Eschaton

I'm amazed at what is going on in the administration...
Yes, I'm still amazed...the shenanigans at the EPA should be enough to make him unelectable...
but what I really don't get is why the media continues to play ball with these folks?
Why would the NYT make the changes Atrios points out? What the hell is going on?

O.k.
I think as someone who is going to support the Democrats this time around I have to call them out when I see them doing something really wrong. Timoney is heading up security for the convention in Boston and we have to let them know that this is unacceptable. I can't give any money to people with no respect for the bill of rights. Just can't do it.

Texas housewife busted for hawking erotic toys / Sales rep for Brisbane firm sold vibrator to undercover agents: "u"

File under: Ashamed to be from Texas...
via Atrios...

slacktivist: Reagan's Bind
finally...something worth naming after Reagan...

O.k I saw one of the democratic debates this weekend and it got me to thinking...
I have a question I'd like to hear in a debate...any debate...and it's a followup question,
but I bet it could be worked in to almost every Presidential debate from here till the election.

"That's very interesting but in no way adresses the question you were asked. My followup then is if you cannont listen to and respond to a question put directly to you in a debate, when that is your only responsiblity how can the American public trust you to listen to and respond to their questions and concerns?"

I didn't bother counting but I know this question could have been asked several times just in the half or so of the last debate I saw.

Answer the damn questions people!
We aren't just asking them to hear ourselves talk!
Spew your rhetoric on your own time!

The Raitt Stuff

My main machine is down...so blogging has been and will be light for awhile...
but this was too good not to point it out...

Soros's Deep Pockets vs. Bush (washingtonpost.com):
"'It is the central focus of my life,' Soros said, his blue eyes settled on an unseen target. The 2004 presidential race, he said in an interview, is 'a matter of life and death.' "

God Bless Soros!
If he's to be our Scaife he needs to actually get into the heart of the battle and maybe help fund The Gaurdian's operations over here, or start his own magazine/newspaper. We need REAL investigative journalists let loose on the shrub and his cronies... I'm even willing to bring down Tom Delay with lies and innuendo if we can get it to work... Whatever it takes.
Anyone but Bush '04.

Mike Switzer

The Neal Pollack Invasion

Y'know with all this recent flap about "The Reagans" mini-series I really wish I had a "REAGAN SUCKS!" shirt (not exactly right, but sadly enough the closest I could find...). Someone recently suggested we make "REAGAN STILL SUCKS!" shirts, but it just doesn't have the same ring to it...

M

Upcoming Shows and Events

Suchu Dance...
if you haven't seen them before go see this show...
if you have already seen them you're already planning on going...

Good stuff... I promise.

~~~TBOGG~~~:


"Which leads to my theory what causes genetic conservatism: some people grew up with mean, scary mothers like Nancy Reagan, and this leads them to seek out authoritarian father-figures who will protect them from scary stuff -- when these ersatz fathers aren't telling them to just grow up, make lots of money, and be men, thus reinforcing their secret fears about their masculinity. And deep down inside, these damaged souls are still looking for a thin, brittle, cold girl, just like the one who married dear, old dad -- which is why they also like Ann Coulter, and want to see her nude.

Anyway, just a theory. "

I can't find the right words to describe how reading the above made me feel...suffice to say it's a good thing...and look, he didn't have to attack Nader once...

M

Ian over at esemplastic just turned me on to GeoURL. If I did it right we'll be able to see websites whose subjects are physically near me by clicking on that lovely green geoURL link on the right..
who knows? If I didn't do it right that link will basically say, "you didn't do it right." and then I'll feel stupid.
Ideally about 10 minutes after I post this it should work...
why is there no emoticon for fingers crossed?

M

Something's Got to Break :: The Time is Coming

it's called "crony capitalism" and it's all the rage!

~~~TBOGG~~~
Grrr...
Ok...I went and registered as a Democrat...but this constant harping on Nader really makes me want to go change it back to independent and let y'all fight for yourselves. I'm in Texas, GW has the thing sewed up here...It won't matter how I actually vote.
But right now I do plan on supporting the Dems any way I can, because it's obvoius we have to beat Bush.

But I would like to say this one last time for those of you who weren't paying attention the first time.

