Very proud to present to you the interview I did couple of years back. Off-Line is a personal zine that incorporates veganism and anarchist philosophy and a "good dose of humor." This zine is definitely a MUST have for all zinester out there. This is really personal, reading through the pages of the zine will make you feel that you knew them personally and it feels like you are fully attached to them. Don't get me wrong,no love stories in here, it is filled with emotions, humors, daily experiences, and a lot more. Yes, this is far better than the usual romance pocketbook and their likes. Ah, nuff said. just read on... BTW: the interview was conducted through snail mail.
TOGC: HI VINCENT AND CLAIRE, WHAT'S GOING ON? PLEASE TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELVES AND YOUR ZINE.
VINCENT: I AM 7'6", 435 POUNDS OF PURE MUSCLE, AND LIKE TO SMELL BASIL LEAVES. WELL, ONLY THE LAST ITEM IS TRUE. RIGHT NOW I'M LISTENING TO HEAVY ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC BECAUSE IT SUITS THE NIGHTTIME AND THE CHILL OUTSIDE. I'M DISGUSTED AT THE STATE OF THE WORLD, BUT I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT MY CALLING IS, TO BE HONEST. I'M 32, I LIKE TO WRITE ARTICLES ABOUT LIFE IN OUR ZINE, AND I GET MY KICKS FROM READING, ROCKING OUT TO OLD SEPULTURA, ROOTING FOR THE METS, HIKING WHEN THE LEAVES TURN IN AUTUMN, SLAMMING NET BALLS IN TENNIS, AND TRYING TO MAKE MY PARTNER CLAIRE LAUGH AT MY FOOLISHNESS!
CLAIRE: I'M A 33-YEAR-OLD HIGH SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER. IF I COULD BE ANYTHING OTHER THAN A TEACHER, I WOULD BE A MODERN DANCER. I LOVE SWIMMING IN THE OCEAN. OFF-LINE IS GEARED FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE OPEN MINDS AND WHO VALUE NONVIOLENCE.
TOGC: OFF-LINE ZINE IS MORE ON A PERSONAL LEVEL WITH A BIT TOUCH OF POLITICS TO ADD SOME SPICE. READING QFF-LINE IS LIKE READING A PERSONAL DIARY THAT'S FILLED WITH ALL CONCEIVABLE THINGS. WHY IS THAT?
VINCENT: IF YOU READ MY DIARY (WHICH I STOPPED KEEPING A FEW YEARS AGO, BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME TO DO IT ANYMORE), YOU'D KNOW OUR ZINE IS NOTHING LIKE IT. COME ON, DO YOU SEE ANY "HELLO KITTY" STICKERS ON THE COVER OF OUR ZINE?! SURE, I LIKE TO BE PERSONAL IN O-L, BECAUSE 1 WELCOME ALL WHO READ IT AS FRIENDS, AND ALSO BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THAT THE PERSONAL IS POLITICAL. HOWEVER, MV DIARIES AND LETTERS HAVE MANY TANGENTS AND EMOTIONAL OUTBURSTS THAT NEED TO BE FILTERED OUT, SO THE KERNEL OF A STORY INSIDE CAN BE POLISHED AND MADE PRESENTABLE FOR A LARGER AUDIENCE. JUST LOOK AT MY "ANATOMY OF A LOVE LETTER" (IN O-L #37), THE ABRIDGED VERSION OF MY 47-PAGE PLEA FOR A GIRL'S AFFECTION MANY YEARS AGO, WHICH I ORIGINALLY WROTE IN MY DIARY. IT WAS SO ATROCIOUSLY NAIVE! SO WHEN I READ IT AGAIN ONE DAY, I COULD SEE IT WAS RIPE FOR ALL KINDS OF JOVIAL MOCKERY. I AM NOT EMBARRASSED BY MUCH, BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE SOME IMAGE OF PERFECTION I'M TRYING TO UPHOLD. AND I AM NOT GOING TO AVOID POTENTIALLY UNPLEASANT TOPICS, BECAUSE LIFE WITHOUT CONFLICT (AND, THEREFORE, WITHOUT GROWTH) IS BORING, SO ANYTHING IS FAIR GAME.
