cornelia Avenues, Princes Bay
YU 4-0360
Go to the beach on weekdays as it usually is very crowded on the
weekends. The best beach by far is Rockaway. lt has pretty good
waves.
Swimming Pools
MANHATTAN - OUTDOOR POOLS
- Carmine Street Pool - Clarkson St. and Seventh Ave. WA 4-4246
- Colonial Pool - Bradhurst Ave. and W. 145th St. WA 6-8109
- East 23rd Street Pool - Asser Levy Place MU 5-1026
- Hamilton Fish Pool - E. Houston and Sheriff Streets GR 7-3911
- Highbridge Pool - Amsterdam Ave. and W. 173rd St. WA 3-2360
- John Jay Pool - 77th St., east of York Ave. at Cherokee Place.
RE 7-2458
- Lasker Memorial Pool - Central Park, 110th St. and Lenox Ave.
348-6297
- Thomas Jefferson Pool - 111th St. and First Ave. LE 4-0198
- West 59th Street Pool - between West End and Amsterdam Avenues.
CI 5-8519
MANHATTAN - INDOOR POOLS
- Baruch Pool - Rivington St. and Baruch Place GR 3-6950
- East 54th Street Pool - 342 E. 54th St. and Second Ave. PL 8-3147
- Rutgers Place Pool - 5 Rutgers Place GR 3-6567
- West 28th Street Pool - 407 W. 28th St. CH 4-1896
- West 134th Street Pool - 35 W. 134th St. AU 3-4612
BROOKLYN - OUTDOOR POOLS
- Betsy Head Pool - Hopkinson and Dumont Avenues DI 2-2977
- McCarren Pool - Driggs Ave. and Lorimer St. EV 8-2367
- Red Hook Pool - Bay and Henry Streets TR 5-3855
- Sunset Pool - Seventh Ave. and 43rd St. GE 5-2627
BROOKLYN = INDOOR POOLS
- Brownsville Recreation Center - Linden Blvd. and Christopher Ave.
HY 8-1121
- Metropolitan Avenue Pool - Bedford Ave., no phone; call SO 8-2300
- St. John's Recreation Center - Prospect Place and Schenectady
Avenues HY 3-3948
BRONX OUTDOOR POOLS
- Crotona Pool - E. 173rd St. and Fulton Ave. LU 3-3910
BRONX - INDOOR POOLS
- St. Mary's Recreation Center Pool - St. Ann's Ave. and E. 145th St.
CY 2-7254
QUEENS - OUTDOOR POOLS
- Astoria Pool - 19th St. and 23rd Drive, Astoria AS 8-5261
- Flushing Meadow Amphitheatre - Long Island Expressway and Grand
Central Parkway, Swimming pool and diving pool. 699-4228.
RICHMOND - OUTDOOR POOLS
- Faber Pool - Faber St. and Richmond Terrace GI 2-1524
- Lyons Pool - Victory Blvd. and Murray Hulbert Ave. GI 7-6650
The pools are generally crowded but on a warm summer day you
don't care. The pools are open on weekdays from 10 AM to 12:30 PM.
There is a free period for children 14 years of age and under. No
adults are admitted to the pool areas during this free period.
After 1 PM on weekdays and all day on Saturdays, Sundays and
holidays there is a 15 cents charge for children under 14 years and
a 35 cents charge for children over 14 years.
Free Cricket Matches
At both Van Cortland Park in the Bronx and Walker Park on Staten
Island every Sunday afternoon there are free cricket matches. Get
schedule from British Travel Association, 43 W. 61st St. At Walker
Park, free tea and crumpets are served during intermission. I say!
Free Park Events
All kinds of activities in the Parks are free. Call 755-4100
for a recorded announcement of the week's events. The freak center
is the rowing pond around 70th St. and Bethesda Fountain around
72nd St. in Central Park, although it floats. Busts are
non-existent. A complete list of all recreational facilities can be
obtained by calling the New York City Department of Parks.
Museums
- American Academy of Arts and Letters, American Numismatic Society,
and the American Geographical Society are all located at Broadway
and 155th St.
- Asia House Gallery - 112 E. 64th St. Art objects from the Far East.
- Brooklyn Museum - Eastern Parkway and Washington Ave. Egyptian
stuff best in the world outside Egypt. Take IRT (Broadway line)
express train to Brooklyn Museum station. (Don't miss the Gardens
in back.)
- The Cloisters - Weekdays 10 AM to 5 PM, Sundays 1 PM to 6 PM. Take
IND Eighth Avenue express (A train) at 190th Str. station and walk
a few blocks. The number 4 Fifth Avenue bus also goes all the way
up and it's a pleasant ride. One of the best trip places in
medieval setting.
- Frick Museum - 1 E. 70th St. Great when you're stoned. Closed
Mondays.
- The Hispanic Society of America - Broadway between 15th and 16th
Streets. The best Spanish art collection in the city.
- Marine Museum of the Seaman's Church - 25 South St. All kinds of
model ships and sea stuff. Also the Seaport Museum on 16 Fulton St.
- Metropolitan Museum - 5th Ave. and 82nd St.
- Museum of the American Indian - Broadway at 155th St. Largest
Indian museum in the world. Open Tuesday to Sunday 1 to 5 PM. Take
IRT (Broadway line) local to 157th St. station.
- Museum of the City of New York - 103rd St. and 5th Ave. LE 4-1672
- Museum of Modern Art - 11 W. 53rd St. CI 5-3200. Monday is free.
- Museum of Natural History - Central Park West and 79th St. Great
dinosaurs and other stuff. Weekdays 10-5 PM, Sunday 1-5 PM.
- Museum of the Performing Arts - Lincoln Center, Amsterdam Ave. and
65th St. 799-2200
- New York Historical Society - 77th St. and Central Park West.
TR 3-3400
- Chase Manhattan Museum of Money - 1256 6th Ave. All banks,
especially Chase Manhattan ones are museums when you get right down
to it. Liberate them!
Music
- Summer Musical Festival in Central Park. About the closest
you can come to good free rock music. There are concerts every Monday, Wednesday,
Friday and Saturday in the months of July and August. It only costs $1.00 or
$2.00, and everybody in the music world plays at least once. The concerts are
held at the Wollman Ice Skating Ring. Occasionally there are free rock concerts in
Central Park.
- The Greenwich House of Music located at 46 Barrow St. in the
West Village puts on free concerts and recitals every Friday at
8:30 PM. For a complete schedule send a stamped, self-addressed
envelope.
