tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19133210245712225482011-07-29T09:14:42.020+01:00The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.comBlogger1141100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-43850439653352728592010-10-07T16:20:00.002+01:002010-10-07T16:22:19.810+01:00

"I'm Afraid of Germans" by Quad Erat DemonstradumA lo-fi piece of experimental music circa 2001

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-48802301729446984142010-10-01T01:54:00.004+01:002010-10-01T02:03:59.061+01:00

I've been meaning to post more music related entries here, but having difficulty finding the time. There's a big music review update in the works, but for now two absolutely stunning pieces.I'm continuously amazed at the power of music to dislocate me from everyday experience into another realm. The power of a song to overpower my immediate concerns and transfix me in an unexpected and profound

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-52748446711429002122010-09-23T03:34:00.005+01:002010-09-23T03:59:27.094+01:00

Dinesh D'Souza let's rip with a cover article for Forbes (yes, I know I'm behind the times on this) that is staggeringly bad as a piece of journalistic writing, wrong about more than I can properly comprehend at 3.30 am, and overtly racist - a lovely little piece really. Not only is President Obama an irrational cipher - motivated by hidden drives and prone to inexplicable actions - the secret

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-40438768051010179232010-09-22T01:41:00.006+01:002010-09-22T02:28:47.014+01:00

'We have seen in the previous chapter that the State-Primacy Theory would employ functional explanations to account for prevailing ideologies. If, as such an extended State-Primacy Theory would claim, the educational system and the mass media chosen are functional for the state, then they are unlikely to paint an anti-state approach couleur de rose. And from this perspective, it is unsurprising

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-51339096938637463012010-01-27T01:53:00.003Z2010-01-27T01:56:52.583Z

1) corporations and unions now have the right to spend unlimited money in political campaigns - that has to be good right?2) the lt. governor of south carolina has just publicly suggested that feeding poor children or providing the poor with minimal support is akin to feeding stray animals - his solution? don't let them breed... the us of a - everyday giving me a reason to doubt my faith in

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-4111758487600795962009-11-21T04:58:00.005Z2009-11-21T05:26:00.374Z

This gem comes from a review in the New York Times of the film 'The Examined Life':"But time at the dump with Mr. Zizek is more illuminating than 10 minutes in a rowboat with Michael Hardt, co-author of “Empire,” who muses on the incongruity of talking about revolutionary politics in Central Park, a place he characterizes as “aristocratic.” Perhaps he is speaking in a highly specialized political

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-73733156835267576172009-08-28T13:16:00.003+01:002009-08-28T13:47:07.121+01:00

I've been watching the health care "debate" in the states with a sort horrified fascination for the past month, and as a result of both geographical and cognitive distance have had very little to say about it, until now. Below is an email sent out by Anthem Blue Cross, a California insurer, that asks their customers to lobby against the democratic effort at health care reform. There are a number

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-92030039118602752162009-06-21T23:39:00.004+01:002009-06-22T00:01:58.149+01:00

Check here for video that offers a glimpse into the idiotic world of the US Senate.Senator Graham suggest that public health care plans would be devastating for the country - per chance could we know how and why? The only specifics he can offer is the same old nonsense that 'socialized medicine' means you will have long waits for care and that the 'Bureaucrats' will stand between the patient and

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-75300616638700120512009-05-05T15:36:00.003+01:002009-05-05T15:39:44.531+01:00

You know you're doing something right when you've got the major US corporations, CEOs, the chamber of commerce and a bunch of bought-and-paid-for-Senators moaning like this...Obama's proposal to close corporate tax loopholes raises hackles.Enjoy.

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-56436006400352481462009-04-25T03:46:00.003+01:002009-04-25T03:55:34.747+01:00

Happiness Hurting: When trying to change direction just prevents us from turning around.Salon Number Three - Jenny SS, 28th March 2009The message behind the title is that the drive for happiness may end up hurting, particularly those at the bottom of our societies. By framing modern economic and social debate around the new direction of happiness as ultimate aim, I claim we are just finding

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-49647236880168503032009-04-21T00:43:00.004+01:002009-04-21T01:12:02.498+01:00