CLAIRE: I GUESS WE STARTED O-L AS A WAY TO PROMOTE OUR VIEWS AND RAISE AWARENESS OF SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES AMONG OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. AT THE TIME, WE WERE MORE INVOLVED IN POLITICAL DEMONSTRATIONS. SO WE'VE WRITTEN POLITICAL CRITIQUES OR, SOMETIMES, RANTS, IN THE ZINE. NOW THE ZINE SERVES MORE AS A MEANS TO COMMUNICATE WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR LIVES. WE'RE INTERESTED IN THE LITTLE DAILY ADVENTURES THAT LIFE BRINGS, SO SOMETIMES WE DON'T WRITE POLITICAL ARTICLES AT ALL. I LIKE TO WRITE FICTION, SO OCCASIONALLY WE INCLUDE SHORT STORIES. I'M VEGETARIAN, AND VINCE IS VEGAN; WE BOTH ENJOY COOKING, AND EVERYONE LOVES TO EAT, SO WE INCLUDE OUR VEGAN RECIPES IN IT, TOO. YOU'RE RIGHT, O-L HAS A LITTLE OF EVERYTHING IN IT.
TOGC: DO YOU CONSIDER OFF-LINE AS AN ANARCHIST PERSONAL ZINE?
CLAIRE: THAT PHRASE BRINGS TO MY MIND A CERTAIN AESTHETIC—VERY HARD-CORE, SERIOUS POLITICAL WRITING. VINCENT WILL WRITE PIECES LIKE THAT, BUT AS 1 SAID BEFORE, O-L ADDRESSES A VARIETY OF TOPICS IN A VARIETY OF TONES, SO IT'S HARD TO LABEL.
VINCENT: IT IS FOR ME, ALTHOUGH 1 ALSO LIKE THE TERM "FREETHINKING," AND WOULD BE CONTENT IF SOMEONE CALLED O-L THAT, TOO. THERE ARE MANY WAYS OF BEING ANTI-AUTHORITARIAN, AND I HOPE THAT'S REFLECTED IN OUR WRITING.
TOGC: AS FAR AS I KNOW, YOU HAVE PUT OUT 36 ISSUES OF OFF-LINE (WOW!). CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO MAKE A ZINE? WHAT IS THE ZINE'S PURPOSE AND GOAL?
VINCENT: WE'RE WORKING ON OUR 40TH NOW! WHEN WE DID THE FIRST ISSUE IN 1999, I HAD NO IDEA WHAT A ZINE WAS. HOWEVER, THE WAR RESISTERS LEAGUE IN NEW YORK HAD A YOUTH PUBLICATION CALLED AWOL THAT WAS A ZINE, FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, AND I MODELED O-L ON THAT. THE MANY HUNDREDS OF ZINES I'VE READ SINCE HAVE NO DOUBT INFLUENCED WHAT WE PUT OUT. THERE IS NEVER A SHORTAGE OF HOMBLE STUFF TO DENOUNCE, AND 1 STILL HAVE A BOXFUL OF STORIES I WANT TO TELL. BASICALLY, I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO LOVE US, MAN!
TOGC: WHERE DO YOU GET THE INSPIRATION TO WRITE ON CERTAIN TOPICS THAT OFF-LIME TACKLES?
CLAIRE: EVERYDAY, THERE SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THAT ENRAGES EITHER ONE OF US. IT COULD BE ANYTHING FROM RUDE PEOPLE ON THE STREET TO DESTRUCTIVE U.S. FOREIGN POLICY IN IRAQ. O-L IS A PLACE TO VENT HOWEVER, 1 AM ALSO INSPIRED BY POSITIVE EXPERIENCES, SUCH AS THE FUNNV MOMENTS FROM THE CLASS ON WOMEN IN U.S. HISTORY I TEACH (O-L #39). OCCASIONALLY, THE INSPIRATION COMES FROM PAIN, SUCH AS WHEN MY MOTHER DIED FROM CANCER (O-F, #36).