- The Frick Museum, 1 E. 70th St., BU 8-0700, has concerts every
Sunday afternoon. The best of the classical offerings. You must
hassle a little. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope that will
arrive on Monday before the date you wish to go. One letter, one
ticket. The Donnell Library, 20 W. 53rd St. also presents free
classical music. The schedule is found in "Calendar of Events" at
any library.
- The Juilliard School presents a variety of free stuff:
orchestral, opera, dance, chamber music, string quartets and
soloists. Performances take place most Friday evenings at 8:30 PM,
from November through May.
- The Museum of the City of New York, 5th Ave. between 103rd St.
and 104th St. every Sunday at 2:30 PM, October through April. Phone
first: LE 4-1672. Classical.
- New York Historical Society, from December through April, has glee clubs, string
groups, and classical singers performing on Sundays at 2:30 PM.,
170 Central Park West (near 77th St.), Phone TR 3-3400 for schedule.
- Brooklyn Museum has classical concerts by assorted soloists and
groups and are presented free every Sunday from October through June at
2 PM, Eastern Parkway and Washington Ave. NE 8-5000.
Television Shows
You can sometimes pick up tickets to television shows at the
New York Convention and Visitors Bureau, 90 E. 42nd St. For the
bigger and better shows you have to write direct to the studios. If
you do write, do it as far in advance as possible. CBS, 51 W. 52nd
St., asks you to write two months in advance. Sometimes you can get
last-minute tickets for the Ed Sullivan Theater, 1697 Broadway. For
NBC shows, write NBC Ticket Division, 30 Rockefeller Plaza. There
is also a ticket desk on the NBC Mezzanine of 30 Rockefeller Plaza
where tickets are given out for the day shows on a
first-come-first-served basis. It's open Monday through Friday from
9-5. ABC, 1330 Sixth Ave. ask you to write two to three weeks in
advance for tickets. You can get tickets up to the day of the show
by calling in or visiting the ticket office of ABC, 79 W. 66th St.
or 1330 6th Ave. (LT 1-7777). Metromedia also gives out free
tickets to their shows and you can get them by writing to WNEW-TV,
205 E. 67th St. (LE 5-1000).
Theater
- The Dramatic Workshop, Studio number 808, Carnegie Hall
Building, 881 7th Ave. at 56th St. Free on Friday, Saturday and
Sunday at 8:15 PM. JU 6-4800 for information.
- New York Shakespeare Festival, Delacourte Theater, Central
Park. Every night except Monday. Performance begins at 8:00 PM, but
get there before 6:00 PM to be assured of tickets.
- Pageant Players, the Sixth Street Theater Group and other
street theater groups perform on street corners and in parks. Free
theater is also provided at the United Nations Building and the
Stock Exchange on Wall Street. If you enjoy seventeenth century
comedy.
- The Equity Library Theatre gives performances of old Broadway
hits at the Masters Institute, 103rd St. and Riverside Drive. They
perform Tuesday through Sunday at 8:30 PM and Sunday at 2:30 PM.
Free tickets are not always available so phone ahead (MO 3-2038)
for reservations. No shows during the summer.
- The Museum of Performing Arts, 111 Amsterdam Ave. offers
plays, dance programs and music. Shows start at 6:30 PM. Tickets
are handed out at 4:00 PM. Saturday shows start at 2:30 PM. You can
write for a calendar of events to 1865 Broadway or call 799-2200.
Movies
- The New York Historical Society, Central Park West and 77th
St. presents Hollywood movies every Saturday afternoon. TR 3-3400
for a schedule.
- At the Metropolitan Museum, Fifth Ave. and 82nd St., you can
see art films every Monday at 3:00 PM. TR 9-5500 for a schedule.
- New York University has a very good free movie program as well
as poetry, lectures, and theatre presentations. Call the Program
Director's Office 598-2026 for a schedule.
- The Film Library in the Donnell Library, 20 W. 53rd St.,
790-6463, has a wide variety of films which may be borrowed free of
charge. The Library system also presents film programs throughout
the year. Pick up a Calendar of Events which lists the free
showings at all the branches.
- The Museum of Modern Art is free every Monday and they have a
free film showing at 2 and 5 PM. Get a schedule at the Museum. They
have the largest movie collection in the world.
- Museum of Natural History, Central Park West between 77th and
81st St. (TR 3-1300), presents travel and anthropological films on
Wednesday and Saturday afternoons at 2:00 sharp, from October
through May.
Every movie that plays in New York has a series of screenings
for critics, film buyers and friends of the folks that made it.
Look in the Yellow Pages under Motion Picture Studios and Motion
Picture Screening Rooms. Once you get the feel of it, you'll
quickly learn who shows what, where and when. They always let you
in free and if not give some gull story. (See Free Entertainment
section). If you see previews in a theater or notice a publicity
build-up in the newspapers, the movie is being screened at one or
more of the rooms.
INFORMATION
- Daily News-220 E. 42nd St., will answer any questions you put to
them. Well almost!
- General information: 883-1122
- Sports: 883-1133
- Travel: 883-1144
- Weather: 883-1155
- For the latest news, call the wire services:
- AP is PL 7-1312, UPI is
- MU 2-0400.
- The New York Times Research Bureau, 229 W. 43rd St., 556-1651, will
research news questions that pertain to the past three months.
Liberation News Service at 160 Claremont Ave., will give you
up-to-the-minute coverage of radical news. Call 749-2200.
UNDERGROUND PAPERS
- East Village Other-20 E. 12th St., 255-2130
- Liberation-339 Lafayette St., 674-0050
- Other Scenes-Box 8, Village Station, 242-3888
- Rat-241 E. 14th St., 228-4460
- Win-339 Lafayette St., 674-0050
- For others, call Underground Press Syndicate, Box 26, Village Station,
691-6073
MISCELLANEOUS
- Dial-A-Beating-911
- Dial-a-Demonstration 924-6315
- Dial-a-Satellite-TR 3-0404
- Time-NERVOUS
- Weather-WE 6-1212.
- The Switchboard-989-0720, at the Alternate U, is open 6 PM to 3 AM.
THE SUBWAY SYSTEM
The first thing to do is get familiar with the geography of
stops you use most frequently. Locate the token cage. Check to see
whether the exits are within easy view of the teller, off to the
side, or blocked from view by concrete pole-supporters. Next learn
the type of turnstile in use. Follow the hints laid down in the
Free Transportation section.