Gore lost the election.
Nobody lost it for him.
It was his to lose.
If it wasn't the case that he was so similar to Bush that it made no difference, how come he couldn't make the damn case?
He could have offered the Greens something and I bet most of us would have come around...moratorium on the death penalty? repeal taft-hartley? anything? no? nothing...well FUCK YOU! If Nader hadn't run I wouldn't have bothered to vote...
I'm a conspiracy nut and I even didn't think Bush could be THIS bad... I was afraid of his domestic policies. I never even thought about Iraq, Neo-conservatives, any of that stuff...and I don't remember a lot of dialogue about any of that before the election. Anyway I hope you're happy...this time I'll remember politics isn't about voting for the right guy...it's about voting against the wrong one...thank you for making my life more negative, cause that's what I really need...
If you want to talk about somebody costing you the election maybe you could rant & rave about Jeb and Katherine Harris?
Nader is a principled man who has saved a whole lot of lives...and he invigorated the process with his campaign.
Maybe you'd prefer it if folks like me still didn't bother to vote? or get involved at all?
Remember it wasn't just Dems who voted for Nader, but Republicans, and Independents, and oh yeah, GREENS!
If the Democrats want to be able to count on the left wing base they have to play ball...
Where's our John Ashcroft? Why don't any of our NUTS get appointments when the Dems run things?
I could rant all night, but I won't...
I'll go cook dinner and try not to think about it...
I'll really try...till tomorrow when I'm reading some intelligent leftie blog that makes good points and then suddenly remembers it hasn't take a potshot at Nader this week and decides to rectify the situation with comments like the one linked to above...

Mike
Unrepentant Nader Voter

THE TROMBONIST'S HANDY EVERYDAY PRACTICAL DICTIONARY
OF MUSICAL TERMS AND PRACTICES

"free jazz-n. Jazz for which no one will pay any money."

Burtis makes funny...

Conspiracy Museum

Margaret Cho visits the conspiracy museum in Dallas...

If election held today, Clark would take the Army vote...

this is a good thing.
via comments by Streaker over at Atrios

Tristero: Fair And Balanced

via atrios...
now there's "Bach against Bush" for classical musicians...

VH1.com : News : Good Charlotte, Green Day, NOFX To Rock Against President Bush

You know I was never a NOFX fan...still aren't...but I have to give Fat Mike props for this...it's about damn time...
whattaya say Ian, want to organize Jazz against Bush?

BWR 30.1: The Previous Adventures of Popeye the Sailor
O.k. I can't tell you where I found this link, cause I closed the window and can't find it again...bad ettiquette...I know...
but you should read this short story...
it makes me want to get off my ass and get back to writing...

Whiskey Bar: Stiglitz Strikes Again

When I took economics my professor tried to tell me CEO's made so much more than the rest of us because they worked so much harder...
anyone who worked 800 times harder than me would be dead.
This Stiglitz guy sounds a lot smarter than that...
maybe I don't hate economics.

Eschaton

I could just link to everything and comment on it, but just go read Atrios already...

Nitpicker

so, if nitpicker is right then there are at least two active officers who should be court martialled...
anyone who knows more about the military and military law want to back him up?

Googlism

it's like instant poetry...
it makes me smile

The Philadelphia Inquirer Online:
"President Bush - living up to his recent declaration that he is in charge - told his top officials to 'stop the leaks' to the media, or else.
News of Bush's order leaked almost immediately."

Michael Moore.com : Dude, Where's My Country?

Help Michael Moore spend his tax cut...

got the new Michael Moore at lunch today...had it finished by 5:15. Good book. Not great, like the Hightower, but good, with some great moments. I'll pull a nice quote tomorrow that I think addresses another good reason not to try to sell yourself as someone who'll run the gov't as a business right now.

Chicklit Forums: If This Book is on His/Her Shelf-Run!:
"Well, no Ayn Rand, but I own books 1-6 of Terry Goodkind, who is like 'Ayn Rand with swords'. So, Check."

I'm very afraid...going to research this author...Ayn Rand with swords... Can you just shoot me now?

Neil Gaiman

via bookslut...
some good stuff on Gaiman from the Frankfurt Book Fair

fresnobee.com | Local News

Cointelpro's back...
this is just the first of the reports we'll start to see trickle in...
ACTIVISTS! be vary wary of anyone reccomending stupid violent direct action in the near future...if it's not some moron you know well, it's probably the authorities setting you up...they are back in the game now...

Blog of a Bookslut
File Under: Crazy Christians
I just don't understand why subjugating women is Godly...
But I guess I can't believe God made us in His image...
If I were God I would make myself more attractive before basing something else off me...
Shiny and reflective would be cool...or maybe covered in psychedelic fractals...see if God is perfect, and we're in his image, that would make men more attractive than women, right? and we all know that's not true...
o.k. not all of us, but we can at least all admit it's open to debate, right?

Fresh Air: Thursday - October 9, 2003
Because you haven't heard enough crazy people yelling today!
Go listen to the fresh air interview with bill o'reilly...
under special features...
ahh...anger makes me feel alive!

Blog for America : Guest Writer: Margaret Cho | October 09, 2003

and now she's on Dean's blog...

Margaret Cho BLOG

Margaret goes off on Ann Coulter...
God bless her! (Margaret, not Ann...curse Ann...CURSE HER!)