TOGC: YOU PRINT ALL THE CORRESPONDENCE YOU RECEIVE (RIGHT?), FROM COMPLIMENTS TO INSULTS—I GUESS YOU DON'T GET MUCH INSULTED. WHY? HOW OFTEN DO YOU RECEIVE LETTERS? DO YOU MANAGE TO REPLY ON THEM ALL?
VINCENT: WHAT YOU SEE IN OUR READERS' FORUM IS WHAT WE GET, FOR THE MOST PART. FOF ME, THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE ZINE, BECAUSE WHO WANTS TO TALK JUST TO HEAR THEMSELVES TALK? JUST ABOUT EVERYONE IN NEW YORK, ACTUALLY . . . IT WOULDN'T BE WORTH DOING WITHOUT THAT INTERACTION AND FEEDBACK. I LIKE WHEN SOMETHING I WRITE BECOMES THE SPRINGBOARD FOR YOU TO SHARE SOME THOUGHTS OF YOUR OWN. I DO TRY TO KEEP UP WITH ALL OF OUR CORRESPONDENCE. IF ONLY WE COULD BE PAID FOR THE THINGS WE LOVE TO DO! INSTEAD, WE HAVE TO PAY WITH OUR PRECIOUS TIME TO DO THE THINGS WE LOVE ...
TOGC: HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ON YOUR MAILING LIST? HOW MANY COPIES DO YOU PRODUCE? HOW DO YOU DISTRIBUTE IT AROUND THE GLOBE?
VINCENT: MORE THAN 1,200 PEOPLE HAVE READ O-L IN THE HISTORY OF THE ZINE—ABOUT 6 BILLION SHORT OF WORLD DOMINATION, HA HA! THERE'S 100-150 COPIES OF ANY GIVEN ISSUE, SO OBVIOUSLY MOST PEOPLE GET BORED WITH IT AFTER A WHILE. MAYBE WE SHOULD BE WRITING MORE ABOUT BRAD PITT AND PARIS HILTON, EH? BUT NEW PEOPLE ALWAYS COME IN WHEN OLD READERS DROP AWAY,' AND THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A NICE CORE OF FANS WHO'VE BEEN ALONG FOR THE LONG RIDE. WE'RE NOT VERY AGGRESSIVE ABOUT PUBLICIZING IT—MOST DISTROS ARE UNRELIABLE, I'VE FOUND, AND WE DON'T HAVE A WEB PRESENCE. (WE'RE OFF-LINE, RIGHT?) WE GET REVIEWS SOMETIMES IN OTHER PEOPLE'S ZINES, AND I'VE GONE TO A COUPLE OF UNDERGROUND PRESS FAIRS. THAT'S ABOUT IT.
TOGC: personally i love “faux meat” because it allows me to recreate some old time favorite family recipes, and also because they are a snap to prepare-especially if i'll feeding non-vegetarians, but still, im happy and content with my veggies and tofu! I noticed one thing in the recipes you've featured in OFF LINe, that is you dont put meat substitutes or fuax meat products in the ingredients list, why? Whats your opinion about soy mock, meat/faux meat?
Claire: recently we learned in annother zine (scissor socket shocker) that fake meat products have monosodium glutamate or msg-like substances, although it is listed on the packaging as “yeast extract,” spices” or artificial flavors,” and consuming these foods may contribute to deleterious effects. I love the taste of fake sausage, but is it worth it? We try to use as few processed products in our recipes as possible.
Vincent: you must have missed our older issues which includes recipes like “chick n sir fry”with seitan (o-l #24) and soysage and sandwiches (o-l #26), plus there is the “mexenglish breakfast” with fakin bacon in O-L #39. I have enjoyed all kinds of meats of fake meats, but prefer to use whole foods in our recipes rather than be dewpendent on some feceless corporation for my well-being. Do you know that tricalcium phospate is? Me niether.