The rush hours are always the easiest times. Just go through
the exits as people push open the door. Also at crowded hours,
people go single file past the turnstiles, one after another in a
steady stream. Get in line and go under. The people will block you
from view and won't do anything. Even a cop won't give you much
hassle. Some subway stations have concrete supports that block the
teller's view. Where these exist, slip through the exit nearest the
pole or slide by the turnstile.
Turnstile jumping is such a skill, it's going to be added to
the Olympics. There are three basic styles common to New York and
most cities and each needs a slightly different approach.
The Old Wooden Cranker-(Traditional) You have to go under or
sail over this type. Going under is a smoother trip. Going over is
trickier since you need both hands free to hurdle and it's a
quicker, more noticeable motion.
New-Aluminum-Bar-Turnstiles-Which-Turn-Both-Ways-For-Exit-and-
Entrance-Approach it with confidence. Pretend you're putting in a
token with your right hand and pull the bar toward you one third of
the way with your left hand. Go through the space left between the
bars and the barrier. Not for heavyweights!
New-Aluminum-Bar-Turnstiles-Which-Can-Be-
Used-Only-For-Entrance-They won't pull towards you, and so, you
must go either under or over them.
NOTE: There is no way to tell a
New-Aluminum-Bar-Turnstile-Which-Turns-Both--
Ways-For-Exit-and-Entrance from a New-Aluminum-Bar-Turnstile-Which-
Can-Be-Used-Only-For-Entrance unless there is a sign. You have to
try it first. Therefore, it is important to remember which kind is
in use at your local station so your technique will be smooth. Once
you're through, remember in your mind you've paid. Ignore everybody
who tries to stop you or tell you different. If someone shouts just
keep on truckin' on toward your track. Don't stop or run. Insist
you are right if you ever get caught. We have been doing it for
years, got caught twice and let go both tunes when other passengers
insisted we paid. Everybody hates the subways, even the tellers.
FREEBIES
Clothing Repairs
All Wallach stores feature a service that includes sewing on
buttons, free shoe horns, and shoe laces, mending pants pockets and
linings, punching extra holes in belts, and a number of other free
services.
Furniture
By far the best place to get free furniture in New York is on
the street. Once a week in every district, the Sanitation
Department makes bulk pick-ups. The night before, residents put out
all kinds of stuff on the street. For the best selection try the
West Village on Monday nights, and the East Seventies on Tuesday
nights. On Wednesday night there are fantastic pick-ups on 35th St.
in-back of Macy's. Move quickly though, the guards get pissed off
easily; the truckers couldn't care less. This street method can
furnish your whole pad. Beds, desks, bureaus, lamps, bookcases,
chairs, and tables. It's all a matter of transportation. If you
don't have access to a car or truck, it's worth it to rent a
station wagon and make pick-ups.
Ghosts
If you would like to meet a real ghost, write Hans Holtzer,
c/o New York Committee for Investigation for Paranormal Research,
140 Riverside Drive, New York, NY. He'll put you in touch for free.
Free Lessons
Lessons in a variety of skills such as plumbing, electricity,
jewelry-making, construction and woodworking are provided by the
Mechanics Institute, 20 W. 44th St. Call or write them well in
advance for a schedule. You must sign up early for lessons as they
try to maintain small courses. MU 7-4279.
Poems
are free. Are you a poem or are you a prose?
Liberated Churches
- Saint Mark's in the Bowery, Second Ave. and 10th ST. (674-
6377
- Washington Square Methodist Church, 133 W. Fourth St.,
- Greenwich Village (777-2528); Judson Memorial Church, Washington
Square South (725-9211).
Flowers
At about 9:30 AM, free flowers in the Flower District on Sixth
Ave. between 22nd St. and 23rd St. Once in a while, you can find a
potted tree that's been thrown out because it's slightly damaged.
The Staten Island Ferry-Not free, but a nickel each way for a
five mile ocean voyage around the southern tip of Manhattan is
worth it. Take IRT (Broadway line) to South Ferry, local only.
Ferry leaves every half-hour day and night.
Drugs
In the area along Central Park West in the Seventies and
Eighties are located many doctor's offices. Daily they throw out
piles of drug samples. If you know what you're looking for, search
this area.
Books
You can always use the library. The main branch is on Fifth
Ave. and 42nd St. The Public Library prints a leaflet entitled
"It's Your Library" which lists all the 168 branches and special
services the library provides. You can pick it up at your nearest
branch. They also publish a calendar of events every two weeks
which is available free. If you have any questions call 791-6161.
You can get free posters, literature and books from the
various missions to the United Nations located on the East Side
near the UN Building. The Cuban Mission, 67th St., will give you
free copies of Granma, the Cuban newspaper, Man and Socialism in
Cuba, by Che Guevara and other literature.
Maps
A free subway map is available at any token booth. Good if
you're new in the city and don't know your way around.
Pets
ASPCA, 441 E. 92nd St. and York Ave., TR 6-7700. Dogs, cats,
some birds and other pets. Tell them you're from out of town if you
want a dog and you will not have to pay the $5.00 license fee. Have
them inspect and inoculate the pet; which they do free of charge. A
place to look for free pets is in the Village Voice under their
column Free Pets.
Radio Free New York
WBAI FM, 99.5 on your dial. 30 E. 39th St. (OX 7-8506).
Free Schools
- Alternative University, 69 W. 14th St. (989-0666). A good
radical school offering courses in karate, Mao, medical skills and
other courses. They will send you a catalogue listing current
courses.
- Bottega Artists Workshop, 1115 Quentin Road, Brooklyn,
336-3212 has art taught by professionals for a free.
GENERAL SERVICES
- Contact-220 E. Seventh St. Open 3 to 10 PM. Raps, contacts, mailing
addresses, counseling, sometimes food.
- Traveler's Aid-204 E. 39th St. MU 4-5029
- Village Project-88 Second Ave. Open 2 to 6 PM. Same as Contact.
fuck chicago
HOUSING
Contrary to rumors, none of us have ever been to Chicago.
None-the-less, we have some friends who have visited the area. In
Chicago, everyone 17 or under must be off the streets by 10:30 PM
and by 11:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. Don't sleep in Lincoln
Park during political conventions, but other nights it's O.K.
Wasn't it Hillel who asked, "Why is this night different from all
other nights?" And wasn't it Mayor Richard J. Daley who responded,
"Cause I say get your ass out of the park!"
The Chicago Seed (929-0133) will give you the best advice on
crashing and the local heat scene. Grace Lutheran Church, 555 W.
Beldon St., and the Looking Glass at 1725 W. Wilson also have
crashing places or know where you can find free room and board.