Save Texas Representatives:
"While many will see this as 'inside baseball,' this is not just politics as usual - this is an abuse of power unlike any we've seen in a long time. The disregard of our rules is the surest road to autocratic and dictatorial government. That might sound rhetorical or melodramatic, but it is true - and I find that telling the truth is never wrong.
"

Simon Lebon's Book Club

WOW! (via bookslut)
THIS IS AWESOME! I always knew Simon was the literate one...that Nick, he's such a Poseur!

Here's the Hightower graph on running gov't like a business...

"Some say - in fact, Bush and Cheney did say when they were campaigning - that government ought to operate like a business. Oh, which one? Enron? Worldcom? But it's not just a matter of disgraced corporations. [I]No corporation is a model for how a government should operate.[/I] Corporations are rigid, top-down, autocratic hierarchies in which executive actions are delivered as fiats to be implemented unquestioningly. Checks and balances are a joke - the board of directors, for example, is a brother-in-law job handpicked by the CEO. Openness? Corporations are towers of secrecy, in which all information is considered a proprietary asset to be doled out only in approved snippets vetted through the PR department, keeping as much as possible from employees, investors, customers, auditors, regulators, lawmakers, the media, and We the People."

So does being a "successful businessman" make you qualified for politics?

Off the Kuff: Party hearty with Bacardi

Tom Delay

The moral: Don't drink Bacardi.

What they don't teach you in Texas

ahhh...all that pride Jim Hightower filled me with...
how quickly it fades...

More on Plame...
Ashcroft and Rove

Apparently Rove ran Ashcroft's campaign.
You know, the one where he lost to a dead man.

But I think this immeadiately disqualifies Ashcroft from investigating Rove.
Of course I guess the story is that nobody is investigating Rove.

Ian says "What's important isn't who you support, but just that you get involved. If you think Bush is great, well, get out there and support him. If you think he's terrible, you owe it to yourself to get out there and help somebody oust him."

I think if you support Bush, well, you shouldn't. SHAME ON YOU!
I don't feel bad about saying that at all.
Even if you're a Republican.
This is not business as usual.
I feel like I need to say these things while I still can.
I doubt I'll be able to blog from the camp.


"They're changing America, aren't they?"

Finished reading "Big Lies" and while I enjoyed it there wasn't much there I didn't already know. If you have a right winger you argue with regularly though you could just buy them this and have them read it. It does refute a lot of the ugliness they spat. However, he does attack Chomsky (o.k. only one sentence, but still unneccessary), and he doesn't attack Delay hard enough. In the Family Values chapter it's a real crime he doesn't mention the fact that Tom Delay doesn't even talk to his own mother. Now I can think of a lot of good reasons folks might be estranged from their parents, but I don't go writing legislation requiring posting the ten commandments to be posted in public schools... I think he needs to meditate on #5 for awhile...
Actually the one good thing I think you can say about Tom Delay concerns his work for foster kids...and I started to read something about that and then decided I should stop before they revealed that was some kind of fraud too.

After I finished the Conason I started reading the new Hightower book and so far it is, in a word, brilliant! Funny as Franken and as informative as Conason or Franken. He talks about a lot of things that I actually had never heard, and most of them are as frightening as the things we all know, if not more so. He does repeat something that Conason debunks in his book. He says Ken Lay stayed in the Lincoln bedroom as a guest of Clinton. Conason says that's a winger lie. He was a guest of Bush the Elder however. Conason says it was retracted only in one paper. I'll have the quotes tomorrow (left the book at work) Still, so far this book is amazing. Makes me proud to be a Texan.
He does have some interesting stuff about the idea of running government like a business, and what a horrible wrong-headed idea that is. I happen to agree, and will have that quote and some stuff about the mayoral race so far...

This Modern World by Tom Tomorrow: September 28, 2003 - October 04, 2003 Archives

PLAME!

keep reading talking points and atrios as well...
also important to respond to anything you see on right wing blogs downplaying the importance of this.

O.k....
one more thing...
"Talk of the Nation" disappeared from KUHF today...
I was actually thinking about becoming a member,
but now I have to drive around listening to KTRU
during the mail run and I'm pretty danged unhappy about it...
if you like intelligent discourse on your radio e-mail John Proffitt (G.M. and C.F.O. of KUHF)
and ask him where it went and why...
I did, and I'll share my response here when I get one...

KEEP WATCHING THE PLAME ISSUE!
and write letters to the editor...
let folks know that leaking CIA operatives identity in a time of war is unacceptable...
even if Karl Rove does it...

btw, people are saying the leak was just "revenge", but it's more than that, even if in some way that's all it was...
when the administration takes "revenge" on someone who reveals their lies, what kind of message does that send
to other folks who might be inclined to call them on their shit?

think about it...

Eschaton
o.k...the valerie plame issue is heating up...
as usual Atrios and Josh Marshall are on top of it...
this could be the one kids!
let's start calling our congressmen NOW demanding a full investigation!