Tunnel Vision: noun; defective sight in which objects cannot be properly seen if not close to the center of the field of view; the tendency to focus exclusively on a single or limited goal or point of view.Here's a comment piece from the Nation about the UN anti-racism conference.And here is more of the Ahmadinejad Show.The American far left does itself more damage by its political naivete then

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-50910495273951213942009-04-19T09:19:00.004+01:002009-04-19T09:38:53.000+01:00

Read about it here.Her ode to the disappointment that is Obama begins thusly:"All is not well in Obamafanland. It's not clear exactly what accounts for the change of mood. Maybe it was the rancid smell emanating from Treasury's latest bank bailout. Or the news that the president's chief economic adviser, Larry Summers, earned millions from the very Wall Street banks and hedge funds he is

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-60279593513024290192009-04-15T23:40:00.003+01:002009-04-16T00:40:30.159+01:00

Stupid - lacking intelligence or common sense; dazed and unable to think clearly (Oxford American Dictionary)I try not to watch the news these days because what I see is such an orgy of stupidity that it offends against the very notion that mature behavior and reasonable thought are necessary virtues, particularly in the political life of a democracy.The case in point, Anti-Tax Tea Parties being

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-53167104115117930382009-04-07T02:07:00.002+01:002009-04-07T03:10:40.865+01:00

So, Jim Cramer decided to rustle up some fear the other day about the Employee Free Choice Act in congress at the moment. Link with video here.While I am very much pro union, though I do admit there are problems with some unions as is true of all organizations, this sort of fear mongering and disinformation is just unacceptable of anyone who makes any claim to being a journalist. Here's a man on

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-47305375573709440252009-04-05T15:32:00.008+01:002009-04-05T15:50:04.561+01:00

Check out this article by Matt Taibbi at Rolling Stone - they can't write a passable music review anymore but at least they give space to some nice journalism on occasion.Does a good job of explaining, in ordinary language, why things are fucked, who fucked them up and how hard it is going to be undue this particular cluster fuck. He rightly points to the marriage between government and investors

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-65069919431449058982009-04-02T02:04:00.002+01:002009-04-02T02:06:03.606+01:00

I watched the German film Die Welle (The Wave) this evening and it brought to mind a troubling thought. To begin, I was not particularly surprised by the proposition that authoritarian behaviour is easier to encourage than we would like to think. The film is based on the well-known Third Wave experience in 1967, in which a high school class quickly began excluding outsiders, submitting to

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-55768380322781086812009-03-28T14:50:00.002Z2009-03-28T14:53:19.349Z

James Thindwa on Bill Moyers' JournalThis really sums up why community organization, labor unions and activism are the heart of democracy and central to a just society.

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-86238296188148484272009-03-09T22:13:00.005Z2009-03-09T22:22:25.379Z

Below are notes from Seb's presentation at the February Salon - held on Saturday 21 February.The topic was: "How to Solve All the World's Problems in 20 Minutes"I don't have much to add in the way of comments - but I do want to thank everyone who came, talked and enjoyed the evening. It was wicked indeed. I also recently came upon a book that backs up Seb's view - though it is perhaps a more

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-67084305676432599522009-02-05T00:56:00.005Z2009-02-05T01:09:25.776Z

'A Democratic attempt on Tuesday to add $25 billion for public works projects failed when it gained only 58 votes, two short of the total needed. But a few hours later, a proposed $11 billion tax break for new car buyers attracted 72 votes, including several from Republicans.' Full article here.You can't drive cars on roads that are deteriorating and bridges that are literally falling down. Also,

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-40690757336218450472009-02-02T18:58:00.002Z2009-02-02T19:12:04.914Z

From claims that the US economy was healthy and propelled by entrepreneurship just six short months ago, to suggesting an alternative tax cut plan to the tune of $3.1 Trillion over ten years - it seems the GOP has its head so far up its own ass that it can't see even the broadest and crudest of facts about the state of the US economy.GOP Senate OppositionRepublican Tax Cut PlanThe growth of the

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-27649929595455242852009-02-01T10:51:00.011Z2009-02-07T16:47:15.698Z

For any interested parties, my friend Milla and I have decided it is high time someone reinvigorate the long-lost tradition of the Salon. Details here. We've since found that the tradition is not lost at all, as we've heard reports that the Conservative Party holds them regularly and they're a big part of the social scene in Washington D.C.I'm fairly confident that our salons are (or will be)