You won't get hassled if you sack out in the Union Station on
Adams Street just over the bridge. There are loads of folks
crashing in abandoned buildings along LaSalle and other streets.
Also the rooftops are cool. Stay off the streets though, unless
you've got good identification.
FOOD
SCLC (Operation Breadbasket) has a free breakfast program
every morning Monday through Friday from 7-10 AM at St. Anna
Church, 55th St. and LaSalle St., and also at Christ the King
Lutheran Church located at 3700 Lake Park.
You can get free samples of cheese, meat, and coffee everyday
at the Stop and Shop food store located on Washington between
Dearborn and State Streets. At the Treasure Island grocery store
located on Broadway, two blocks north of Belmont, free coffee and
cookies are offered for the people. Halloway House at 27 W.
Randolph gives coupons good for coffee. Also at the Guild Bookstore
at 25 W. Jackson Blvd., and from the machines at the 4th through
14th floors of the Playboy Building.
There are real cheap restaurants. One is a truck-stop in
Skokie called Karl's Cafe. It's just north of Oakton on Skokie
Highway. It's open until 6:00. You get a whole lot of food for
$1.00. Also, under the viaduct at Milwaukee and Damen is a small
restaurant with Polish food. You can get a great meal for $1.35.
It's worth a visit. It closes early in the evening. Another cheap
restaurant is Paul and Ernie's on North Lincoln, just south of
Wrightwood. You can have a beef dinner for about 70 cents.
A good place to pick up free vegetables and fruits is at the
wholesale market on Randolph St. or S. Water St. on Friday
afternoons. Many of the food factories such as Kraft Dairy Products
give away free samples and cases for "charity." Check them out.
It is possible to steal food from the 2nd floor Federal
Building Cafeteria at Adams and Dearborn and the National Cafeteria
at Clark and Van Buren. These cafeterias usually have long lines
and you can eat while standing and just pay for the coffee.
If you have a place to cook and store food, there are a few
places that have pretty cheap food. The east gate of International
Harvester, located at 1015 W. 120th St. is unbelievable. Dig these
bargains! 10 pounds of T-bone steaks (boxed) for $5.25 at midnight.
at 4 PM, the produce man brings a different combination of goods. A
typical bill of fare might include tomatoes, cucumbers,
strawberries, etc. at $1.00 for 10 pounds of any item. The produce
might vary from day to day, but the prices stay the same. On
Thursdays at noon and 4 PM, the Lennell cookie man comes around.
It's $1.25 per box. At 7 PM, the sausage man arrives and the
standard price is $2.00. The standard size is 3 to 5 pounds. He has
salami, liver sausage, polish sausage, and usually odd lunchmeat
such as bologna or summer sausage. All the food is sold out of
trucks, and the prices might not be exact, but they're pretty
close.
Eggs are about 3 dozen for $2.00 on Randolph west of Halsted.
Orange juice is pretty cheap at the Del Farm on Broadway. Wonder
Bread thrift store on Diversey; Butternut, 87th St. and Ridgeland
and 1471 W. Wilson, and Silvercup, 55th and Federal, offer bread
and rolls at big discounts. The Cicero Bottling Company at 31st St.
and 48 Court sell a case of 12 quart bottles for $2.00. Mamas
Cookies, 7400 S. Kastner give 5 pounds for $1.50. At Burhops, State
and Grand, you can get cheap 5-pound boxes of steak. The Railroad
Salvage around Madison and Halsted has dented cans (with stuff
inside) for big discounts. It is also a good place for paper
products. Campbell Soup, 2250 W. 55th St., open Tuesday and
Thursday, will give you cases free or at discounts if you tell them
it's for charity or look straight. Two good spots for all around
shopping are the Hi-Lo on Lincoln, north of Irving. There's lots of
stuff for 10 cents. Marathon Products at Randolph and Halsted is
another good place.
If you can survive on just one meal a day, you're set. The
city has just opened 14 free lunch centers throughout the town.
They are located at:
- Antgeld Urban Progress Center-967 E. 132nd St.
- Area II Multi-Service Center of DHR-1500 N. North Park
- Division Street Urban Progress Center-1940 W. Division
- DHR Woodlawn District Office-6317 S. Maryland
- Englewood District Office of DHR-6003 S. Halsted
- Garfeld Neighborhood Service Program-9 S. Kedzie
- Halsted Urban Progress Center-1935 S. Halsted
- Lawndale Urban Progress Center-3818 W. Roosevelt
- Madden Park Fieldhouse-500 E. 37th St.
- Martin Luther King Urban Progress Center-4741 S. King Drive
- Montrose Urban Progress Center-901 W. Montrose
- North Kenwood CCUO Office-4155 S. Lake Park
- South Chicago Urban Progress Center-9231 S. Houston
- Southern District DHR Office-2108 E. 71st St.
The free hot meals consist of meat, potatoes, a vegetable,
dessert, fruit, and coffee or milk. You have to give them a name
and an address.
MEDICAL CARE
All three major universities have excellent clinics that do
most kinds of medical work for free. The University of Chicago
maintains a clinic at 950 E. 59th St. The University of Illinois
has one located at 840 S. Wood. In addition to good medical care,
Northwestern University Clinic offers very cheap dental treatment.
The clinic is at 303 E. Chicago. Call the main switchboard of the
schools and ask for the clinics to check out services and hours.
A V.D. clinic is open every weekday and late on Wednesdays at
27 E. 26th St. and N. North Park. Chronic diseases are treated at
2974 N. Clybourn. Free chest X-rays are available at City Hall
downtown, everyday. For mental health problems, try the clinic at
1900 N. Sedgwick (642-3531).
Drug education is offered by Earth Mother on Wednesdays at the
Grace Church, 555 W. Belden. Information and help with bad trips
can be obtained through Just Us, 61 N. Parkside (378-7618) or LSD
Rescue Service, 7717 N. Sheridan (338-6750). Chicago has a number
of good clinics maintained by movement and community groups spread
throughout the city for the people that live in the area. The Black
Panther Party runs the Spurgeon "Jake" Winters Free People's Clinic
at 3850 W. 16th St. (522-3220).
The Young Patriots Uptown Health Service located at 4408 N.
Sheridan (334-8957) serves the people in that community. The Young
Lords maintain the Dr. E. Betances Free People's Health Center at
Peoples Church, 834 W. Armitage (549-8505). The Latin American
Defense Organization has a clinic on 2353 W. North Avenue,
(276-0900). The growing Student Health Organization administers a
number of small clinics in various communities. Call them at
493-2741 or drop into their office at 1613 E. 53rd St. At the Holy
Covenant Church, on Wilton and Diversey, you can get medical
assistance at the Free People's Clinic as well as help with legal,
housing, family planning and nutrition problems. Call 348-6842. All
these clinics provide a variety of services and operate on
different schedules. Call them first to be sure they are open.