Esemplastic

Ian also has some great suggestions on what to do with your weekend...

by the way did anybody get in to see Zinn?
and did anyone go to the phillip glass thing?

Super Happy Calendar
Saturday and sunday you could do worse than be at superhappyfunland...
Saturday the lineup is incredible...
Robert Pierson, who you really owe it to yourself to check out, ECFA from Austin (they were great last time they were here and you didn't see them), and Rosta - who never fail to impress...
and of course on Sunday you get not only my solo debut but Matt Ingalls from San Francisco...don't know that I've heard him before but his descriptions sounds pretty interesting...

anyway...here's the official stuff...

Pauline Oliveros Foundation Houston presents . . .

SOUNDING GROUND
a series of local and regional
(and some not local or regional)
creative music

Every Sunday
September 28 - October 12 8pm
at Super Happy Funland
2610 Ashland
$5


-------

SOUNDING GROUND #6
Sunday, September 28 8pm

MATT INGALLS (San Francisco)
clarinter solo
and ensemble improvisations

and

MIKE SWITZER
solo trombone and poetry

call Super Happy Funland at 713-880-2100
or go to http://www.superhappyfunland.com
call POF Houston at 713-928-5653
or go to http://www.pofinc.org/houston


-------

Artists' Bios


MIKE SWITZER

Mike Switzer's dad was a band director. Despite this
he still plays his horn. He's played for years in
various versions of The Defenestration Unit, The
Naked/Switzer Duo, Last Bastions, Avijit, and a whole
bunch of other bands you've never heard of. He plays
by himself a lot, but this is the first time he's done
it in front of people. The piece he'll be playing is
called, "Distractions." Basically it's Mike's words
and his trombone playing (alternating). He hopes you
enjoy it.
"Nice uniforms band."

MATT INGALLS

matt ingalls is a composer, clarinetist, improviser,
computer music programmer, and concert producer from
the San Francisco Bay Area. A prominent figure in the
bay area creative music community, he is mostly
known for his "composerly" solo improvisations with
clarinet and/or electronics. matt's clarinet playing
is heavily influenced by his involvement in computer
music, both in the brittle sounds and extended
textures he creates and the formal structures of these
sounds. Indeed, matt's day-job involves computer
music, as he is currently working as a programmer for
Cycling74 (makers of the ubiquitous computer music
software "Max/Msp"). matt also develops a
Csound-based application for MacOS called "MacCsound",
freely available from http://csounds.com/matt.

matt's current main interest is exploring musical
possibilities that encompass and extend previous forms
of performance, composition, interpretation, and
improvisation. He is the instigator of the
sfSoundGroup, which is a contemporary music ensemble
with some of the San Francisco Bay Area's finest
composer-performers who share similar interests.
Designed to showcase the broad range of its talents,
the group's recent performances include pieces by
Lachenmann, Boulez, and Xenakis on one hand and
performances of free improvisation and
experimental-music masterpieces by James Tenney,
Anthony Braxton, and John Cage on the other. As part
of its quest to present familiar music in a new way,
the matt and the sfSoundGroup often present works
transcribed, excerpted, improvised upon, or
simultaneously with other works.

matt actively collaborates with bay area musicians
such as Gino Robair, Tim Perkis, John Shiurba, Matthew
Sperry, John Ingle, Hugh Livingston, Morgan Guberman,
and Scott Looney. He has also performed with Eddie
Prevost, George Lewis, Fred Frith, John Butcher, Peter
Van Bergen, Jack Wright, Toshi Makihara, Sean Meehan,
Kyle Bruckman, Andrew Voigt, John Raskin, Marco
Eneidi, Chris Brown, Myles Boisen, Bob Marsh, William
Winant, John Rose, Greg Kelley, Bhob Rainey, Tom Nunn,
Phil Gelb, Ben Goldberg, Paul Hoskin, Carla Kihlstedt,
Scott Rosenberg, and C.L.A.I.R.E. (matt's own
"virtual" improviser software).

In December, matt will be recording new works by
Anthony Braxton with Anthony Braxton himself and a
handful of other Bay Area improvisers.

Some of matt's recent performances have included: The
San Francisco Electronic Music Festival, The 4th
Annual CEAIT Electronic Music Festival at CalArts,
Baltimore's High Zero Festival of Experimental
Improvised Music, The Big Sur Experimental Music
Festival, Opus415 New Music Marathon, The Seattle
Improvised Music Festival, The Monterey Rock and Art
Festival, New Music Under the Stars at Stanford
University, The Stanford Edge Festival, The F.U.N.
(Festival of Ugly New Music) in Urbana, Illinois,
Oakland's East Bay Creative Music Festival, and
Sounding the Margins: A Retrospective of the Music of
Pauline Oliveros.