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-47965480161339247552009-02-01T10:02:00.003Z2009-02-01T10:27:21.777Z

This morning I was watching The Andrew Marr Show, were I saw William Hague of the Conservative Party speaking. A key idea he expressed was that there was a lack of responsibility in business, or the market and society more broadly. This struck me as an odd thing to say - given that the free market does not take on social responsibility as a value unless the buyers of things incorporate the value

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-47888267675124532442009-01-29T10:24:00.003Z2009-01-29T10:38:12.639Z

GOP Polling on Stimulus OppositionThe above story details Republican plans to oppose the stimulus package making its way through the US congress at the moment. Two things strike me as particularly stupid about their move to make/justify policy by polling Jane/Joe-Average.1. People on the whole do not understand economic policy - so getting a majority of people to say, yes, please give me a tax

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-30191779998272049262008-12-11T23:45:00.003Z2008-12-11T23:49:24.261Z

I realized today that the most defining political moments in my life thus far have been 9-11 and the election of Barack Obama. Undoubtedly a study in contrast, and a realization I've got no deeper thoughts on just yet. Yet, this seems an important thing to recognize. They both involve unexpected events in America, are symbolic of significant social and political changes throughout the world, and

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-13212721168444350822008-12-11T21:12:00.003Z2008-12-11T21:36:28.615Z

This is the most recent album by the Constantines, which came out early this year. It's fantastic. The band continues to mature, adding texture and melody to their music, while the energy that pulsed, throbbed and leaped on the early records is wound tight and tense, so that when it releases it's an epic crash. My favorite track at the moment is Million Star HotelSick at heart, oh city doctor,

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-14772650636505112492008-12-05T01:00:00.004Z2008-12-05T01:35:22.694Z

I used to think that truth alone was reason enough that something needed to be expressed - or that something should be expressed. This seems a less immediate thought now, but not necessarily one that is unimportant... Right now I feel that the truth is not enough, so what reason do I have to express myself? Obviously, there are practical reasons for expression, to navigate the day in the company

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-56555749416507495392008-12-02T18:54:00.001Z2008-12-02T18:56:11.311Z

.cc_box a:hover .cc_home{background:url('http://www.comedycentral.com/comedycentral/video/assets/syndicated-logo-over.png') !important;}.cc_links a{color:#b9b9b9;text-decoration:none;}.cc_show a{color:#707070;text-decoration:none;}.cc_title a{color:#868686;text-decoration:none;}.cc_links a:hover{color:#67bee2;text-decoration:underline;}The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10cMumbai

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-8193217796879809422008-10-17T00:19:00.005+01:002008-10-17T00:51:55.669+01:00

Last night a man named Joe became the centre of the final US presidential debate. The jest of the all this was: Joe asked Obama at a rally if he would raise his taxes as an aspiring small-business owner, since he'd be making more than $250,000 a year. Obama said yes, and that this was necessary to make sure their was opportunity for others to succeed and to spread America's wealth to those

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-83549219984271035952008-10-09T03:15:00.004+01:002008-10-09T03:27:04.880+01:00

To turn from indignation and disgust to happier themes very quickly...I sent in my write-in absentee ballot today. Unexpectedly, I was proud of my vote - hell, I was even hopeful about American politics. While this was unsettling, it did prompt a bit of reflection that I like to imagine is worth sharing.I was proud of my vote because for the first time in my life as a voter I actually support the

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-43695906710532463112008-10-09T02:39:00.003+01:002008-10-09T03:15:36.961+01:00

In recent days the US presidential election has taken a sad and - to me at least - unexpected turn. With his poll numbers tumbling and his policy platform incapable of honest airing in public, John McCain has resorted to plan B: attack my opponents 'Character'. In the heavily coded language of conservative America this means that John McCain will do what he can to imply that his opponent is

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-62615498566257228722008-10-03T17:19:00.001+01:002008-10-03T17:21:13.329+01:00

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-65062820446033335622008-09-30T01:14:00.003+01:002008-10-02T03:52:12.199+01:00

Can you determine which quote is from Alaska Governor Sarah Palin?A."That's why I say I, like every American I'm speaking with, we're ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health-care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy, helping the, oh... it's