LEGAL AID
Chicago has a number of good law schools and you can often get
some assistance or referral by calling them and speaking to the
editor of the law school paper. You can go to the bathroom for free
in the Julius J. Hoffman Room at Northwestern University Law
School.
The Law Student Commune, 357 E. Chicago, 649-8462, is a group
of young radical lawyers and law students trying to bring legal
assistance into the streets. The People's Law Office 2156 N.
Halsted, 929-1880 operates the same way. For community problems,
call the Lincoln Park Rights Center, 525-9775, or the Community
Legal Counsel, 726-0157. The ACLU maintains a large chapter in
Chicago at 6 S. Clark, 236-5564, and handles cases where civil
liberties are affected.
DRAFT COUNSELING
- American Friends Service Committee - 407 S. Dearborn St. 427-2533
- Austin Draft Counseling Center - 5903 Fulton 626-9385
- Chicago Area Draft Resisters (Cadre) - 519 W. North Ave. 664-6895
- Chicago Circle Draft Information Organization
University of Illinois, 317 Chicago Circle Center 663-2557
- Hyde Park Draft Information Center - Quaker House, 5615 S. Woodlawn
Ave. 363-1248
- Kennedy King Draft Counseling Center - 7047 S. Stewart - 488-0900,
ext. 36
- Lawndale Draft Counseling - 4049 W. 28th St. 277-3140
- Loyola Draft Counseling Center 6525 N. Sheridan, 274-3000 ext. 378
- Mandel Legal Aid Clinic - 6020 S. University Ave. 324-5181
- Ravenswood Draft Counseling - Barry Memorial Methodist Church, 4754
N. Leavitt 784-3272
- Roosevelt Selective Service Counseling Organization - Roosevelt
University Student Senate Office, Rm. 204, 430 S. Michigan Ave.
922-3580 ext. 334
- South Side Draft Information (Mt. Carmel Book Dist.) 2355 W. 63rd
St. 925-3686
- Uptown Hull House Draft Information Service - 4520 N. Beacon St.
561-8033
- Wellington Avenue Congregational Church Draft Counseling Center -
615 W. Wellington Ave. 935-0642.
PLAY
Parks
Lincoln Park stretches along Lake Michigan in the Northern
section of the city. It has a Conservatory and Zoo, opened 9 AM to
5 PM. Just south of the zoo is the gathering place for free rock
concerts, be-ins, and the like. There is also a zoo in the
Brookfield section at 8400 W. 31st St. The Morton Arboretium
located on Route 53 in Lisle is open every day till sunset. The
Shedd Aquarium is located at 1200 South Lake Shore Drive at
Roosevelt.
Music
The Auditorium and Opera House sometimes offers free concerts
on Sunday and weeknights. Hang around the lobby and claim there are
tickets in your name at the box office. Even if it's a pay concert
you can generally bluff your way inside. The Center for New Music,
2263 N. Lincoln, usually has free concerts on Sunday and Monday at
8 PM. WGLD is the local underground station. The Universal Life
Church Coffee House, 1049 W. Polk has free rock and folk music on
the weekends. Free City Music sponsors free rock concerts during
the spring and summer in Lincoln Park.
MUSEUMS
- The Art Institute - Adams and Michigan. Opens daily at 10 AM. Great
art museum.
- Chicago Academy of Science-Lincoln Park at 2001 N. Clark.
(LI 9-0606) Open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM.
- Field Museum of Natural History-Roosevelt Road at Lake Shore Drive.
Time of opening varies from day to day; call 922-9410. Thursday,
Saturday and Sunday admission is free.
- Museum of Contemporary Art-237 E. Ontario (943-7755) Open daily.
- Museum of Science and Industry-57th St. in the Hyde Park area.
(MU 4-1414) Open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM. Our all-time favorite
museum.
- The Oriental Institute-University of Chicago campus, 1155 E. 58th
St. (643-0800) Open daily, except Monday, from 10AM to 5 PM.
Poetry
The Other Door Coffee House, 3124 N. Broadway, features
nightly poetry readings and music. Call 348-8552. Cafe Pergolesi,
3404 N. Halsted, features poetry readings, baroque music and an art
gallery. There is no cover or minimum. Open 6 to 12 PM, and till
1:00 AM on Saturday.
Theater
The Playhouse North, 315 W. North Ave. features free theater.
For $1.00, you can see various groups perform at the Harper Theater
Coffee House at 5238 S. Harper. Second City, l616 N. Wells, has
free improvisations after their evening performances every evening
except Fridays. Free children's theater can be seen at La Dolores,
1980 North Orchard, Mondays and Wednesdays at 1 PM. Call 664-2352.
Movies
- The Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. shows double bills
for $1.25 and has a penny candy counter. John Dillinger got
ambushed when he left the place. Free Newsreel films can be seen
Wednesdays at 8 PM at the Neighborhood Commons, Wisconsin and
Freemart. Newsreel, 2744 N. Lincoln (248-2018) provides movement
films for free or law cost to groups.
- Alice's Revisited, 950 N. Wrightwood, is a restaurant that
shows free movies. On Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM they have free
folk-rock-blues music. Saturdays they also have free children's
theater. Tuesdays they have psychodrama, also for free. Call
528-4250 for more info.
INFORMATION
- The Switchboard number is 281-7197.
Underground Papers
- Rising Up Angry - 2261 N. Lincoln 472-1791
- Second City - 2120 N. Halsted 549-8760
- The Chicago Seed - 950 W. Wrightwood 929-0133
The Seed features a column called "Making It," which deals
with survival in the Windy City. It is probably the best of its
type in the country.
The Black Panther Party office is located at 2350 W. Madison
(243-8276).
COMMUNITY PRINTING
- Agitprop - no office; phone 929-0133
- Chicago Print Co-op. - 6710 N. Clark
- J. S. Jordan Memorial Printing Co-op. - 6710 N. Clark
- Omega Posters - 711 S. Dearborn
- Red Star Press - 180 N. Wacher
SCHOOLS
The People's School, 4409 N. Sheridan (561-6737), offers free
courses in many areas of survival and radical politics. The White
Panther Party, 787-1962, offers courses in street fighting, history
of American radicalism, and dialectic sexism.
