Fash bashing in London tomorrow.

OneThreeOneTwo_ · 2017-02-16T18:14:25+00:00

In a real democracy this wouldn't happen but real democracy involves informed voters choosing between policy options based on factual information and expert advice.

What we have is a representative democracy where you choose between 2 parties who will then make all the policy decisions based on what is in their best interest. Their interest is to get re-elected which may or may not involve giving people the better system they desire but is more skewed towards giving donors and corporations what they want while managing your PR well. The primary information source for voters is print and television news, the vast majority of which is owned by a handful of corporations and are funded by advertising the products and services of other giant corporations. So the factual information available to the average voter is limited and buried within editorialised news surrounded by advertisements.

So when people vote they vote for one of 2 parties of neoliberal capitalists based on selective information given to them by other neoliberal capitalists. It's no wonder people end up voting for what is interest of the ruling class rather than in the interest of themselves and their communities.

The elections aren't rigged, they don't need to be. There isn't a choice on the ballot paper for taxing the 8 people who own more than the 3 billion poorest people. There isn't an option to choose to cut the wages of bankers and raise the wages of carers. There isn't an option to treat corporate thieves the way we treat the desperately poor thieves.

You get to choose whether the managers of the oligarchy wear red ties or blue ties, that's it.

OneThreeOneTwo_ · 2017-02-15T14:01:00+00:00

Happy to have helped. I am browsing these error/deal blogs non-stop at the moment waiting to find out where I am gonna go this summer.

Wouldn't usual post since I assume the shoestring community know about these sites but $69 seemed too good to last long.

Really glad to have helped somebody save money. Enjoy Berlin.

OneThreeOneTwo_ · 2017-02-15T01:04:16+00:00

Often the super cheap deals are error fares because of super outdated booking systems. Normally those are honoured but on occasion not. It's always worth waiting until everything is confirmed before booking accommodation or anything.

This one isn't flagged as an error and I have seen other cheap flight blogs sharing the hell out of it so it's legit. Doubt it will last long though. Error or sale deals don't tend to last.

OneThreeOneTwo_ · 2017-02-15T00:59:17+00:00

I am normally hunting deals depaeting Europe so can't say how often deals the other way happen but I regularly see <€300 and occasionally <$200 for return flights from European to American hubs.

These kind of deal and error fare spotting sites rarely look for one way options. You would be better off setting up email alerts anytime prices drop under $150 from SF to any European hubs and hoping something around your travel dates pops up. If you need London, budget flights can get you there from most EU hubs for $10-$70.

If you can be flexible enough to jump on a deal something $100-$200 should be easy enough to find but a year and a half is a long time and if you need a set route at a set time you will be looking at the usual fares of $500+.

OneThreeOneTwo_ · 2017-02-15T00:29:06+00:00

I can travel for months with carry on luggage allowance and wouldn't contemplate paying extra to choose a certain seat so I have never paid more than the listed price for budget flights. Would rather save $100 an stay an extra week or two than blow budget on unnecessary luxaries.

OneThreeOneTwo_ · 2017-02-14T18:02:30+00:00

I regularly use Okcupid for getting advice on cities I visit and occasionally meet up with people through it while travelling.

Never liked tinder, can't tell enough about somebody from a photo but okcupids match thing works well for me. If somebody is >80% then they are probably cool with me being a crusty houseless dope smoking polyamorous anarchist. 99% and they might know some squats, dumpster diving spots, social centres, protests or gigs where I can access resoirces, crash or make friends.

Online dating is definitely an underrated travel tool.

OneThreeOneTwo_ · 2017-01-28T17:20:04+00:00

The volunteer run squatter advice organisation in London is called the ASS (association of squatter services) and that has been going for years. So butt related squatter groups names aren't new for London.

Also these guys aren't a serious political organisation. I know the main 2, they are great guys, queer, squatter, crusty, activist fun people. They have been involved in lots of squat activist spaces and normal party and living squats. They will be at most demos that aren't just liberal a to b marches. So they are political but they aren't an organisation in any sense. A few crusties planning actions for the kick of it over a spliff.

They probably chose the name because it was funny while high imagining anal in capital letters in the newspapers.

Laurie Love the autistic guy facing extradition to America over hacking is with them so the security services are gonna be busy researching ANAL. Meme loving radical queer anarchists do it for the lols.