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-64088385796863492402008-09-14T01:06:00.007+01:002008-09-14T01:42:03.427+01:00

Why is Chuck Norris on Larry King as a political commentator? 1. He's got a black belt in Karate, and he's a patriot - and in fact a black belt patriot. Get the book here.2. He's got a bushy red beard and a matched pair of Uzis.3. He got whooped by Bruce Lee4. The Total Gym5. Uncanny ability for spewing libertarian nonsense 6. The 4th estate is now an absurd sideshow lacking integrity or the

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-59027473221702858532008-09-05T23:00:00.005+01:002008-09-08T03:03:51.177+01:00

Oh, yeah. You need the facts in comedy, but not for the spinfotainment.What does it say about society when its jesters are the only ones left to speak truth? I'm not sure, but I know it's not good.Paz,Joe

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-20527431423890658832008-08-29T02:48:00.003+01:002008-08-29T03:00:58.568+01:00

I've been watching the Democratic National Convention all week, and not just the highlights. As it winds down, it's worth reflecting on the event with a less journalistic or 'critical' eye. We could talk about the dissident Hillary supporters, or the out of control Clintons, or supposed lack of Democratic platform, or Obama's fears of seeming too popular - how is that a negative in a democratic

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-59407506670610808752008-08-26T19:35:00.005+01:002008-08-27T14:00:37.271+01:00

Now I'm not one for hyperbolic attacks on politicians I don't like; I won't compare George Bush to Hitler and I don't much believe in Satan so comparing Karl Rove to old Beelzebub or other nasties doesn't do much for me.What I do wonder about is, why do we allow the likes of Karl Rove to speak in public as the judge of anyone's fitness for office or personal character? After the first night of

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-89372000491280948792008-08-25T19:06:00.003+01:002008-08-26T20:38:09.274+01:00

I know it is a dangerous game to listen too closely to the talking heads paid to babble themselves into a trance on cable news and in the editorial columns of newspapers; I also know that election polls and anecdotal stories are constantly manipulated by all variety of mongers, fearful and otherwise. Still I find myself fuming today after getting caught up on all the election gossip... oh, sorry,

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-27079818847614798472008-08-21T03:10:00.003+01:002008-08-21T03:24:13.279+01:00

So, recent polling suggests that Americans are most concerned about the economy as we head toward the election, yet McCain continues to gain ground. Why? In the face of a myriad of economic problems, both short and long term, voters still seem willing to entertain a McCain presidency, which advocates a continuation of the last 8 years of Republican leadership. Most surprising is that even as the

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-11307623433358636122008-07-20T03:13:00.006+01:002008-08-21T03:10:16.341+01:00

I've often said there was little in life more frightening than succumbing to the creeping numbness that settles over 'adult life'. This is a position I stand by, it's something I feel deeply - it's a conviction that is part of my personality. To no small extent my restless studying and obsession with travel reflects my need to feel engaged and renewed, and in some sense adolescent, to feel again

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-54266657174268501712008-07-19T00:39:00.002+01:002008-07-19T00:48:09.832+01:00

Funny in December 1999, but in a 90s-reconfirming-our-knowledge-that-politics-is-absurd kind of way.In November 2004, not exactly funny anymore.Today, funny in a trauma survivor kind of way - like, wow that was bad, but we can laugh about it now.

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-27265864353519402732008-07-16T00:13:00.001+01:002008-07-16T00:13:38.045+01:00

The Constantines -Kensington HeightsKathleen Edwards -Asking for FlowersSalt & Samovar -Old Joy, New JoyPinkback -Summer in AbaddonJohn Frusciante -Inside of EmptinessWilco -Sky Blue SkyRegina Spektor -Begin to HopeJosh Ritter -The Historical Conquests of Josh RitterRilo Kiley -Under the BlacklightSons & Daughters -This GiftTunng -Good ArrowsGrinderman -Self-titled

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-4612938158782857022008-06-17T16:28:00.004+01:002008-07-15T23:41:39.846+01:00

Excellent interview from Bill Moyers here. He's interviewing Steven Fraser about America's new Gilded Age. Good stuff. They point to the ways in which the wealthy exert influence over government policy and use that influence to partake in crony capitalism and guide the not-so-free hand of the market into their pocket books.The piece does fail to deal with a couple of issues that are key to

