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Showing posts from July, 2017

Issue #44 of the Ken Chronicles

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#44 was released at the end of July, 2017, and the print version has 28 digest-sized pages in b&w. It contains more of the usual: readers' comments; People, Places & Things (that aren't there anymore); What I've been _______ Lately; and Updates, Oddities & Random Thoughts. The feature article describes our recent purchase of a Florida condo through an online foreclosure auction. Review by aj michel (Low Hug, Syndicate Product zines):      I've been a long-time reader of Ken's zines, stretching back to the PASSIONS APA. He's also contributed thoughtful, moving essays to my zine projects. Each issue of THE KEN CHRONICLES is full of interesting facts, product reviews and recommendations, and photos. I always learn something new from each issue.      For example, did you know that there used to be a coffin factory in Queens on Atlantic at124th Street? Coffins are one of those products you don't think about much until someone you know needs

Issue #43 of the Ken Chronicles

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Much like #42, issue #43 is 28 digest-sized pages in b&w with a few color photos included. It contains the now-standard Input & Feedback; People, Places & Things (that aren't there anymore); What I've Been _______ Lately; and Updates, Oddities & Random Thoughts; there is also a story about our 2017 winter in Florida and some of the strange happenings during that time.   REVIEW BY MATT GHOLSON (Photozine Trader Blog): I recently contacted Ken Bausert and requested a trade and he was happy to do so.  I sent him my two photozines, which may be more accurately called chapbooks, and he sent me the last two issues of his perzine, “The Ken Chronicles.”  Though I’ve been interested in zines for a long time I’m really very new to them and I was very intrigued by the idea of a perzine, or personal zine.       By their nature it seems most zines are “perzines” in that they are usually written and edited by one person and contain their personal beliefs and what n

Issue #42 of the Ken Chronicles

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Issue #42 was released in February, 2017, and the print version is 28 digest-sized pages in b&w, with a few color photos scattered about. Containing the usual: Input & Feedback; People, Places & Things (that aren't there anymore); What I've Been _______ Lately; and Updates, Oddities & Random Thoughts.   Review by David La Bounty (publisher, Blue Cubicle Press): There isn’t much I can write about the Ken Chronicles that hasn’t been written more eloquently in previous issues of Xerography Debt. Ken’s perzine is filled with fantastic writing about the past and present moments in his life. My favorite part of every issue is the “What I’ve Been (reading /writing /watching /listening to/and so forth) Lately” column. In this issue, there are a couple of zine reviews, a wine review, and a Leon Russell tribute. Ken’s “Updates, Oddities, & Random Thoughts” column is also a must read. (Pay close attention to a poignant section on mortality buried in the para

Issue #41 of the Ken Chronicles

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Issue #41contains one of my favorite cover wraps; even though the b&w version looks totally different than the color version, I like them both a lot. The print version is b&w, 28 digest-sized pages, and I didn't want to infringe on the front cover image so I put the zine title on the back; there are also a few color photos scattered among the interior pages. By this issue, I've settled on some regular features that include the input & feedback section; "People, Places & Things (that aren't there anymore;" "Updates, Oddities & Random Thoughts;" and "What I've Been Reading Lately" (including zines). There's also a report on our latest trips, including a fall trip to Florida (when Hurricane Matthew hit) and another house-related project.   Review by Kris Mininger (produces the perzine Chorrada in Spain): Ken is a retired auto mechanic who lives on Long Island. He’s been involved in zines and APAs for decades.