TOGC: on the first page if every issue of yur zine, there is a line saying “unravel yourself from the web and get offline.” Could you please further explain your opinion why yoou refuse ti use the internet or computer?
Claire: i find internet invaluable for my work. I use it at school and retain a free e-mail account through my old college. My objection to the internet is that having it in my home would be a huge and tim-suck (as well, as cost money easily and bring unwanted viruses onto my computer). I know myself, and i know that i could easily spend hours online. I try to read a book or magazine or write in my journal in my limited free time.
Vincent: OL is produced on a computer word processor, and i make my living by using computers. Moreover, if i opposed the world wide web absolutely, i woudn't be able to devastate my unsuspecting opponents with a clever checkmates while playing internet chess at work. It is very addictive however so i agree with claire- i might not do anything else if i had it at home. I dont want my email account because i prefer the DEPTH AND special attention of personal correspondence to the superficiality of most email communication. We dont buy the latest upgrades and use our old computer hardware as long as possible to minimize waste and putting toxics into landfields. I never heard anything about going blind from looking too much at computer monitors, though. I thought blindness came from masturvation. THAT’S what they used to tach in catholic high school.
TOGC: Claire, as a public school teacher and I'm very sure that you love what youre doing. So what do you teach? How do you deal with the relationship-gap between teachers students? And as a TEACHER, HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHY EDUCATION IS REALLY IMPORTANT?
CLAIRE: RIGHT NOW, I TEACH GLOBAL STUDIES (A REQUIRED CLASS) AND TWO ELECTIVE CLASSES: WORLD WAR II AND THE VIETNAM WAR, AND WOMEN IN AMERICAN HISTORY. I DO LOVE TEACHING, BUT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT, STRESSFUL, AND TIME-CONSUMING. I CAN NEVER WAKE UP AND SAY, "OH, I FEEL LIKE SLEEPING IN AND GOING TO WORK LATE." PLANNING IS EVERYTHING—EVEN MY ABSENCES REQUIRE SOME PLANNING. I FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT I TEACH, SO DOING A HALF-ASSED JOB IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ME. BUT THAT COMMITMENT SOMETIMES IMPACTS MY PERSONAL LIFE, BECAUSE I HAVE LESS TIME TO DO MY PERSONAL PROJECTS OR JUST HANG OUT WITH FRIENDS. IT'S A CONSTANT BALANCING ACT. I BELIEVE IT IS WORTHWHILE, HOWEVER, BECAUSE I AM TEACHING YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT PERSONAL AND GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY, THE IMPORTANCE OF QUESTIONING AUTHORITY (MINE INCLUDED), AND ACTIVISM. I DID DIRECT ORGANIZING WORK FOR AWHILE, AND I OFTEN FELT LIKE I WAS PREACHING TO THE CHOIR. YET IT WAS THE RARE ADULT WHO WAS WILLING TO REALESE THEIR LONG-HELD BELIEFS BECAUSE OF MY PERSISTENCE. I THINK YOUNG PEOPLE ARE MUCH MORE OPEN TO CHANGING THEIR IDEAS. IF THE WORLD IS EVER GOING TO GROW LESS VIOLENT