As a composer, matt has written works for acoustic
instruments, voices, computer generated tape,
interactive electronics, dance, theater, and freely
improvising orchestra. His compositions have been
recorded and performed in the United States and
abroad, receiving many awards and recognitions, such
as 1st Finalist in the Bourges Electroacoustic
Competition, The First Annual ASCAP/SEAMUS Commission
and Recording Prize, a residency at the Djerassi
Artist Program, and grants from Meet the Composer Fund
and ASCAP.

Visit http://sfSound.org for more information about
matt and his musical activities.


-----


Future Sounding Ground Concerts:

October 5
KEITH KARNAKY - Drums
and . . .
JUAN GARCIA - Bass
KRISTILYN WOODS - Bassoon

October 12
HOLLAND HOPSON - Soprano Saxophone, Electronics
and . . .
PEEP (Boston)
Mike Bullock - Bass, Tone Generator, Tuning Forks
Linda Gayle Aubrey - Harp, Signal Processing


-----


Other POF Houston Events:


CALL AND CONVERGE
Sunday, October 26, 3 to 9pm
a festival celebrating creative arts in Houston
Proceeds benefit POF HOUSTON.
at Barnevelder Movement Arts, 2201 Preston
co-sponsored by Barnevelder

POLWECHSEL (AUSTRIA/UK)
Wednesday, October 29, 8pm
at Diverse Works, 1117 East Freeway









=====
The Pauline Oliveros Foundation Houston has landed. For information and a concert schedule go to http://www.pofinc.org/houston

Eschaton
o.k..apparently today is talk like Bill O'Reilly day...
so I'll just point you to Atrios who is doing an amazing job
and then say ,"SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP! SHUT UP!"
there, now I've done my part...

KtB - Rush Likes It?

ok...so where is the christian left that she talks about?
I know they exist, sure...but why the hell can't the get organized
like the religious right?

The Dixie Chicks Official Artist Club

O.k. go check out this letter from natalie...
I'm actually going to have to start buying their records!
this is brilliant!

M

The Village Voice: Features: Three Days in NYC Jails by Bryonn Bain:
"Black = Terrorist = Thug: The New Racial Profile?
Three Days in NYC Jails"

wow...wow...this is amazing...it's like Kafka sprung to life...

Off the Kuff: Show Business for Ugly People Archives:
"Today a group of progressive Texas bloggers are all posting on the subject 'What Texas Democrats Should Do Next'. "

from off the kuff...haven't read em all yet, but at least people are talking...

CD-Recordable discs unreadable in less than two years - CD Freaks.com

better start backing up your backups....
YIKES!

Easter Lemming - Liberal News

Ran across this news site over at H-Town Blogs...lots of good stuff I haven't seen on my usual daily rounds...

TalkLeft: Libraries Report Being Asked for Records

hmmm... More on Ashcroft's library lies... I agree with Atrios, let's get him under oath.

The Onion | FDA Approves Sale Of Prescription Placebo


YES! this is what I'm talking about...
but seriously, if this is true don't we owe it to ourselves to look at non-toxic ways of healing? Sure, I enjoy my meds as much as the next guy, but if I was part of the 50 some odd percent that could be cured with a sugar pill, don't you think I'd be better off without the side effects?
There is something here that we really need to think about...

The Liquid List: Politics: Too Many Lies: Dinh v. Ashcroft:
"So which is true? Is this morning's Post item on uses of section 215, where Ashcroft is quoted telling FBI Director Mueller that 'the number of times [the provision] has been used to date is zero,' accurate? Was Viet Dinh lying to Congress? Is Ashcroft lying now?"

they can't even keep their stories straight...
they make it too easy when they start to contradict themselves.

The Liquid List: Politics: Too Many Lies: Dinh v. Ashcroft:
"So which is true? Is this morning's Post item on uses of section 215, where Ashcroft is quoted telling FBI Director Mueller that 'the number of times [the provision] has been used to date is zero,' accurate? Was Viet Dinh lying to Congress? Is Ashcroft lying now?"

they can't even keep their stories straight...
they make it too easy when they start to contradict themselves.

ajc.com | Opinion | Mistakes of Vietnam repeated with Iraq:
"Welcome to Vietnam, Mr. President. Sorry you didn't go when you had the chance."

Max Cleland puts it to Bushco. but good...

The Kansas City Star
Bush toy was not much fun.

Nice...picked this up off of the message boards over at Infernal Bridegroom

Thanks Tony...

The Gospel of Supply Side Jesus - A BuzzFlash Reader Commentary

Whoohooo! everyone should check this out...
I was going to post the .pdf I made from my book a while back,
but it was too big...and now here it is at buzzflash...
One of my favorite things from the franken book

Blog of a Bookslut

Steve Almond is guesting over at bookslut this week...
and he has a piece about conservative white male rage that I think
ties in nicely with krugman's kissinger quote about revolutionaries never feeling safe...

