ChickClick (www.chickclick.com) is the home hub of each of the zines reviewed in this issue. So, before we begin it’s only fair to warn you — this co-op/commune is looking to score some serious advertising dollars, so don’t be surprised if you find the same framed layout, with the same (strangely) non-girlie adverts at the bottom of the screen. (Jeeze — you’d think a zine co-op with the motto "Girl sites that don’t fake it." would be hip for some pro-gyn advertising — but every ad I saw dealt was run of the mill stuff: long-distance service, online stock brokers — I think there was even one in there for tires??!.) Where’s NOW when you need the big bucks?

Also, I didn’t dig too deeply, but I’d swear the group has a bylaw that demands each zine editor contract out their graphics work to the same artist. There is a definite feel to each of these zines — almost camp in their hyper-popness. At times I felt like I was surfing back and forth within the same zine. Only the text had changed — and not much, either. In a weird, cybernetic way, it was like cruizing through a surrealistic cul-de-sac. Did you ever see Edward Scissorhands?

Okay, that said, let’s get on with the show.

Touted as a "site for grownups who don’t want to be," this quirky little zine is edited by the proliferous Grace and Tree, whom seem to have their fingers into about half-a-dozen zines on the Net.

Dedicated to childhood and it’s tasty pastimes, Pop!sicle accepts submissions of "short stories, anecdotes, top ten lists, and other quirky forms of expression that relate to childhood, growing pains, and all things child-like." Notice: they didn’t say childish — though they probably should have.

I’m sorry, but I found the contents a bit too sweet and sticky. Articles with titles like: "E E E W! Confessions of a Lunchroom Reject," "Ten Gross Things Grace Did As a Kid," and "An Ode to Roller Skates," assail you. The current issue is like bad re-run of that game codgers like to play in the old folks home: "Remember When?" The editors wax nostalgic on everything under the sun, from moving to a new school and best friends, to a little ditty (I’m not sure what to call it) called "Brainfreeze," which is an all too lengthy flashback on RocketBombs, Fudgsicles, Twirly Tops, and other frozen delights. A flashback that, though probably conceived of as erudite and hip when done, came off as being nothing more than an exercise in cutsie.

This is one zine that should probably melt away.

Fresh & Tasty has their act together. They’ve a solid direction, know who their audience is, and pack a whole lot of punch in a small package. Self-proclaimed as "The First and Only Women’s Snowboarding Magazine," this zine has been lighting the fires of some of the biggest names in publishing from here to the Sour Apple. Everyone wants a piece of them. The masses are lining up to worship. "We’re not worthy! We’re not…"

Anyway, these grrlz get an A+ for graphics, even though I think the Anime look is quickly becoming dated — say, mid-90’s.

The content is unbelievable. They have interviewed some of the top women snowboarders around — including Olympic half-pipe gold medalist Nicola Thost, and their articles (like "How to Be A Professional Snowboarder") are insightful, concise, and well-written.

I hate to admit it, but I loved this zine. Disgruntled Housewife is to online publishing what Mad was to cartooning. It’s refreshing, honest, open — and wholly irreverent.

Nikol Lohr must spend 20 hours a day writing, because this site is packed with lucid musings on everything from sin and sex, to cocktails and work. Of particular note is the "Naked" series — several articles Nikol wrote on the subject of nudity and the effect her father’s Playboys had on her vision of herself as a young girl. Also on this site is an article titled "Working for the Man," which is a list of devious things you can do to alienate yourself from you employer and your fellow peon employees.

Disgruntled Housewife, however, is most widely known as being the home of The Dick List.

The Dick List has a two-fold purpose, according to Lohr:
"1) promoting girly solidarity through bile-spewing; and
2) reminding us that certain guys were real dicks (which seems obvious, except that at one time or another, due to liquor or just plain bad judgment, it seems like every man on the dick list ended up in the house while his name was still on the list . . . sometimes the libido overpowers common sense. . . .). "

If you’re one of the uninitiated, here’s a sample reading for, say, John L.:

"He's a 30-year old woman-abusing living-off-of-momma's-money $6-an-hour-job-losing 900-number-calling cheating lying cowardly and generally worthless son of a bitch who won't leave somebody alone once he gets his hooks into her-no matter HOW much of momma's money it takes."

Get the point?

Pif, of course, does not agree with anything our reviewer has to say, nor do we disagree with it. In fact, we don’t even agree to disagree.

If you have a comment about any of these reviews, please email pifreviews@dimax.com. Understand that we cannot, under any circumstances, release the name of our zine reviewer, as in the past whackos have threatened to do him (or her) bodily harm.

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If you would like Pif Magazine to review your zine, send us your URL by emailing pif@dimax.com, or send a print copy to:

Pif Magazine P.O. Box 538 Dupont, Washington 98327-0538 USA