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-18934597338998934022008-06-09T13:31:00.003+01:002008-06-09T13:33:23.413+01:00

Excellent set of remarks from Dan Rather, here.It is encouraging to see such a mainstream figure as Dan Rather sounding off like Noam Chomsky on this issue, perhaps the full impact is finally being seen and felt more widely.Later,Joe

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-3863489725871128972008-05-20T10:13:00.003+01:002008-05-20T10:16:39.506+01:00

Good article on the food crisis from the Nation. It goes beyond all the finger-waving at bio-fuels and traces some of cause back to structural readjustment policies at the World Bank and IMF as well as free trade regimes like NAFTA and WTO, and not least farm subsidies in Europe and the US. Manufacturing a Food Crisis.

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-75175031872475310062008-05-07T10:36:00.005+01:002008-05-07T14:34:28.571+01:00

It was just as certain yesterday as it is today, but hopefully the most recent results will issue a wake up call to the media, if not Senator Clinton. This thing is done, kaput. And Obama has it, the democratic party needs to acknowledge this and get on to the business of running against McCain.There are three things that have determined this victory for Obama: delegates, super-delegates and

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-90855912737884197422008-05-06T16:50:00.003+01:002008-05-07T00:01:32.331+01:00

He had a hell of a mustache to boot."In a time as troubled as the present, a philosophy which denies the existence of any natural and human means of determining judgments as to what is good and evil will work to the benefit of those who hold that they have in their possession superhuman and supernatural means for infallible ascertainment of ultimate ends, especially as they also claim to possess

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-87741365975924747252008-05-04T21:11:00.003+01:002008-05-04T21:26:45.441+01:00

I'm not into irony unless it's about politicians or other figures of sanctimoniousness. I'm not into irony about ideals, about family, or about love.I'm not into irony in art unless it's comedic irony aimed at figures deserving scorn. I'm not into irony that lacerates goodness and that fails to feel empathy. I'm not into irony as defense against the world or against myself. I'm not into irony

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-80457121692940753112008-04-25T23:24:00.004+01:002008-04-25T23:30:20.997+01:00

Bill Moyers of PBS, Bill Moyers Journal.Melvyn Brag of BBC, In Our Time.Nic Harcort on KCRW, Sounds Eclectic.

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-38614742997770123962008-04-24T18:23:00.001+01:002008-04-24T18:25:27.929+01:00

Wine comes in at the mouthAnd love comes in at the eye;That's all we shall know for truthBefore we grow old and die.I lift the glass to my mouth,I look at you, and I sigh.

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-9054206595331628862008-04-23T04:06:00.004+01:002008-04-23T04:21:13.534+01:00

I've been digging into a lot of good new music lately (well, new to me at least) and thought I'd share. Please do forgive the pretensions revealed though the length of my review...Gypsy Punk: Underdog World Strike by Gogol BordelloGogol Bordello has crafted what may be the best cosmopolitan punk record since the Clash’s London Calling. It’s not surprising that both records exude the strong

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-63995794066989104712008-04-21T19:08:00.003+01:002008-04-21T19:22:37.903+01:00

This article is truly terrible.What Should Be the Purpose of a Presidential Debate?Not only does it shamelessly play into a politics of personal smear and attack, elevating Fox News talking points and Republican attacks to the level of 'serious' politics, it actually engenders new ones by twice linking Obama not to William Ayers but to the Weathermen as such. Aside from being a possibly libelous

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-30289270794310413262008-04-21T11:08:00.004+01:002008-04-21T11:46:05.621+01:00

Trailing in Pennsylvania, Obama Sharpens ToneClintons Sort Friends: Past and PresentThe democratic primary continues on, beyond reason, and it looks as though predictably the casualty of all this will be the people living in the united states served by this dysfunctional political system and truly horrific media. I'm not bitter because my pony is not winning, he is for the record -despite the

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-71471570389400753372008-04-18T09:08:00.002+01:002008-04-18T09:19:25.307+01:00

From the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights'Article 19.Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.Article 20.(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.(2) No one

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-82923872264898089492008-03-21T15:02:00.009Z2008-03-21T15:40:57.259Z