FREEBIES
Clothes
The Concerned Citizens Survival Front, 2512 N. Lincoln Ave.
has clothes. Try the dry cleaners on Armitage east of Halsted along
the south side of the street. They give away unclaimed stuff. Also
Brazil Cleaners at 3943 Indiana. The Eugene Blue Jean Store at 7017
Paulina has jeans, old army shirts and other items for less than a
dollar.
Furniture
The Lake Shore Drive area on collection days has furniture.
Call the bureau of Streets and Sanitation for a collection
schedule.
Free Store
At 727 S. Laflin, you'll find a genuine free store that gives
away everything you can imagine. It has a tendency to be a floating
free store though.
Money
Pick up some underground papers at any of the offices listed
and hawk them on the streets. You can pull in $6-$10 an hour if you
work at it.
fuck los angeles
HOUSING
There are several crash pads and communes that will put you up
for a few nights. Call the Free Clinic at 938-9141. Floor space is
available at the Sans Souce Temple on S. Ardmore. Women's Emergency
Lodge at 912 W. 9th St. (627-5571) will put up women without a
place to stay or make referrals. Resistance (386-9645) and Green
Power (HQ 9-5184) will be helpful if you have to crash. Sleeping on
the beaches is out, but the roofs are cool. The Midnite Mission at
396 S. Los Angeles (624-9258) has room and board for some boarders.
The parks and streets are certain bust material. The L.A. pigs are
matched in brutality only by their fellow hoggers in Chicago and
South Africa. Every L.A. cop is nine feet of solid chrome. Bite his
toes and down he goes.
FOOD
Green Power Feeds Millions is a unique organization serving
the nets of people. They provide food for festivals, cancers,
demonstrations, be-ins, sit-ins and similar events for free. In
addition they supply a number of communes and serve food every
Sunday in Griffith Park, the central get-together spot in Los
Angeles. Call them at HO 9-5184 or 938-9141 for information and
also to offer your help.
Free vegetarian lunch can be found at the W. Hollywood
Presbyterian Church at Sunset and Martel (874-1816). For supper,
try the Midnite Mission, 396 S. Los Angeles Street; God Squas, 1412
N. Crescent Heights Blvd. (near Sunset), and His Place, Sunset and
La Cienega.
The Half-Price Bakery at Third and Hill St. gives away free
bakery goods late at night and you can always bum a meal in any
Clifton's Cafeteria with a good story.
The Watts Trojan House is a free store that provides not only
food, both clothing and a variety of other items and service. They
are located at 1822 E. 103rd St. The County Welfare Department at
2707 S. Grand (near Adams Street) has a liberal food stamp program
(746-0522).
MEDICAL CARE
- The Free Clinic at 115 N. Fairfax Ave. (938-9141) is very
popular and provides a number of services at various hours such as:
- Job Co-ops--Monday thru Friday, 10:00-4:00 PM.
- Medical--Monday thru Friday, 5:30-l0:00 PM. Saturday 12:30-5:00 PM.
- Dental--Monday thru Thursday, 7-10 PM.
- Counseling-Psychiatric, Monday thru Friday, 6-10 PM.
- Legal Monday thru Friday, 7-10 PM
- Draft-Monday thru Thursday, 7:30-10:00 PM.
- Pregnancy and Abortion--Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, 7:30. Saturday
1:30 PM
- Birth Control-Monday thru Friday, 6-7 PM. Saturday 2-3 PM.
- The Foothill Clinic, 547 E. Union in Pasadena (795-8088)
offers similar services free of charge. Call them for a schedule of
hours. Venereal Diseases are treated in the evenings at a clinic
maintained by the Committee to Eradicate Syphillis. They are found
at 5205 Melrose Ave., Hollywood (870-2524).
- In Venice use the free Youth Clinic at 905 Venice Blvd. (near
Lincoln). The services are varied and they are only open evenings.
Call 399-7743 and they'll help you.
- For specialized problems try:
- Drugs--Narcotics Anonymous (463-3123)
- Abortion-The Woman's Center, 1027 S. Crenshaw (near Olympic Blvd.)
Wednesdays at 7:30 PM.
- Mental--Central City Community Mental Health Center, 4272 S.
Broadway (232-2441)
- Suicide Prevention Center, 2521 W. Pico
(381-5111)
- District Health Centers provide many free services. For exact
information, call the center or write to:
- County of Los Angeles
Health Department, Public Health Education Division, 220 N.
Broadway, Los Angeles, California 90012. Ask for a list and
information about their health services.
- EAST LOS ANGELES-670 S. Ferris Ave. 261-3191.
- SUBCENTER--MARAVILLA - 915 N. Bonnie Beach Pl. 264-6910.
- HOLLYWOOD-WILSHIRE-5202 Melrose Ave. 464-0121.
- SUBCENTER-WEST HOLLYWOOD-621 N. San Vincente Blvd. 652-3090.
- NORTH HOLLYWOOD-5300 Tujunga Ave. 766-3981.
- SUBCENTERS-PACOIMA--13300 Van Nuys Blvd. 899-0231.
- TUJUNGA--7747 Foothill Blvd. 352-1417.
- SOUTH-1522 E. 102 St. 564-6801
- SUBCENTER--FLORENCE-Firestone-8019 Compton Ave 583-6241.
- SOUTHEAST - 4920 Avalon Blvd. 231-2161.
- SOUTHWEST - 3834 S.Western Ave. 731-8541.
- County of Los Angeles
LEGAL AID
- The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles at 106 3rd St.
(628-9126) provides help in civil matters.
- The ACLU of Southern California is located at 323 W. Fifth St.
(MA 6-5156).
DRAFT COUNSELING
- AFSC - 980 N. Fair Oaks, Pasadena 91103 (791-1978)
- Black Community Draft Assistance-7228 S. Broadway, LA 90003
(778-0710)
- Catholic Peace Assn.--911 Malcolm Ave., Westwood 90024 (474-2683)
- Counterdraft-PO Box 74881, LA 90004
- East LA Peace Center-409 N. Soto, LA 90033 (261-2047)
- Episcopal Draft Counseling Center-514 W. Adams Blvd., LA 90004
(748-4662)
- Fellowship for Reconciliation 4356½ Melrose, LA 90029 (666-0145)
- First Unitarian Church-2936 W. Eighth St., LA 90005 (389-1356)
- Free Clinic-115 N. Fairfax, LA 90036 (938-9141)
- L.A. Comm. for Defense of Bill of Rights-(MA 5-2169)
- L.A. Draft Help-1018 S. Hill St., LA (RI 7-5461)
- Myra House-191 N. Sunkist, West Covina (338-9636)
- Northeast Peace Center-5682 York Blvd., LA 90042 (257-2004)
- Peace House-724 Morengo, Pasadena 91103 (449-8228)
- Resistance-507 N. Hoover, LA 90004
- The Resistance-11317 Santa Monica Blvd., Westwood 90024 (478-2374)
- SFVSC-Student Service Center, Admissions and Records Office,
San Fernando Valley State College, Northridge (349-1200, ext. 1181)
- UCLA Draft Counseling Center--UCLA Law School, 405 Hilgard Ave., LA
90024 (746-6092)
- USC Counseling Center-Gould Law School, University Park, Student
Union Bldg., Rm. 217 (746-6092)
- Valley Peace Center-7105 Hayvenhurst, Van Nuys 91406 (787-6925).
Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
- Venice Draft Info Center--73 Market St., Venice 90291 (399-5812)
- War Resisters League-1046 N. Sweetzer, LA 90069 (654-4491)
- Westside Jewish Community Center-5870 W. Olympic Blvd., LA 90046
(938-2531)
- Women Strike for Peace-5899 W. Pico Blvd., LA 90019 (937-0236)
PLAY
Beaches
Los Angeles has 14 miles of beaches extending from north of
Pacific Palisades to Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro.
Will Rogers Beach State Park, 15100 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific
Palisades, extends north three miles from the Santa Monica city
limits to a point near Topanga Canyon. This beach has a large,
popular surfing area.
Venice Beach, 2100 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, extends from the
Santa Monica city limits south to Marina Del Rey. Six acres have
been developed into a park with picnic areas, shuffleboard courts
and the Venice Beach Pavilion. The huge Venice Fishing Pier is
located here, and there is an area for surfing.
Isidore B. Dockweiler Beach State Park, 11401 Vista del Mar Ave.
extends from Marina del Ray, south of the city of El Segundo. This
beach has 700 fire pits and a surfing area.
Cabrillo Beach, 3720 Stephen White Drive, San Pedro, located at the
northern end of Los Angeles Harbor, has picnic areas, fire pits and
a section for surfing.
Royal Palms Beach, 1799 Paseo del Mar is equipped with picnic areas
and fire pits.
Parks
Griffith Park is the largest park and the favorite gathering spot
of the local hip community. It's next to the Ventura and State
Freeways.
Arroyo Seco Park is located along the Arroyo Seco and has picnic,
recreational and bowling-on-the-green facilities. You'll also find
the Los Angeles Zoo at 5333 Zoo Drive in the park.
Brand Park and Memory Garden opposite the old Mission San Fernando
is a real strange place to go.
Echo Park has the largest artificial lake in Los Angeles. Fishing
programs for kids are conducted each summer and electric boats are
available for rent.
Hancock Park, located on Wilshire Blvd, between Odgen and Curson,
has the LaBrea Tar Pits with prehistoric animal and plant fossils
all over the place.
The Exposition Park Rose Garden on Exposition Blvd. is a seven-acre
sunken rose garden that smells great.
Founded by Hubert Eaton as "the first step up to heaven," Forest
Lawn Memorial Park, overlooking beautiful downtown Glendale has to
be the wildest spot around. It is pure L.A. with the largest
collection of reproduced statuary in the world. Jean Harlow, Sabu,
Clark Gable and other loved ones are tucked away here. You can turn
on in front of the Jean Hersholt Memorial, fuck in the Aisle of
Benevolence located in the Great Mausoleum, and trip out on a
stereo sermon emanating from the giant Mystery of Life sculpture.
Far-fucking out!
Museums
There are over fifty free museums in the greater Los Angeles
area. We are listing those of special interest.
California Museum of Science and Industry-Exposition Park,
749-0101.
Hollywood Wax Museum-6767 Hollywood Blvd. (near Grauman's Chinese
Theater).
Los Angeles County Museum of Art-5905 Wilshire Blvd. in Hancock
Park, 937-2590.
Music
Every Sunday there are free music concerts in Griffith Park.
Movies
U.C.L.A. has a free experimental film series every year. Call
them at 825-4321 for a schedule.
INFORMATION
The Switchboard in Los Angeles has a 24-hour-a-day service
called the Hot Line. It's located at 4650 Sunset Blvd. (663-1015).
Call them for the latest in what's going down in the area. The
L.A. Free Press at 7813 Beverly Blvd. 937-1970, is always a good
source of information. The Black Panther Party Headquarters can be
found at 4115 S. Central Ave., 235-4127, or at 9818 Anzac, in
Watts, 567-8027. The Traveler's Aid Society has offices in the
Greyhound Bus Terminal and International Airport. They provide all
kinds of services and information to lost souls or visitors.
Generally
FREEBIES
Clothes
The following spots offer clothes,furniture and other
household items at low prices:
Goodwill Industries-235 So. Broadway 228-1748; 5208 Whittier
264-1638
St. Vincent de Paul Society-727 N. Broadway 627-8147; 210 San
Fernando Rd. 221-6151
The Volunteers of America maintain a number of thrift stores
throughout the area. Try 8609 S. Broadway or call 750-9251 for the
store near you.
The Salvation Army also has a chain of stores. The main store is at
801 E. 7th St. 620-1270. They can help you there or let you know
where you can shop in your area.
Money
You can sell a pint of blood for $10.00 at the Red Cross Blood
Bank, 1200 S. Vermont (384-5261).
Pets
All sorts of free pets are available at the ASPCA, 5026, W.
Jefferson (731-2491).
Identification
Los Angeles has a curfew law but you can get a suitable I.D.
with photo for $3.50 at Twelfth and Hill Streets.
fuck san francisco
HOUSING
The nights are chilly in San Francisco but there are places
that offer a free night's lodging. To avoid overcrowding they tend
to employ a ticket system. By showing up in the late afternoon, you
are generally assured a place to stay that night. The following
places work it this way:
- Brother Juniper's Inn--1736 Haight, tickets on a first-come,
first-serve basis.
- Holy Order of Man--937 Fillmore, no tickets.
- Hospitality House--148 Leavenworth, for people under 18, generally
filled.
- Pinehurst Emergency Lodge--2685 30th Ave., for unwed mothers and
women with children.
- St. Mary's Church--660 California, tickets at 6:00 PM.
- St. Patrick's Church--756 Mission, tickets at 6:00 PM
- St. Vincent De Paul--235 Minna, tickets at 4:00 PM for single men
only.
- Salvation Army Harbor Light--290 Fourth St., no tickets.
