SRL 30

[ltmurnau]

Survival Research Laboratories is thirty years old today!

http://www.srl.org/

"Survival Research Laboratories was conceived of and founded by Mark Pauline in November 1978. Since its inception SRL has operated as an organization of creative technicians dedicated to re-directing the techniques, tools, and tenets of industry, science, and the military away from their typical manifestations in practicality, product or warfare. Since 1979, SRL has staged over 45 mechanized presentations in the United States and Europe. Each performance consists of a unique set of ritualized interactions between machines, robots, and special effects devices, employed in developing themes of socio-political satire. Humans are present only as audience or operators."

Like many weirdos not indigenous to San Francisco in the 1970s, I first learned about SRL in the still incredibly entertaining "Industrial Culture Handbook" by Re/Search Publications. It wasn't until 1989 that I got to see an actual SRL performance, in Seattle. Took time off from my Army job in Ottawa (well, it was leave due me) to see it, and probably lost a good girlfriend over it, but it was worth it. I even got to shake Mark Pauline's claw afterward!

Also, here is a link to an old book from 1918 on how to grow War Vegetables in your yard ('cause you need to be ready when your neighbour's vegetables come boiling over the wire....)
http://www.archive.org/details/warvegetablegar00commgoog