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Title: Steal This Book Author: Abbie Hoffman Date: 1971 Language: en Topics: counterculture, New Left, Consumerism, anti-work, yippies Source: Retrieved on 2020-06-05 from http://tenant.net/Community/steal/steal.html
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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:
Harrisburg 62946
71360
21811
49829
65806
City 89005
87410
Service Group, 28 E. 20th St., New York, NY 10003
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
1965. New members must meet specific criteria. Anarchist, artist, dome
houses.
Visitors check in advance. Revolutionary.ATLANTIS I-RFD 5, Box 22A,
Saugerties, NY 12477. Visitors and new members welcome.
non-sectarian, co-op housing and community fellowship.
(c/o Miriam Roder).
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.
on request)
Bowling Green Ohio 43402
Colorado 80631
Michigan 48221
Detroit, Mich.
D.C. 20007
94114
Illinois 61820
Wisconsin 53705
Denver, Colorado 80204
Michigan State College, East Lansing, Michigan 48823
Free U-Box ALL 303, Santa Barbara, California 93107
Delevan, Ohio 43015
Rutgers Free U-Rutgers College, Student Center, 1 Lincoln Ave., Newark,
NJ 07102
University, St. Louis, Missouri 63103
20015 and 1854 Park Rd. NW, Washington, D.C. 20010
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.
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.
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.
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[1] (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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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
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.
laundromats, automats, some stamp machines, most novelty machines, and
the Boston Subway. Does not work in soda or cancerette machines.
electric cancerette machines, but does not work as many places in the
Uruguay, Danish and Peruvian coins.
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.
Dime Size Coins
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.
New York Subway Tokens
coin to use since it will not jam the turnstile. It is 5/l000th of an
inch bigger than a token.
2/1000th of an inch smaller than a token.
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.
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?
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 9˝ to 10 years for giving away two joints.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
You can get a free full-color World Atlas by writing to Hammond Inc.
Maplewood, New Jersey 07040.
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.
Join the Army!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sneak Under!
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.
The standard size for paper is 8˝" 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 ˝" 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.
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.
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 3Ľ" 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.
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!
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
ballparkľthe 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 mindľto 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.
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."
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.
749-2200
(202) 387-7575
90031
20005
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.
12504
$2/12 iss.
$5/yr.
$10/yr.
$6/yr.
Burbank, Calif. 91504
$4/yr.
$5/yr.
$5/yr.
$5/yr.
iss.
47401
$3.50/yr.
USA/UPS ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
62025
$3.50/12 iss.
$6/yr.
$6/yr.
yr.
CANADA/UPS
Northern Crown Bldg. Regina, Sask.
EUROPE/UPS
England
EUROPEAN ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
LATIN AMERICA/UPS
...Membership list temporarily unavailable.
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
387-3575
387-8008
863-3040
(415) 421-0943
(415) 626-8524
California
(415)569-6369
457-2104
836-3013
426-8500
327-9008
968-3564
443-8311
Other Western States
234-9965
338-7588
Eastern States
382-6472
667-4684
337-1717
561-4524
294-6378
Wisconsin (414) 273-5959
469-5044
(617) 263-3940
3
(617) 862-8130&1
(617) 444-1795
Other Countries
England. Ask overseas operator for London 222-8219
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.
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).
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 ˝ 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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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!
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.
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.
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).
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Outside of these areas, there are no offices, but people to contact in
the following cities are:
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.
(303-TA5-2930)
(505-877-5286)
58701 (702-838-0381)
(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.
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!"*
policy. By making Dan Berrigan or Angela Davis the beneficiary you might
avoid front-line duty.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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*:
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
PM only. Heavy religious orientation.
Clothes for women on Thursday from 12:00 to 2:00 PM. Clothes for men
after 2:00 PM weekdays. Sometimes lodging.
6-2338) Clothes and morning showers from 7:00 to 11:00 AM.
Free food Saturdays at 5:00 PM. Sometimes free clothes.
spaghetti dinner on Tuesday at 1:00 PM.
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.
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
Bronx
Brooklyn
Queens
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.
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.
liberties)
types of services)
liberties)
(civil matters)
Bronx
588-1000. Hours are from 2:00 to 10:00 weekdays.
