one zine and three lists
Hello friends -
I haven’t felt motivated to send a newsletter for the past bunch of months cuz of the state of the world and particularly the unleashing of authoritarian/kleptofascist state shit in the united states. And especially the arrival of I C E and D H S in Chicago. A truly despicable and monstrous organization that exists to spread terror, trauma, and harm on vulnerable communities.
I am in awe of and grateful to all the normal everyday people who continue to organize and defend each other against them. No one else is going to save you or me, it’s up to each of us to help protect each other.
How are you all doing in general? And with the awfulness happening in your part of the world?
Free Palestine, protect all trans people, abolish police and borders.
Keep loving and keep fighting!
Keith
A Thing I Made
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I slowly continue to make things even though I never feel like I am and even though I feel conflicted about it. I finished the second issue of new zine / project - System of Repetitions - earlier this fall and haven’t felt like telling anyone about it. Not because I don’t think it’s good or worth sharing, but because my brain and heart give in to my feelings of why bother very easily.
This is a collection of poems I wrote over the past year. Linocut print covers and sewn with book thread. I made twenty of these and am happy to send you one for free. Just let me know if you’d like one and it’s yours. Your interest and possibly reading the thing is the reward.
Things I’ve read and loved:
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With Her Hair on Fire - Christy Prahl
Pattern-Book - Éireann Lorsung
Insecurity System - Sara Wainscott
I’m So Happy You Are Here – Pauline Vermare and Lesley A. Martin, editors
Illuminance – Rinko Kawauchi
World Within the World – Julia Gfrorer
The Ecology of Freedom – Murray Bookchin
Things I’ve read and remembered (which means it stuck with me, and that ain’t nothin):
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Consider the Rooster – Oliver Baez Bendorf
Abundant Number 2-4 – Éireann Lorsung, editor
The Hundred Years’ War On Palestine – Rashid Khalidi
A Year of Last Things – Michael Ondaatje
If Not, Winter – Anne Carson
Basho’s Journey – Matsuo Basho and David Landis Barnhill, (translator)
Goats and Sheep: A Portrait Farm – Kevin Horan
All the White Spaces – Ally Wilkes
The Memory Police – Yoko Ogawa
Los Peligros de Fumar en la Cama – Mariana Enriquez
After the Threshold – Sandi Haber Fifield
Bullshit Jobs: A Theory – David Graeber
Nettle & Bone – T. Kingfisher
The Sapling Cage – Margaret Killjoy
Secret Picnic Spot - Missy Kulik
Bonus - Three events that felt good
so as to end this on a positive note:
Linda Lindas performing at the Metro in April. It was a family outing and our son’s first legit rock show.
John Porcellino talk/presentation at the Jefferson Park Library in June. This was an event that I helped set up and it was cool to see John reconnect with childhood friends and neighborhood.
Sasha Velour performing The Big Reveal Live Show at the Steppenwolf Theatre in August. Easily one of the best shows of any kind I have ever seen. Sasha is a legit amazing performer.