Traveler's Aid, 38 Mason, 771-0880, will assist in finding
temporary shelter. Young runaways will find it cool to try All
Saint's Church, 1350 Walker (863-9718) for both room and board.
Also Huckleberry's for Runaways, 1347 7th Ave. (731-3921) will
provide these and other services such as counseling.
If you're going to settle for a while in San Francisco, you
might have difficulty finding an apartment to rent. Try the Federal
Housing Information Center, 100 California (556-5900). They
maintain a free listing.
The Community Design Center, 215 Haight (863-3718) provides
free advice on architectural and design of pads inside and out once
you locate a place, speaking, you can find a Traveler's Aid Station
in every place that large numbers of travelers can be found.
Comments
Isn't a lot of this
Isn't a lot of this information incredible out of date at this point?
ah, memories...
ah, memories...
Abbie Hoffman was incredibly
Abbie Hoffman was incredibly leftist in many ways - uncritical support for Castro's Cuba, the NLF in Vietnam, etc. Also, Emmett Grogan, in Ringolevio, found him to be extremely self-aggrandising. And publicising many of the ways people could live for free, rip off the system that was ripping them off, provided the powers-that-be with a manual for closing up many of the loopholes so that a lot of good ideas that had long been passed on by word of mouth were now no longer available. Though I admit, I was sad when I heard he'd committed suicide, because he had a lot more integrity than that Yippie shithead, Jerry Rubin. For an interesting take on them, check out: http://www.bopsecrets.org/PS/newleft.htm#YippiesandWeatherman
FFS, he's telling people to
FFS, he's telling people to smoke moldy weed and grow their own without even mentioning it's a serious crime. I mean, maybe the laws were different then, but it's a felony now and you can get decades in prison for it. I'm worried about all the wee impresionable young uns reading Libcom lol. Critical introduction maybe? The thing about overdrafting your bank account and taking out a loan for school and then leaving wouldn't work today, I'm pretty sure. I bet the debt-collection industry has gotten way more sophisticated what with technology and all.
This text is more here for
This text is more here for reference really. But good idea, a critical introduction would be beneficial
I will write an
I will write an introductionary paragraph, if you want.
samotnaf
Here in lies the problem of using such terms as 'leftist' whilst he may have had problematic views regarding 'national liberation struggles' that mirrored those of many left wing groups, the Yippies really did attempt to more beyond standard left ideology in practise. And he did more to spread radical thought (if admittedly not in its full communism expression) than Knabb ever has, as much I share some of the latter's criticisms.
Well he had some personality defects, unlike say Marx, Debord, Knabb :roll: . I would imagine that his bi-polar would have effected this aspect as well
Well Hoffman like many of his time thought things were coming to a head in American society, so was a manual for the moment, to enable folks to live for less and to be more effective in their struggles. Also I think it is important to remember that Hoffman, saw the battle between companies and those ripping them off, as engaged in an arms race and that his book would quickly become outdated. Indeed this book was a new enlarged and updated version of his Fuck The System pamphlet. Also I think that this book being a major cause for many of the blags written about ending is over stated. If we look at stealing from shops, the design and lay-out of stores had come under more sciencitific and technological approach, with an emphasis on preventing theft. With the introduction of convex mirrors, careful placing of tills, etc. Indeed CCTV started appearing in London department stores(I would imagine they appeared in the USA earlier) in the early seventies and increasingly spread as costs came down.
The film of this (and I have
The film of this (and I have no idea how close/far it is from the book) used to be on YouTube, fwiw, and maybe still is.
Jason, thanks for the offer
Jason, thanks for the offer but I wrote an intro straight away
Do we have the permission of…
Do we have the permission of Abbie Hoffman's ghost to steal this book??
Seeing as how the moderator…
Seeing as how the moderator of this site has succumbed to anarcho-liberalism, echoing the demands of so-called "indigenous" activists and throwing his support behind bourgeois tribal governments among other things, I've moved all of my content relating to the Yippies to my Wordpress, which you can find here.
Not that it really matters, but I see that my editing privileges have also been revoked. I was only undoing my own work and had no intention of messing with anything else. You'll also probably just revert all of my submissions back to the original revisions at some point anyway, instead of removing them like I asked. Once again, please remove all of my transcriptions and other content (which I've already marked), as I no longer wish for them to be hosted on here.
Just for clarity, I also don't believe in copyright, unlike the moderator of this site who seems a bit on the fence about what he believes. To claim that you "can't [just] steal somebody else's work from them [and] then make it freely available"—while you're the owner of a literal archive of stolen/liberated materials—is just the peak of irony. While I don't believe in copyright, I do still think it's important to support the individuals and groups who produce the works that one likes and reproduces. I don't see any contradiction in asking for my transcriptions and other works to be removed on here, as they're not copyrighted, first of all, and I'm mainly just asking it done as a courtesy. I don't really want my transcriptions and other works to be associated with this site.
Just for clarity, I also don…
Not sure what I've missed but hosting copyrighted material and ignoring takedown actions by their owners is the most common way websites get shutdown. Marxist Internet Archive had to remove the English Marx and Engels collected works for the same reason.
And I've seen five or six authors show up in the forums to threaten legal action if their stuff wasn't pulled.
Not sure what I've missed…
"hosting copyrighted material" is exactly what this site is doing, hence the irony and hypocrisy of Steve's (or one of his alternate personalities) contrived moral outrage at the thought of stealing someone else's work and then making it freely available. If the authors and publishers whose works are hosted on here were also aware of the fact that their copyrights are being infringed upon, then I'm sure a significant number of them would also ask to have their works removed. This discussion about copyright, and career-minded anarchists who are more interested in prostituting themselves and becoming famous than doing actual scholarship (I can name at least two of them), is neither here nor there though; the real concern is Steve's politics when it comes to "Native American" activism.
I wasn't asking a question. …
I wasn't asking a question.
""hosting copyrighted material" is exactly what this site is doing, hence the irony and hypocrisy of Steve's (or one of his alternate personalities) contrived moral outrage at the thought of stealing someone else's work and then making it freely available. If the authors and publishers whose works are hosted on here were also aware of the fact that their copyrights are being infringed upon, then I'm sure a significant number of them would also ask to have their works removed. "
Yes, some have done just that, I guess you weren't paying much attention. And if it's neither here nor there, then don't bring it up.
I'm not interested in your personal grievances with other people, that's something you need to work on with them.
And are you actually leaving? I've seen comments from a week a go saying you're going away, but you seem to be having trouble getting out the door.