A Mega ‘Zine Scene

We live in a world awash with creativity. So much so it can be a tad unnerving. Recently Social Climes came across a copy of Factsheet Five, a magazine that keeps track of ‘zines, the esoteric, usually personally published magazines and pamphlets that have proliferated in recent years like literary mushrooms.

After a brief perusal, it was obvious there was a spectrum of communication going on we were barely aware of.

That might have been just as well. Here’s a sampling from the more than 1,300 ‘zines Factsheet Five reviewed:

* Duplex Planet: (“David Greenberger has been interviewing the elderly residents of the Duplex Nursing Home for many years now.”)

* Franklin’s World Sentinel: (“Franklin is in a world of his own. He talks to God, and God talks back.”)

* Civil Abolitionist: (“Reports of mostly icky medical experiments.”)

* Fugitive Pope: (“News from bored librarians or news for bored librarians.”)

* Ladies’ Fetish & Taboo Society: (“Random weirdness, personal observations, politics, relationships and lots of letters from readers.”)

* The Moocher’s Periodical: (“Mostly about porn movies, with all the words underlined, for some reason.”)

* Nib Geebles Triple Action Fortune: (“Tarot cards for the existentially challenged.”)

* Born Again Pagan Travel Book: (“R. Crumb meets Ralph Bakshi meets Mayan art meets the Kama Sutra.”)

* Venusian Travelogue: (“It’s beautiful. It’s fun. It’s why God made rubber stamps.”)

* Ethel the Aardvark: (“The more or less official publication of the Melbourne Science Fiction Club.”)

* Crash Collusion: (“UFO, ethnobotany, orgone and more all come together in this most excellent ‘zine.”)

* Nexus: (“One of the better collections of information from the fringes of reason.”)

* Banana Strangles Victim: (“More poetry from the prolific Paul Weinman.”)

* The Patriot Review: (“News on the struggle for a Christian Republic. Mostly bad news.”)

A Special Ballroom Punch

The Regent Beverly Wilshire’s elegant ballroom has been the locale for innumerable black-tie fund-raisers. As such, it’s been the scene of a few bruised egos but never bruisers. That will change on Aug. 27.

That’s when 1992 Olympic boxing gold-medalist Oscar de la Hoya, plus three other Olympic teammates, will trade punches beneath the chandeliers. The fights will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and the American Diabetes Assn.

“There is certainly a contrast between the elegant surroundings and the attitude of the event,” said Hollywood Pictures president Ricardo Mestres, who’s co-chairing.

“We’re going to eat deli, drink beer and have a completely fun, energized, raucous evening.”