Nitpicker

via atrios...

Krugman's right...these guys are revolutionaries with no respect for our national history or traditions...
can't we find a way to take our country back before the elections??

Alamo - Show Details

DESTROY ALL MONSTERS!

whoohooo!!!

CalPundit: An Interview With Paul Krugman

more Krugman...
read...

"I was having a little trouble with the editors who kept on pushing the book to be about the bubble and its aftermath. And while there's a fair bit about that, that's not actually the central theme. The central theme is, we're being lied to by our leaders, and I just felt I really needed to put that very strongly in context."

Howard Zinn speaks at U.H.

Tuesday, September 23, 7:30 @ Cullen Performance Hall
(doors open at 7:00);
sponsored by UH History Dept, Project for the Active Teaching of
American History, and others.

To join our struggle for global justice, or for more info, email
hgac@riseup.net, or call 832.725.6220 or 713.269.1508

For an ever-updated schedule on coming events, see
http://vi.uh.edu/pages/buzzmat/cafta.htm



WHOOHOOO!!! GO SEE ZINN!

So, I'm starting to think more and more about theatre...
maybe it's about time since I've been at it for a little over three years now and I'm just noticing things, and thinking about things more...
for instance looking at google news I notice there's nothing about live theatre anywhere...
Why is that? How many plays premiere in the U.S. in any given month?
How many never play beyond their home town? I don't know the answer to either of these questions...and I'm not sure if anyone would, but I might just do some asking around...

I got into a discussion once on the trombone mailing list with some orchestra folks about dwindling subscriptions, financially floundering orchestras, etc...and most of them were very quick to blame the audience. They talked about how audiences had deteriorated. People were less educated. People have less patience. Audiences are only concerned with appearances. And So On.
I don't think you should ever blame the audience. Audiences don't get worse. They change, and if you want to continue to have the privilege of addressing them, you'd better change with them, or better still, just a little bit ahead of them.

Not only am I starting to write again, but I make my solo trombone debut September 28th at Super Happy Fun Land.

So needless to say I am thinking a lot about the artist, audience, and the responsibilities of both...
in fact right now I'm thinking so hard I can't possible come to any conclusion long enough to get it typed before I change my mind...

hmm....

Yahoo! News - New Terror Laws Used Vs. Common Criminals:
"Within six months of passing the Patriot Act, the Justice Department was conducting seminars on how to stretch the new wiretapping provisions to extend them beyond terror cases"

so, the only reason anyone would be against the patriot act is if they are a terrorist, right?

ZBIG RYBCZYNSKI::FILM AND VIDEO PRODUCTIONS

huh...guess I'm crazy...
no FGTH after all...
why do I remember this guy?
Must be The Art of Noise...he did the "Close to the Edit" video,
and a video for another FGTH label mater, Propaganda.

I just want to see the Accept video now.

Ain't It Cool News - View Article:
" I’ve always wanted someone to collect music videos by director, not by band, and now, thanks to the work of Spike Jonze, Chris Cunningham, and Michel Gondry, that’s finally happened. The three of them got together to start The Director’s Label, and in the coming months, each of them will issue a DVD of their work."

Finally is right...now if only I could just get a collection of the video work of Zbigniew Rybczynski. There's at least one Frankie Goes to Hollywood video I know he directed that's not on this list...
I just wish I could remember what it was...

The Tax-Cut Con

More Krugman

I could talk about it, but the most important thing I can say is, "READ IT!"

M

R.I.P. Johnny Cash

Well, you wonder why I always dress in black,
Why you never see bright colors on my back,
And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone.
Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on.

I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down,
Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town,
I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime,
But is there because he's a victim of the times.

I wear the black for those who never read,
Or listened to the words that Jesus said,
About the road to happiness through love and charity,
Why, you'd think He's talking straight to you and me.

Well, we're doin' mighty fine, I do suppose,
In our streak of lightnin' cars and fancy clothes,
But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back,
Up front there ought 'a be a Man In Black.

I wear it for the sick and lonely old,
For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold,
I wear the black in mournin' for the lives that could have been,
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men.

And, I wear it for the thousands who have died,
Believen' that the Lord was on their side,
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died,
Believen' that we all were on their side.

Well, there's things that never will be right I know,
And things need changin' everywhere you go,
But 'til we start to make a move to make a few things right,
You'll never see me wear a suit of white.

Ah, I'd love to wear a rainbow every day,
And tell the world that everything's OK,
But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back,
'Till things are brighter, I'm the Man In Black.

OK...just wanted to post this while I was thinking about it...
listening to NPR on the way home...
they are talking about the patriot act and they bring up how some dem's support it and some repubs don't...
then they say Charles Schumer supports it, probably because the attacks happened in NYC...
No. Charles Schumer supports it because he is an ass.
Am I the only one who remembers his shameful performance during the Waco hearings?
THE MAN IS AN ASS, an ass with totalitarian tendencies who believes the the federal government can do no wrong.
I will see if I can find some transcripts online...