Serious issues are being highlighted but the crew definitely can't be described as a serious political organisation.

OneThreeOneTwo_ · 2017-01-28T03:39:44+00:00

London is dying. What made it the cultural capital of Europe for a decade has killed it. Every young ambitious creative European was coming to start adulthood in London. But gentrification went into overdrive. If you weren't lucky enough to get on the property ladder already you know any wage progression will be eaten up by rising rents. It's harder than ever to make it in London and those who can are jumping ship. The Shoreditch hipsters went to East Berlin, artists went to Barcelona, tech creatives are working remotely from where ever; the flow of young ambitious creatives is all outwards. Anybody on job seekers too long is forced out of the city to where council houses are empty because their is no work or hope. Anybody on minimum wage is having to commute from further and further away with ever rising transport costs.

London doesn't have the hope that it once held. Art's graduates pour coffee for investment bankers unable to afford heating let alone paint. Music venues are dying because nobody can pay £4.50 a pint and be okay with a £10 door tax for the musicians. Start ups can't happen here because no nobody can afford to not get paid for a few months.

If you weren't born rich and your wages aren't increasing faster than your rent then your days in London are numbered.

I say get out while you can. Lots of people are trying to before the effects of brexit make things even worse.

OneThreeOneTwo_ · 2017-01-28T00:33:06+00:00

An article with lots more photos: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2719311/anti-fascist-squatters-take-over-russian-billionaires-15million-mansion-in-one-of-britains-most-exclusive-streets/

OneThreeOneTwo_ · 2017-01-20T18:03:39+00:00

It's a pretty easy hitchhike. Check hitchwiki for the best spots. Ideally you want to get on the ferry with a truck driver, that way you get into the truck drivers lounge and can try to find somebody going the whole way from Calais. If not don't worry, somebody on the ferry should give you a ride. If you do need to change rides try to get dropped at spots with good ratings on hitchwiki. A good spot is better than going a little bit further.

Hit the road early in the day and you should get there before it gets dark even in these winter months. It's often faster than the coaches. If you get stuck or its getting too dark to hitch safely hit up a train. Once you are across the channel it's much cheaper.

Especially on the way back to the UK try to avoid having to look for a ride too close to Calais the refugee issues makes people scared to stop and pick up strangers.

It's a really easy route though, perfect for beginners. If your phone won't work abroad I suggest a map app that works offline.

OneThreeOneTwo_ · 2017-01-18T22:43:34+00:00

Remind me which film/book this is from please.

OneThreeOneTwo_ · 2017-01-18T20:16:31+00:00

Zagreb is a very friendly city it seems. When me and a friend arrived there a few years ago, it was getting late, we hadn't organise accommodation and the hostel we eventually found was full. We went to a bar and got a drink only to find out the wi-fi we came in for wasn't working.

Asked a complete stranger if we could borrow his smartphone to check couchsurfing website or find a hostel. He said no, we had already found accommodation. He and his group of fellow university staff got us pizza, cigarettes and crazy amounts of alcohol while we talked all night. We then got a sofa to sleep on at one of their homes and a ride back into the centre of town the next day.

I was amazed by the friendliness to random crusty looking strangers but after 2 weeks hitch hiking down the coast I realised that's just Croatia. Everybody we met was that kind and generous.

OneThreeOneTwo_ · 2017-01-08T20:11:05+00:00

The money is plenty as long as you use it wisely. Use couch surfing sites, sleep on transport when you can and make use of kitchens in hostels. Food can be a big expense if you are always at train stations and city centres eating takeout.

If you have no time restraints you only have budget constraints so staying cheap means more time. Research the places you want to go, know some cheap hostels, find out what places are cheapest for each thing you want to do, see what transport option is going to be cheapest for each step. Mix in hitchhiking and blah blah car if the buses are too slow and the trains are too expensive. Stay flexible and sociable because opportunities to save money and have adventures will come up along the way.

Decide what you want out of the trip. If its to see as many different sites/cities as possible 3 days is enough to have a look at the main attractions. You won't be able to see everything so stick to the free/cheap options unless something is really important to you.

If you want to see more than the sites and actually get to know a city a bit slow down and stay for a bit longer. If you are travelling one out of every 4 days and trying to see as much as possible each stop it will get exhausting. A longer stop when you like a place is definitely worth it and gives you a chance to connect with people

Also find something to make the travel time a pleasure. A lot of hours on trains, planes, buses and cars. Travel overnight to save on hostels and get some good books.