In the furor over Rev. Wright I couldn't help reflecting on the vitriolic, hateful, bigoted and anti-American speech of a number of other 'religious leaders' that seem to have been forgotten. Being from Colorado I have a first hand experience of this kind of hate-filled Christianity, I've seen it in action numerous times, and I'm sick and tired of the Republican party getting let off the hook for

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-19376205640858959722008-03-19T18:46:00.003Z2008-03-19T18:50:07.404Z

"The terrorists who murder the innocent in the streets of Baghdad want to murder the innocent in the streets of American cities," he said. "Defeating this enemy in Iraq will make it less likely we will face this enemy here at home." -from the BBCSo, apparently the Terrorists want to kill innocent Americans on the streets of American cities, but because we've sent Iraq into a bloody sectarian

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-568248682881103502008-03-14T22:17:00.003Z2008-03-14T22:20:34.943Z

Mr. Bush at his most petulant and weak minded. Bless the poor Irish reporter trying to conduct an interview with this combative and slow-witted yokel. Apparently this hasn't been shown on US TV, I'm not sure if it's been 'banned' as is claimed on YouTube, or if the US media couldn't be bothered at the time.

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-79895952325068506942008-03-11T19:37:00.003Z2008-03-11T20:01:59.464Z

According to Hillary Clinton's campaign, Black Men are more positively portrayed in the media then White Men, White Women, and in fact women of any color. I'm sure a the black male population is breathing a sigh of relief and wondering, why didn't anybody tell me?Seriously? Here's the lowdown from Geraldine Ferraro:"If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position," she continued. "And

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-41107604104804432832008-03-11T00:34:00.002Z2008-03-11T00:45:28.746Z

So, there's a journalist named Greg Palast who has written a book called Armed Madhouse that I'm working my way through. In it he recounts the build up to the Iraq war, the failure of that war, and a host of other terrifying aspects of American politics over the past 7 years. It is well worth a look. His indignation is searing, his humor biting... and most surprisingly his research and clarity

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-6122044789420368832008-03-10T00:27:00.001Z2008-03-10T00:29:57.688Z

This is a hilarious post from Larry David at Huffington Post,I think the man makes a solid point.Joe

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-19137560858893260692008-03-07T16:10:00.002Z2008-03-07T16:12:45.219Z

'As Hall's well-honed operation makes clear, the Obama campaign has succeeded not by attracting starry-eyed followers who place their faith in hope but by motivating committed activists who are answering a call to national service. They're pouring their lifeblood into this campaign, not because they are in thrall to a cult of personality but because they're invested in the idea that politics

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-55205394006380072052008-03-06T22:53:00.002Z2008-03-06T22:57:46.393Z

The word experience is everywhere today. In an election that has proved more engaging and tightly fought than any in a generation, it is the word of the moment. But what does experience mean?There are two meanings to the word experience. One is Hillary Clinton’s meaning when she says she has experience that Barack Obama lacks. There is, however, another meaning to experience. In its active form

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-3977195307691748012008-03-05T23:33:00.004Z2008-03-05T23:57:49.072Z

There's been a bit of chatter on Obama mailing lists and hints in the press that the Obama campaign is going on the attack against Clinton. I appreciate the instinct to respond to her attack ads and the temptation that the easy negative score provides, but I think it would be betrayal of what Obama's campaign has been about thus far. Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-86644784207800562012008-03-05T11:06:00.006Z2008-03-06T00:15:38.878Z

For all the fervent Obama supporters out there this is a bit of a disappointing day. Hillary has lived to fight another day, her battle for the White House continues with renewed vigor, if not greatly improved chances of a clear victory. While part of me is simply a bitter adolescent at the moment: I didn't get what I want so I'm going to pout! I do think it is important to reflect on a few

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-46842170522882952932008-03-05T08:43:00.012Z2008-03-05T09:26:30.223Z

28 years, 3 families in the number one spot... Why not make it 36 years?

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-72523363717943668972008-02-29T23:59:00.003Z2008-03-01T00:10:08.044Z

Clinton Threatens to Sue Texas Clinton Challenges Party on Michigan and FloridaFor those of us who think the Bush administration has stolen at least one, if two, national elections through legal and extra-legal means, Hillary's actions both in response to the 'so-confusing-it-makes-grown-men-cry' Texas Democratic primary/caucus and the non-contests in Michigan and Florida are a bit frightening.

