Dishwasher. - periodical reviews

Washing dishes is one of the country's least esteemed professions, ranked in opinion polls only slightly above drug pushing and prostitution. But Dishwasher -- the self-published zine created by Dishwasher Pete -- creates a different picture from the drudgery usually associated with the work. Dishwasher Pete (who does not use his last name) is a twelve-year veteran who travels restaurant to restaurant, state to state.

Each issue of Dishwasher is brimming with cartoons and handwritten stories about the colorful characters who populate restaurant kitchens. It also makes some political points. In an essay called "The Slave Wage," Pete rails against the unlivable pittance the grunts receive and recommends they take over the means of production themselves and share the wealth.In his spare time, Dishwasher Pete frequents university libraries to research dishwashing labor history and collects stories, books, and newspaper and magazine clippings to review in the zine.Although Pete doesn't make money off his publishing efforts, Dishwasher does manage to break even. He says his dream is to offset-print the entire zine. Right now he prints only the cover and mimeos the inside pages wherever he can find a copy machine. His growing reputation means more copyshop employees are willing to give him unofficial discounts. He says the latest issue required between 6,000 and 7,000 copies. Alternative bookstores distribute about half He sells the rest himself.Problem: You've been breaking a lot of dishes at work. Solution: What's the problem? Broken dishes are not your problem, though they can be the solution to your problems. Be it stress, boredom, or revenge, there's no easier way to enlighten a mood than by "accidentally" dropping a wad of twenty plates. "OOPS!" Now don't you feel better? The glorious sounds of crashing dishware have long been known as a therapeutic cure for any dishwasher's ailment (even the flu). And his very same sound never fails to make any boss cringe. Always an added bonus is to commit your "drop" while the boss is present so you can enjoy the pained expression on the old sourpuss's face.To order a copy of Dishwasher, send $1 to Dishwasher Pete, P.O. Box 8213, Portland, OR 97207.COMMON DISHWASHER PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONSWhile it's wildly irreverent, Dishwasher's class consciousness may inspire kitchen employees to organize -- or, at the very least, grab a free bite now and then. Dishwasher Pete has published lists of all the food he eats or takes home from restaurant kitchens. He implores zine readers not to ash on their plates so employees can eat the leftovers from the bus tubs.Pete says he's in no hurry to complete his U.S. tour. And after he reaches his goal of washing dishes in all fifty states, he says he may move on to Europe. Or he may to organize dishwashers into unions. "One thing about being a union organizer is it's about being flexible and transient," he says.Dishwasher Pete hopes to wash dishes in all fifty states. So far, he has made it to twenty-three. He says he likes his profession because of the freedom it affords him. "The one thing about my job is that my mind is free. They're buying my time and labor but not my mind," he says.

Please note the cardinal rule to dishbreaking: Break the dirty dishes! You don't wanna break dishes you just labored to clean; you wanna break the dirty ones so you don't have to clean 'em.