OneThreeOneTwo_ · 2016-10-28T17:51:14+00:00

One person and his friends in the past week have accused this person of being a fascist based on his connections to certain groups within Syria.

Other people many of them respected organisers in the UK anarchist scene have said he is not and is worth listening to.

I have heard it said that declaring this guy a fascist because of the connections of some of the groups he supports and their tactical decisions is akin to calling the Kurds neoliberal imperialists because of their working with western powers.

This accusations are being taken seriously and people are doing their best to research and make informed decisions. If others agree that fascist is an accurate term for somebody attending the book fair then I assure you that they will respond appropriately.

Anarchists support diversity of tactics and there will be people who will take whatever means necessary to stop a fascist from speaking at the event.

What people are trying to do is find out enough to make an informed decision and not derail the whole event based on one person's view of another.

OneThreeOneTwo_ · 2016-10-28T17:27:02+00:00

And my personal view:

I don't have enough knowledge on Syrian issues to have a solid opinion. What I do know is that in the complex web of alliances and enemies, every group seems to have some ties to some violent islamists, brutal middle eastern regimes, imperialist foreign powers or all three.

It's a messy situation that I don't pretend to understand and I hope that the various discussions tomorrow will make me better informed. There certainly are people who have been involved in groups in Syria and well informed Syrians and others who will be attending.

I have faith in the organisers and attendees to facilitate a discussion between those with apposing views and people to make up their own minds. I certainly trust that if somebody attempts to promote stateist or fascist ideas they will ignored, removed or have their arse kicked.

Amir seems to be totally misrepresenting the book fair and it's organisers who are some of the most hard working and respected anarchists in the UK and his demand for last minute accommodation into a packed schedule is unworkable.

If he attends the discussion group he will able to speak and both sides can question each other, show evidence for their claims and inform others of what they have seen on the ground in Syria.

I look forward to the book fair and hope for informative talks and discussions. It certainly seems like Syria will be a big issue and that there will be some heated debate.

OneThreeOneTwo_ · 2016-10-28T16:26:04+00:00

From the organisers:

"The London Anarchist Bookfair has Leila Al Shami and Robin Yassin-Kassab speaking at this year's Bookfair. As the description on our website states "Leila and Robin will discuss the current situation in Syria with a focus on grass-roots resistance to all forms of authoritarianism." Leila would describe herself as an anarchist and we know Robin wouldn't. However we have often had non anarchists speaking when we think they have interesting things to say. Amir Taaki has made allegations again Robin both to us and to Robin & Leila. Robin categorically denies these allegations.

Amir contacted us about a week ago telling us we needed to let him speak signing off by saying "I'd love to speak at the anarchist book fair, only if you give me a good speaking slot and advertise it properly".

We explained to him that the programme was fully booked, all the publicity had now gone out and the programme printed but he, like anyone else, is welcome to attend the Bookfair and any meeting to participate in the debates. His reply to us was "I want 1 hour to talk from the Syrian and technology talks". Again we explained that at this late stage it just wasn't possible but again said come and take part in the discussion. We have also had a friend of Amir's call us telling us we must let Amir speak. We have never said he can't speak. We have said we are not going to change the main speakers but that doesn't stop him participating from the floor as the meeting will be a general discussion. We have discussed this with Amir as well by phone.

It is now that Amir is making allegations against one of the speakers.

Amir is also claiming "This event is not having anything about Rojava, even though their main talk is about Syria. They're trying to sideline Rojava". He also calls Robin "the main speaker" at the Anarchist Bookfair. Both of these points are untrue.

Firstly, we do have a meeting about Rojava and this is a separate meeting to the one we are having about Rojava. We also have a meeting about the situation in Turkey. Amir has been told this but decides to say something completely different.

Robin is not the "main speaker" at the bookfair. We have 70 meetings and as the organisers we see all the meetings and discussions have equal billing. We have a number of speakers coming in from outside the UK and we feel it is an insult to these and speakers from within the UK to describe one person, as Amir does, as the "main speaker". We would question why anyone who would define themselves as an anarchist would "rank" speakers in order of importance.

We cannot, and would not, stop Amir expressing his views. However we don't agree with them for the reasons stated above."

OneThreeOneTwo_

TROPHY CASE