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-69694749691713091982008-02-27T03:41:00.004Z2008-02-27T03:50:50.848Z

I thought maybe, just maybe, at the end of the debate Hillary would be willing to concede that Obama was worthy and capable as a presidential candidate. When Brian Williams asked, what question does your opponent need to answer to convince you that they are worthy of the Democratic nomination, Obama immediately said Clinton did not have to answer any questions to prove her worth as a candidate,

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-42440496778282261662008-02-22T12:07:00.004Z2008-02-22T12:37:04.163Z

Watch and read the most recent debate here.For a moment, while watching the most recent Democratic campaign, I thought Hillary Clinton had perhaps won me over a little. Not enough to change my support for Obama, but I did have a feeling that whoever won I'd be quite happy. That was until about halfway through the debate when Clinton went on the offensive. Two attacks in particular stuck me as

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-56988588577809272062008-02-16T18:06:00.007Z2008-02-17T14:20:51.209Z

We recently got cable at my house, so now along with having dozens more options of crap tv to watch, we've also got the unexpected bonus of replays of the Wonder Years. Certainly, the show can be a bit wooden and contrived, but there's a simpleness to the show that is refreshing. There are no gimmicks, it's just the story of a family moving through life, children growning up, partents trying to

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-4968034269324422402008-02-15T11:49:00.004Z2008-02-15T11:55:27.233Z

without a democratic primary or caucus to agonize over. After 32 sepearate contests in the first half of February (yes I'm including American Somoa, the Virgin Islands and Democrates Abroad) I'm just no longer satisfied with a mere two contests for the rest of the month!My desire is for an Obama win, but if this keeps up much longer I'll settle for any winner. I've got shit to do other than check

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-12897252625307911982008-02-09T00:52:00.000Z2008-02-09T00:54:25.926Z

Did I mention I'm working as an editor? Well, I am at Millennium: Journal of International Studies. It's going well and is quite a challenge, check it out if you're interested.Goodnight from England.Joe

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-60122056399695506202008-02-08T19:21:00.000Z2008-02-08T19:24:05.409Z

Then check out my friend Carl's web-radio show. It's on Oxford internet radio on Wednesdays, but you can download old shows at like hearts swelling.

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-25461730386593276802008-02-05T20:51:00.000Z2008-02-05T21:24:17.514Z

Just wanted to share a bit of good news. I've been accepted to present at two conferences in the coming months. The first will be in April at Fordham University, Bronx, NYC, where I'll be presenting my MSc dissertation on pragmatism and human rights. This is a pretty sweet vindication for me given the less than fabulous marks the paper received when I submitted it. And the second will be in

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-18021589002384706782008-02-04T01:45:00.000Z2008-02-04T02:41:09.199Z

Hi there. I'm much more excited about the upcoming 'Super Tuesday' primaries and caucuses than I thought I would be. I wish I was in Colorado this week so I could participate, and that is saying a lot, as anyone has heard my American Democracy is a sham rant will know.If you're in the states, I hope you're voting tomorrow, or planning to vote soon. This is the most exciting campaign in America in

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-34080878037452112142008-02-03T00:32:00.000Z2008-02-03T23:17:47.232Z

I've been listening to this really amazing album lately, Fading Trails.The sound is something like a combination of Neil Young, Tom Petty, and some other comparison that is escaping me, something rougher still than either of those two artists. There's a wonderful unpolished and unpretentious quality to this recordings. Songs open up, creating space, but not polished space, not expansive or

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-32279498991194521212008-01-30T09:47:00.000Z2008-01-30T10:10:31.095Z

Read about it hereTo continue my completely partisan love-in with Obama, here is a fascinating little story from the New York Times. As part of Obama's campaign platform he's refused to take money from special interest groups, but now there are aparently at least two large special interest groups working on his behalf, though without his blessing. It's notable that his campaign is trying to

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-47765021680350585312008-01-29T16:10:00.000Z2008-01-29T16:19:41.182Z

No ranting or amateur political punditry to speak of today, just me being struck by a deeply important and philosophical question.Is the moral core of humanity, the thing which makes repelent cruelty and violence, singular or plural? This question assumes a lot, so let me break it down just a little. It's often taken that there is some aspect of being human that is special, which mandates that we