Issue #40 of the Ken Chronicles

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Issue #40 of the Ken Chronicles was released in August, 2016, and is 28 digest-sized pages in b&w with a color centerfold. It contains my first installment of "People, Places & Things (that aren't there anymore);" my way of remembering and paying homage to some items that were a big part of my life. In this issue, that includes the Variety Photo Plays (an old theater where my older brother took me to see movies when I was a kid); the Cypress Hills Swimming Pool (where my friends and I would cool off in the summer); and Giovanni Mosconi (who owned and operated Monte's Italian Restaurant in Greenwich Village – he's still alive, BTW, just retired from the restaurant). This issue also follows me on a couple of my projects around the house, a visit to the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, in Florida, and "What I've been reading (including zines) and experiencing lately." Review by Kris Mininger (produces the perzine Chorrada in Spain)

Issue #39 of the Ken Chronicles

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Issue #39 was released around May, 2016, and is 28 digest-sized pages in b&w. It contains readers' feedback & comments; a story about the condo we were able to rent in Florida, for the winter, for $950 a month (plus electric); a bunch of people I met in Florida who all had ties to places I've lived in New York; what I've been reading (including zines), and watching (movies) lately; and "Updates, Oddities & Random Thoughts." Review by Davids Gypsy Breier (publishes Xerography Debt and Leeking Inc.): In the Ken Chronicles #39, Ken and his wife Ro return to Florida to escape the cold mid-Atlantic winter. As much as anything, I am always impressed how much Ken has his shit together. He figures out how to travel on a fixed income, repairs things, and is there for other people. I was amused to read that he was roped into becoming the new editor for the condo association newsletter where he winters. I still use Quark and was interested to learn th

Issue #38 of the Ken Chronicles

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Issue #38 of the Ken Chronicles was released in February, 2016, and is 28 digest-sized pages in b&w. It contains "Input & Feedback," "Travelogue" (my travels & activities throughout the summer months), "What I've Been Experiencing/Attending/Listening To/Reading (including zines) Lately," and "Updates, Oddities & Random Thoughts." Review by Stuart Stratu (produces Blackguard and Stratu's Diary Comix): The Ken Chronicles #38: One of the greatest things about zines - or at least those few that actually have them - is the letter column. This issue has four pages of letters, and one of them is from Don Fields (who produces his own zine, Twilight World), who writes a great letter. The main subject of his letter is about him noticing another letter-writer (and zine maker), Rodney L. complaining about the lack of letters he receives for each issue. Don goes on to explain why he isn’t too worried about letters, a

Issue #37 of the Ken Chronicles

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Issue #37 was released in November, 2015, and is 28 digest-sized pages in b&w. It contains "Input & Feedback," "A Matter of Life & Death" (about losing a friend of over 50 years), "A Matter of Good & Evil," (about the good and bad that people do to others), "What I've Been Reading (including zines)/watching/etc., Lately," and "Updates, Oddities & Random Thoughts." Review by Kris Mininger (produces the perzine, Chorrada, in Spain): The Ken Chronicles #37: My folks will be making their annual jump over the puddle to visit me soon. The other day on Skype my father asked, “Do you have any new issues of The Ken Chronicles?” My father is a lurker. He reads my zines, but he doesn’t contribute to the zine community by making one of his own. He’ll be retiring soon and he has mentioned a couple of times that, when he has more free time, he’s going to start a zine. I think he’s secretly taking notes from Ken’s zin

Issue #36 of the Ken Chronicles

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#36 was released in August, 2015, and is 32 digest-sized pages in b&w. It contains "Input & Feedback," "Cleaning House" (about downsizing my vinyl collection & assembling a new cabinet to hold my music equipment and records), and a trip to the Pacific Northwest with our granddaughter after her high school graduation. Review by Davida Gypsy Breier (publisher of Xerography Debt and Leeking Ink): The Ken Chronicles, #36. Funny enough I took almost the exact same route he takes, with some of the same stops, about 15 years ago with Patrick. I loved the cabins at Lake Quinault. We also went into Victoria and Vancouver on our trip, but we never stopped to enjoy a place for more than a night and Ken got more out of his stops. I must admit, my favorite part of their journey was Ken hiking to waterfalls to join up with his granddaughter. He was worried about making it with his sciatica problems and I was happy to read he made it. Available i