M

Graphitti Designs Presents... NEWSARAMA - Stuart Moore's A Thousand Flowers: Flagg, United Fruit, History, and Deja Vu

comics...history...current events...

"Make no mistake: this is big corporations using the government to fight their wars. It's an administration filling its friends' pockets and strutting arrogantly around the globe, while ruining our nation's economy. It's legalized graft; it’s blood spilled to make the richest few even richer. It's war profiteering."

Paul Krugman, New York Times Columnist and Author of "The Great Unraveling: Losing Our Way in the New Century" - A BuzzFlash Interview:
"If you work for any Murdoch publication or network, or if you work for the Rev. Moon's empire, you're really not a journalist in the way that we used to think. You're basically just part of a propaganda machine. And that's a pretty large segment of the media. "

KRUGMAN!! need to buy the man's book soon...

Comments

Richard Parker does a little math and concludes that, yes, for what we spend on the war in Iraq we could pave the American highways with gold...

The Daily Dystopian: The Daily Dystopian:
"1984: Prominent Texas minister WA Criswell opined that separation of church and state was 'a figment of some infidel's imagination.'"

sometimes you read something that just really sets you off...
the link for Criswell above is one of those things...

I just don't understand, well, any of this...it's absolutely maddening.

How did our country end up in the hands of these people?

here's the link...
and one of my favorite bits from it...

In 1996, Second Baptist Church of Lake Jackson, Texas, stunned the state by sending out letters to Texas churches saying a person who voted for the Democratic Presidential candidate committed a sin before God.

reading that sentence just fills me with righteous anger.
every time.

M

"I have never hated a puppet as much as I hate Tatianna..."

I'm in rehearsals right now for Bobbindoctin Puppet Theatre's "Ivan the Fool."
I have to say that it's a damn funny show.
Not because it's in my contract that I have to say that or anything,
but because it is...

and the music is a lot of fun.

anyway, you should check it out if you like

1. puppets
2. russian literature
3. comedy
4. me

here's what the folks at BPT themselves have to say about it...

IVAN THE FOOL opens with a
Special Opening Night Pre-Performance Reception
Thursday, September 11, 6:30 -8:00 pm at Barnevelder Movement/Arts
Complex. Tickets for the special reception are $30 (cash or check) for
reservations call: 713-526-7434

Opening night pre-performance reception buffet generously provided by
Boulevard Bistro, Cafe Noche, Epicure Bakery, Mockingbird Bistro Wine
Bar, Let It Fly, Zana Mediterranean Café, and more

NINE NIGHTS ONLY! September 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27 at 8:00
PM.
TICKETS $15.
For reservations call: 713-526-7434

Bobbindoctrin Puppet Theatre kicks off its new season with Tolstoy’s
cautionary tale, IVAN THE FOOL. Unlike many of Bobbindoctrin’s past
productions, IVAN THE FOOL is designed to be suitable for all audiences,
including most children.

The production, originally produced in 1999 as part of DiverseWorks’
Houston Residency Program, tells the tale of IVAN THE FOOL. Ivan works
the fields and takes care of his deaf-mute sister and aging father.
Even as his militant and greedy brothers Semyon and Taras come and take
most of his land, Ivan abides peacefully. This aberrant peace angers
the Old Devil, who decides to use them as a living example of man’s
capacity for evil. He dispatches his hell spawn imps to set the
brothers at each other’s throats. But while the imps and the Old Devil
dismantle Semyon and Taras again and again with ease, they can’t seem to
get a handle on IVAN THE FOOL. Easy to bend, impossible to break, Ivan
survives war and poverty to become Tsar of the land. Will the brothers
tear Ivan apart in jealousy? Can Ivan manage a kingdom? Is it possible
to have a story with a happy ending but no moral center?

Adapted and directed by Joel Orr. Puppets by Larry Olivarez, stages and
effects by Dennis Clay, costumes and shadow puppets by Yelena Zhelezov,
music composed by Anthony Barilla, music arranged by John DuBoise.
Starring Ahmad Hernandez, Joe Fallodori, Charlesanne Rabensburg, Jodi
McLaughlin and Matt Hume. And the Ivan Orchestra: Mike Swietzer, Cathy
Power, Chris Bakos and John DuBoise.

IVAN THE FOOL
Barnevelder Movement /Arts Complex (2201 Preston, Houston TX)
September 11-27 2003 / Thursday through Saturday, 8 PM
TICKETS: $15 for reservations call: 713-526-7434

Bobbindoctrin Puppet Theatre is a participant in the Cultural Arts
Council of Houston/Harris County’s Arts Incubator Program.