AND MORE JUST, IT WILL BECAUSE OF A GENERATIONAL SHIFT IN VALUES. THESE STUDENTS LIVE IN A PRIVILEGED BUBBLE, AND I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT I'M OPENING UP THEIR MINDS TO NEW PERSPECTIVES AND CHALLENGING THEM TO DO SOMETHING WORTHWHILE WITH THEIR LIVES. AS TO THE QUESTION OF A "RELATIONSHIP GAP," I ASSUME YOU MEAN THE HIERARCHICAL POSITION I HOLD AS "AUTHORITY FIGURE" WITH THE POWER TO PASS OR FAIL, OR TO MAKE SOME STUDENTS' LIVES MISERABLE AND OTHERS' EASY. I TRY TO MAINTAIN A DEGREE OF DISTANCE SO THAT WE CAN GET SOMETHING ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE ASSIGNED CURRICULUM. I AM NOT THERE TO BE THEIR FRIEND, BUT I AM VERY FRIENDLY, AND I DO SHOW MY PERSONAL SIDE AT TIMES. I GOT MY STUDENTS' ATTENTION ONCE WHEN A GIRL WAS WONDERING IF SHE COULD CHANGE HER ETHNICITY. SHE SAID SHE HATED HER ITALIAN HERITAGE. I SAID YOU CAN'T CHANGE THE FAMILY OR GROUP YOU'RE BORN INTO, BUT YOU CAN TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR OWN VALUES. I EXPLAINED HOW MY ITALIAN AND IRISH FAMILY WAS WORRIED AT FIRST WHEN I BECAME VEGETARIAN. THE KIDS LOVE LEARNING LITTLE DETAILS LIKE THAT ABOUT THEIR TEACHERS, AND HAD ALL SORTS OF QUESTIONS FOR ME ABOUT BEING VEGETARIAN. THAT'S A GREAT MOMENT, AND IT'S WHEN REAL LEARNING HAPPENS.
TOGC: VINCENT, CAN YOU TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR WORK? WHAT DO YOU DO? DO YOU STILL PAY YOUR TAXES?
VINCENT: I WROTE ABOUT MY JOB AT THE EDUCATIONAL BOOK PUBLISHER IN O-L #37 ("TRUTH IN EDITING"). IT PAYS THE BILLS AND SOMETIMES CAN BE REWARDING. I DON'T PAY MY TAXES BECAUSE I'M OPPOSED TO HOW THE U.S. GOVERNMENT WASTES HALF OF EVERY DOLLAR ON ITS MURDEROUS MILITARY ACTIONS ABROAD, AND THIS LED ME TO LEAVE MY PREVIOUS JOB TO PREVENT THE TAX COLLECTORS FROM TAKING MY MONEY (SEE O-L #31). IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN, SO I DON'T GET VERY ATTACHED TO MY WORK. IT IS A DIFFICULT LIFESTYLE, BUT MY CONSCIENCE WON'T ALLOW ME TO LIVE ANY OTHER WAY. AND I HAVE TO SAY, AS IT'S BEEN 10 YEARS SO FAR OF A SUCCESSFUL MINI-REBELLION, IT FEELS GOOD TO KNOW THE SYSTEM DOESN'T HAVE TOTAL POWER OVER MY LIFE!
TOGC: COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT LIFE IN THE USA ? IN NEW YORK?
VINCENT: I TAKE THE TRAIN TO THE CITY AND SQUEEZE THROUGH THE RUSH HOUR CROWDS TO GET TO WORK. SOMETIMES AFTERWARD I WILL GO TO A VEGAN RESTAURANT FOR DINNER AND THEN SEE A METAL SHOW AT A CLUB. THEN IT IS ALWAYS SO NICE TO COME HOME TO MY QUIET APARTMENT TO RELAX. ON HOLIDAYS WE LIKE TO DRIVE NORTH TO SEE WATERFALLS AND HIKE IN THE MOUNTAINS.
CLAIRE: NEW YORK IS GREAT FOR A LOT OF THINGS. WE HAVE ACCESS TO A WEALTH OF FOOD, MUSIC, AND ART FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD. SURPRISINGLY, THE RADIO STATIONS SUCK. IT’S ALL CORPORATE PLAYLISTS AND MORNING SHOWS GEARED TOWARD THE LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR.
WE LIVE IN THE SUBURBS 20 MILES NORTH OF THE CITY, AND WHILE IT IS CONVENIENT HERE, PEOPLE TEND TO BE RUDE AND IN A HURRY ALL THE TIME. I FAVOR SMALLER PLACES AND FRIENDLIER PEOPLE.
