Print Coming Up

Hello People.

We are almost done throwing together the first print issue of 3.1.1.  We appreciate all the people that submitted- the turnout was outstanding, especially for a first run.  Unfortunately, we can’t print a 100 page zine, mostly because we need to eat and have money left over for laundry.  We had to make some difficult decisions, but the issue we have put together, we feel, represents a solid range of subject matter and media from the pool of submissions.

The printed zine should start showing up in local businesses in early August.  We will post a list of locations carrying the magazine on the blog once distribution is finished.

By the way, today is Amelia Earhart Day.  No shit.  Have a good night.

3.1.1.

MJ Passing a Lesson in Life Appreciation

By Deon Price

The entertainment industry mourns the death of a global mega super star and legend. The sudden and shocking passing of singer Michael Jackson exposes the hypocrisy of main stream media. We have seen a borage of dedication tributes on every media outlet from radio, T.V., in print  and on line for the King of Pop, yet these same venues have done just about everything possible to destroy his image, demean his character and derail his career. Now that he’s gone there is a phony love fest displayed by the media that many people including his family clearly recognized.  Michael Jackson endured years of image assassination attempts by mainly American media that forced him into exile. His recent career comeback tour that was planned this summer was a testament to his resilience.

As a society, we tend to rarely show sincere appreciation for people until they are gone. I can honestly say that I also allowed public perception to influence my appreciation for true talent. I was what you might call a closet MJ fan.  I know I’m not the only one who would be reluctant to blast MJ music in public. However, I do have a few of his jewels stored on my MP3 player like  “Human Nature,” or my most recent favorite, “Butterflies”.  I also made a point over the years to share his genius and talent with my children by proclaiming Mike as the “King of the Stage,” taking the thrown over their favorites Chris Brown, Justin Timberlake or Usher. His videos alone convinced them that he has the trophy for all-time best performer.

If there’s a lesson in this it is to appreciate people while they are here.  How many times have we seen t-shirts worn by people of their loved one who have passed away? I often ask, “would you have made a t-shirt” if that person was still alive. Most of the time the answer is, “probably not.”  Don’t wait until I’m gone to show me love.  Make a t-shirt of me now, while I’m here. We just celebrated a family event honoring my mother who is 75 years old.  Prior to the event we had t-shirts made with her image on the front. The event drew a larger than expected amount of family members from all over California. The sentiments of many of the folks attended was, “We should to this more often.” Most of the time families only get together like this when there’s a funeral. Whether it’s quality time with your immediate family, calling your grandparents once a week or attending the annual family reunion, these gestures are sincere and everlasting.

Never pass on an opportunity to show love and appreciation for someone because you never know what tomorrow will bring.  That holds true for family, friends or, in this case, a talented artist. Years ago I had a rare opportunity to see Myles Davis live at the Circle Star theater in Redwood City. I decided to pass thinking I’ll catch him next time. Unfortunately, he died a few months later. More recently, I had a chance to experience the God Father of Soul, James Brown in Cache Creek. I decided instead to go to the Berkeley Jazz  festival. Little did I know, James would pass away on December 25th that year. How many people who were constant critics of Michael Jackson are showing appreciation for him now that he’s gone?

Deon Price is youth advocate and freelance writer who lives in Suisun City, Ca. He can be reached at Deon.Price@comcast.net or http://www.priceedutainment.webs.com

Deadline Approaches with a Quickness

We’ve received a lot of great submissions, and we are accepting submissions for three more days.  If you have work you would like to see in print and online, or would like to advertise your work or local small business, check out the Submissions page and get in touch.

To all of you who have submitted, thanks.  We will take some time to review all submissions and then get to work on the first issue.  We will contact the people behind accepted submissions once we are finished with the selection process.

Now go out and do something awesome.

3.1.1.

Put a link to your website up on 3.1.1.

Guess what?  We are starting to post links to local online portfolios, written work, and websites for small businesses and non-profits.   Innovative and cutting-edge, we know.  If you want a link on 3.1.1. that will take readers right to your work, send us an email with the website and a short blurb about you and what you do (probably not more than 30 words).  Be sure to put “Link Submission” in the subject of the email.

To all you visitors- check out the links.  These people are your neighbors.

Nothing on The Walls?

Alright people. We’ve been getting a lot of traffic and yet there is not one post for an upcoming event, show, or exhibit on The Walls. We all got together and discussed this at length last night. After much weeping, we came to the conclusion that this is unacceptable. Some of you have to want an opportunity to shamelessly promote your work.

Get moving!

3.1.1. coming soon

The first issue of 3.1.1. zine will be published soon.  It will be a simultaneous print and online publication, and will feature a nice sampling whatever the hell people end up sending us.  Take some time to read the Submissions page, and then send off an article, review, comic, or pretty much anything you think might fit in to a zine about local Bay Area goings on, to the poor bastard below.

Matthew K

311zine@gmail.com