The Month of Zorn:
"IT'S THE JOHN ZORN 50th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION at TONIC"

grrr...gotta get to NYC again soon...
this is going to be incredible...

This Modern World by Tom Tomorrow: August 31, 2003 - September 06, 2003 Archives
wherein Michael Moore is maybe not so crazy...
Snopes.com revisionist history
Bin Laden family Spirited Away
hmmm...

hey!
if you want to read some of my poetry
(and maybe give me a dollar)
go here.

I hope to finish the interview with myself this weekend...
whoohooo!

Something I wrote on the way home from work...
don't think it's finished yet...
but here it is anyway...


it is gray as I walk to my car
preparing to face another night of practice,
another practice, another part, another performance.
but when I close my eyes I see
(for an instant)
a smile
and
I think,
(for an instant)
"change is coming."
They say you can't
step in the same river once.
I say, "constants are constant,
and they constantly thwart us"
no.
not all of us.
some of us are allowed to grow
to change
to feel the power in our hands,
in our words,
but most of us,
no, most of us
are in our paths
our ruts
that get deeper
as we repeat
and repeat
and repeat

Finished the Franken book...
it's pretty great...not as funny as "Rush Limbaugh is a big fat idiot" but those were funnier times...
The things that stick with me the most...
1. The chapter on the Wellstone memorial...
I can't think of anything that has made me that angry in a long long long long long long long time. The way the right portrayed that event in the media is simply unforgivable...
2. The chapter on meeting Barbara Bush.
short version, "She's a bitch. Everybody says so."
I hope to have a Bar story from a friend of mine up here in the next couple of days...
3. (and this really is genius!)

SUPPLY SIDE JESUS!

I will try to give you a page or two of this in .pdf format tomorrow...
It does the best, clearest, job of defining the hypocracy of even the idea of a Christian Right...
GO READ ACTS! no, really go ahead...go get your new testament and read ACTS and then tell me what Jesus would think of voodoo economics...

too many other little great bits in there to mention...
so go buy it yourself...
or you can get in line to borrow my copy.

M

Amazon.com: Books: The Great Unraveling: Losing Our Way in the New Century

This might be next after I finish the Franken...
which isn't as funny as I remember "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot" being but makes me madder...

Ain't It Cool News - View Article:
"A list of 'young' Batman actors surfaces..."

I'd go with Gyllenhaal or Bale...


off topic...bought the Franken book last night...
probably have it finished by tomorrow...
You'll get my thoughts on it then.

Democratic Underground Forums - Viewing topic #263949 - Wow--a Brand New Poster Just Said a Mouthful--a lot of truth:

"With the election looming, I think it is more important than ever to stare some cold, hard truths in the face. There is a darkness, a certain cruelness out there in this country. I want to believe that the American people are just being fooled by Bush, but more and more it seems that they know exactly what he is and are making their choice for him and his brand of politics with their eyes wide open."


via The Daily Dystopian

Sometimes I feel this way...and it is feeling this way that keeps my mouth shut at work, and convinced that these people that surround me do not only not have my best interests at heart, but that they do not even understand what my, or their own best interests are...The time is coming to leave Texas...
and maybe the U.S.

The Lone Nut:
"politics, culture, conspiracy, and the occasional rant..."

I've accidentally been blogging to two spots recently...
so here's some things you might have missed...
hehe...

Loner who shot Reagan 'ready to be released':
"In court documents, Hinckley's lawyer, Barry Levine, stated: 'It is undisputed that Mr Hinckley's psychosis and depression have been in full remission and that he has shown no symptoms thereof for over a decade.
'Mr Hinckley does not pose a risk of danger to himself or others now or in the reasonable future.'"

O.k. I really don't know if that means we now let him run free or not...
I mean doesn't everyone really pose a risk of danger to themselves and others?
isn't it just a matter of degrees? and if he was mentally ill do we punish him?
Can we at least make sure we set him free in Tom Delays neighborhood?

AP Wire | 08/26/2003 | Study: Zoloft Helps Depression in Kids: "In a study of 376 youngsters ages 6 through 17 with major depression, Zoloft worked better than dummy pills at reducing symptoms. Sixty-nine percent of children who took Zoloft for 10 weeks showed a substantial reduction in symptoms, compared with 59 percent who took dummy pills."

doesn't this mean we should try dummy pills on everybody first?
then the 10% that don't respond...they get zoloft...

calendarlive.com: The less angry American: "Keith took a long pause to consider his words, and then added: 'I was for Afghanistan, 100%. We got struck and the Taliban needed to be exterminated, but this war here, in Iraq, I didn't necessarily have it all worked out. It didn't work out for me. I know a tyrant is gone and all of that, but whether it was our duty to go do that, well, I haven't figured that out.'"

via atrios, via hoffman

makes me feel a lot better about having seen mr. keith with wille on the 4th...

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