TOGC: THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT AMERICA IS THE GREATEST AND MOST POWERFUL COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. I ASSUME THAT PEOPLE LIVING IN AMERICA ARE FAR LUCKIER THAN THOSE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE THIRD WORLD, LIKE THE COUNTRY WHERE I LIVE—I GUESS YOU KNOW OUR SITUATION HERE. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
VINCENT: IT'S OFTEN HARD FOR ME TO COPE BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY, EVEN IN THE SUPPOSEDLY ENLIGHTENED NEW YORK, REFUSE TO QUESTION THE INDOCTRINATED ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT HOW OUR DEMOCRACY OR AFFLUENCE MAKES US SUPERIOR. SURE, YOU CAN CRITICIZE PRESIDENT BUSH (ALTHOUGH MANY STILL BELIEVE IN HIM, NO MATTER HOW MANY CRIMES HE ENACTS!), BUT CAN'T EVER SUGGEST THAT THE USA ISN'T THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. ANYONE WHO STUDIES HIDDEN U.S. HISTORY WILL KNOW THIS IS A HARMFUL MYTH—JUST LOOK AT THE SAVAGERY OF U.S. SOLDIERS IN THE PHILIPPINES IN 1899!—WHICH ALLOWS OUR GOVERNMENT TO KEEP DOING THINGS LIKE THE INVASION OF IRAQ AND MINIMALLY HELPING THE POOR PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO LOST THEIR HOMES IN HURRICANE KATRINA. SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE I WANT TO MOVE TO CANADA. ALL GOVERNMENTS ARE CORRUPT, BUT IT IS THE ONES WITH THE MOST POWER THAT DO THE MOST DAMAGE.
CLAIRE: I HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE TRAVELING TO DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, AND I HAVE OF COURSE STUDIED MANY NATIONS, AND I THINK IT'S CLEAR THAT FOR MOST AMERICANS, THE STANDARD OF LIVING IS HIGHER THAN FOR PEOPLE IN OTHER COUNTRIES. BUT THERE IS KIND OF A THIRD WORLD WITHIN AMERICA, THAT SUFFERS FROM POLICE ABUSE, VIOLENCE, AND OFFICIAL NEGLECT, AND THAT IS THE WORKING POOR AND/OR POOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
TOGC: RIGHT NOW, SO MANY PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO HATE AMERICA due to the ONGOING WAR AT THE MIDDLE EAST. AND primarily BECAUSE OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ACTING AS THE WORLD POLICE AND PEACEMAKERS. WHAT'S YOUR OPINION ON THAT?
CLAIRE: CAN'T BLAME THEM.
VINCENT: IT IS NEVER GOING TO END BECAUSE AMERICANS ENJOY THEIR EXPENSIVE GADGETS AND NEED THE ENERGY TO POWER THEM. SO AS LONG AS WE ARE DEPENDENT ON OTHER NATIONS FOR OIL, ETC., WE WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET WHAT WE WANT... MAYBE EVEN ALLOW HIJACKED PLANES TO FLY INTO OUR TALL BUILDINGS SO WE CAN HAVE AN EXCUSE TO START A GLOBAL WAR?
TOGC: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT AMERICANS WHO SPEAK AGAINST AMERICA? Most Commies / leftist abused this phrase.
CLAIRE: AS ONE OF THEM, I APPROVE! WE'VE BEEN IN SPORTS STADIUMS WHERE THEY PLAY THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AND EVERYONE IS STANDING, EXCEPT US. AND NO, NO ONE HAS EVER TOSSED THEIR BEER ON US! YAY FOR FREE SPEECH! SO I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM SPEAKING AGAINST AMERICAN POLICY. I'D RATHER NOT IDENTIFY MYSELF AS AN AMERICAN ANYWAY. I AM A CITIZEN OF THE WORLD.
