It is a given in DIY and punk culture to mythologize the idea of squatting. There really are many things to admire about squats and squatters. If you can find a place to your liking and make it work, then more power to you. But it has to be remembered that for every successful squatting situation, there has to be, and definitely are, countless bad scenes when it comes to people trying to live together in a seemingly “ruleless” place. And thus the story behind Power Machine. This is an honest accounting of a California squat–all the good, all the bad, and definitely plenty of the ugly. And oh my, does it get ugly. I can’t do justice here to the stories in Power Machine. But if you have any interest in communal living or the squatting life, you have to read this zine. (Jon Pressick)
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