Brooklyn
Manhattan
Botanical Gardens
display. LE 4-4938
Oriental Garden, Rose Garden, Native Wild Flower Garden, Rock Garden,
Conservatory. Seasonal display. MA 2-4433.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
26794
4-4600
7-0709
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
7-2458
5-8519
MANHATTAN - INDOOR POOLS
BROOKLYN - OUTDOOR POOLS
BROOKLYN = INDOOR POOLS
8-1121
HY 3-3948
BRONX OUTDOOR POOLS
BRONX - INDOOR POOLS
2-7254
QUEENS - OUTDOOR POOLS
Central Parkway, Swimming pool and diving pool. 699-4228.
RICHMOND - OUTDOOR POOLS
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
the American Geographical Society are all located at Broadway and 155th
St.
best in the world outside Egypt. Take IRT (Broadway line) express train
to Brooklyn Museum station. (Don't miss the Gardens in back.)
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.
Streets. The best Spanish art collection in the city.
ships and sea stuff. Also the Seaport Museum on 16 Fulton St.
museum in the world. Open Tuesday to Sunday 1 to 5 PM. Take IRT
(Broadway line) local to 157th St. station.
dinosaurs and other stuff. Weekdays 10-5 PM, Sunday 1-5 PM.
65th St. 799-2200
3-3400
Chase Manhattan ones are museums when you get right down to it. Liberate
them!
Music
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.
Village puts on free concerts and recitals every Friday at 8:30 PM. For
a complete schedule send a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
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.
opera, dance, chamber music, string quartets and soloists. Performances
take place most Friday evenings at 8:30 PM, from November through May.
104th St. every Sunday at 2:30 PM, October through April. Phone first:
LE 4-1672. Classical.
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.
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
7th Ave. at 56th St. Free on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 8:15 PM. JU
6-4800 for information.
night except Monday. Performance begins at 8:00 PM, but get there before
6:00 PM to be assured of tickets.
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 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.
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
presents Hollywood movies every Saturday afternoon. TR 3-3400 for a
schedule.
films every Monday at 3:00 PM. TR 9-5500 for a schedule.
poetry, lectures, and theatre presentations. Call the Program Director's
Office 598-2026 for a schedule.
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.
film showing at 2 and 5 PM. Get a schedule at the Museum. They have the
largest movie collection in the world.
(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
Well almost!General information: 883-1122Sports: 883-1133Travel:
883-1144Weather: 883-1155
2-0400.
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
691-6073
MISCELLANEOUS
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.
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
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
school offering courses in karate, Mao, medical skills and other
courses. They will send you a catalogue listing current courses.
art taught by professionals for a free.
GENERAL SERVICES
addresses, counseling, sometimes food.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
317 Chicago Circle Center 663-2557
Ave. 363-1248
ext. 36
Leavitt 784-3272
University Student Senate Office, Rm. 204, 430 S. Michigan Ave. 922-3580
ext. 334
925-3686
561-8033
W. Wellington Ave. 935-0642.
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
art museum.
Open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM.
Time of opening varies from day to day; call 922-9410. Thursday,
Saturday and Sunday admission is free.
4-1414) Open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM. Our all-time favorite museum.
(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
$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.
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
Underground Papers
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
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.
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.
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.
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).
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 PMDraft-Monday thru Thursday, 7:30-10:00 PM.Pregnancy and
Abortion--Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, 7:30. Saturday 1:30 PMBirth
Control-Monday thru Friday, 6-7 PM. Saturday 2-3 PM.
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).
Lincoln). The services are varied and they are only open evenings. Call
399-7743 and they'll help you.
(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)
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.
564-6801SUBCENTER--FLORENCE-Firestone-8019 Compton Ave
583-6241.SOUTHEAST - 4920 Avalon Blvd. 231-2161.SOUTHWEST - 3834
S.Western Ave. 731-8541.
provides help in civil matters.
6-5156).
(748-4662)
Fernando Valley State College, Northridge (349-1200, ext. 1181)
90024 (746-6092)
Bldg., Rm. 217 (746-6092)
Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
(938-2531)
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
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.
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:
first-serve basis.
filled.
with children.
only.
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.
[1] 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.