VINCENT: IT IS TIRESOME AT TIMES TO HEAR LEFTISTS REPEAT THE SAME REFRAINS. I'D RATHER TALK MORE ABOUT VISIONS FOR A NEW COUNTRY—OR, BETTER YET, SMALLER AND MORE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES BASED ON PRINCIPLES OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, INTERDEPENDENCE, ETHICAL ACTION, COOPERATION, AND MUTUAL AID.
TOGC: BACK TO THE ZINE, PLEASE SHARE WITH US YOUR TOP THREE FAVORITE AND HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ZINES.
VINCENT:
- IMAGINE (PRACTICAL ANARCHIST PHILOSOPHY) AND DON'T HAVE A COW (VEGAN RECIPES). JOHN JOHNSON, P.O. BOX 8145, RENO, NV 89507 USA.
- MIRANDA (STORIES OF A STAY-AT-HOME MOM). KATE HAAS, 3510 SE ALDER STREET, PORTLAND, OR 97214 USA.
- VOW (STORIES OF A PUNK ARTIST). KEITH ROSSON, 1426 SE 25TH #3, PORTLAND, OR 97214 USA.
TOGC: MUSIC: EVERY TIME I'VE HEARD THE WORDS "NEW YORK," THE FIRST THOUGHT THAT CAME TO MIND IS HARDCORE/ / SAY THAT BECAUSE NEW YORK ARE WELL KNOWN IN THE HARDCORE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE BANDS LIKE NAUSEA, SICK OF IT ALL, AGNOSTIC FRONT, AND MANY MORE COME FROM YOUR AREA. SO, DO YOU STILL MANAGE TO GO TO SHOWS DESPITE BEING BUSY WITH YOUR JOB, FAMILY AND ZINE WORK?
VINCENT: I AM A GLUTTON FOR LIVE MUSIC AND GO TO ABOUT 40 SHOWS A YEAR. RECENT CONCERTS WERE SIX FEET UNDER (DEATH METAL), TOOL (PSYCHEDELIC HARD ROCK), MEGADETH (THRASH METAL), AND AEROSMITH (CLASSIC ROCK). I DON'T LISTEN TO MUCH HARDCORE, BUT THE NEW SICK OF IT ALL ALBUM, DEATH TO TYRANTS, IS VERY GOOD!
TOGC: LAST ONE: MAYBE YOU CAN TELL US WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO IN THE FOLLOWING ISSUES OF OFF-LINE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THIS INTERVIEW. NOW YOU CAN SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT!
VINCENT: THE 40TH ISSUE WILL HAVE MANY STORIES ABOUT OUR COMMITMENT CEREMONY THIS PAST SUMMER (AN UNOFFICIAL WEDDING NOT SANCTIONED BY THE CHURCH OR GOVERNMENT). IT WAS AN AMAZING DAY, AND SOMEHOW WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF A TOTAL DIY COUP—DOING NEARLY EVERY ASPECT OF IT OURSELVES, FROM ACTING AS OUR OWN WEDDING PLANNERS IN MAKING THE ARRANGEMENTS, TO CREATING OUR OWN CEREMONY FROM SCRATCH, AND EVEN COOKING AND SERVING ALL OF THE FOOD FOR 50+ PEOPLE! AS SOON AS I GET A LITTLE MORE ORGANIZED, WE ARE GOING TO SHARE EVERYTHING ABOUT HOW IT CAME TO HAPPEN, IN CASE MAYBE OTHER PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER DOING IT THIS WAY FOR THEMSELVES!
CLAIRE: THANK YOU, ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE, FOR TAKING SUCH AN INTEREST IN US—WHAT? THIS IS FOR WHO? JUST KIDDING! REALLY, THANKS A LOT FOR WONDERING ABOUT US AND OUR LITTLE PROJECT. GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND YOUR OWN EFFORTS!
OFF-LINE IS FREE, LIKE ALL THINGS SHOULD BE, BUT WE ACCEPT DONATIONS GRATEFULLY. WRITE TO 35 BARKER AVENUE #4G, WHITE PLAINS, NY 10601 USA.
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