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-87844835228688555552008-01-26T01:27:00.000Z2008-01-26T01:59:03.262Z

Does having been President mean anything to anyone anymore?I realize we're in uncharted territory with a potential first ever first-gentleman (is that what we'd call it?) and a first ever former-President eyeballing the White House. Still, it would seem there would be some obvious protocols that would go along with this situation from the get go. Like not using the former a President to lead the

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-15807083973064228582008-01-22T09:40:00.000Z2008-01-22T10:55:00.324Z

Obama vs. Clinton, not that Clinton, the other ClintonEarly Signs of Mud-Slinging, Are the Clintons finding their Groove?My own partisan bias aside, I'm for Obama, it does look as though the primary is getting a bit ugly. In all honesty, I get the sense the responsibility of this does fall on the Clinton campaign machine, as they've been the first to begin a real attack campaign. While not

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-60926755728262413502008-01-19T10:41:00.000Z2008-01-19T10:42:39.807Z

Badlands by Bruce Springsteen"For the ones who had a notion, a notion deep inside That it aint no sin to be glad youre alive. I wanna find one face that aint looking through me I wanna find one place, I wanna spit in the face of these badlands."Yes!

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-82977473848328430132008-01-18T00:41:00.000Z2008-01-18T01:00:00.926Z

Mike Huckabee, overturning the secular tenets of one of the most important political documents of all time, and all that before lunch!.Not that it should be of any great surprise to anyone who has been listening to what Huckabee actually says, but he's explicitly come out in favor of amending the constitution to fit biblical principles. Though he remains cagey about which principles from the

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-90683238451248079672008-01-14T03:34:00.000Z2008-01-18T01:08:24.615Z

I feel out of place aesthetically as of late, what I mean by this is that the things I appreciate in people. places, works of art, literature, or just objects generally seem out of step with the world around me. I am not contemporary. This may may have been brought about by reading about Thoreau this weekend, or my long running infatuation with old folk recordings, or my distaste for the soft

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-9840659061845273092008-01-06T22:35:00.000Z2008-01-06T23:23:49.580Z

Backstreetsby Bruce Springsteen(Not the original version, but the best one I could find that I could embed here)One soft infested summer me and Terry became friendsTrying in vain to breathe the fire we was born inCatching rides to the outskirts tying faith between our teethSleeping in that old abandoned beach house getting wasted in the heatAnd hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-56232916370339655602007-12-28T15:34:00.000Z2007-12-28T15:37:28.209Z

Read this article: http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/122407A.shtml.This really pinpoints two major problems with our business culture and our political system. Long live democracy and the free market!Paz,j

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-85104081067676774202007-12-24T21:29:00.001Z2008-04-23T04:33:59.704+01:00

So, I've not posted in ages, life is very busy in London these days, but now that I'm back home for Christmas and making the same mistake I always make, dipping my feet into the muddy maelstrom that is American politics, I thought I'd throw this out there.Click HereThe article recounts the risks that Oprah has taken in supporting Obama in the upcoming Pre-Presidential Cage Match that is the

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-29113410769242589942007-10-16T13:42:00.001+01:002007-10-16T13:42:27.543+01:00

Reaganomics Finally Trickles Down To Area Man.onion_embed {background: rgb(256, 256, 256) !important;border: 4px solid rgb(65, 160, 65);border-width: 4px 0 1px 0;margin: 10px 30px !important;padding: 5px;overflow: hidden !important;zoom: 1;}.onion_embed img {border: 0 !important;}.onion_embed a {display: inline;}.onion_embed a.img {float: left !important;margin: 0 5px 0 0 !important;width: 66px;

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-87852447271255986222007-10-10T13:53:00.000+01:002007-10-10T13:54:10.521+01:00

by Yeats Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity. Surely some revelation is at

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-67907467620095431942007-10-03T13:11:00.000+01:002007-10-03T13:19:33.883+01:00

I’ve made it into London. The trip was largely uneventful but plagued by inordinate amounts of waiting in line and being generally frustrated. While checking in at JFK Airport in New York City I had to pay for an extra bag, in this case my guitar. I expected the extra charge, but was surprised by the hassle involved. In the past I’ve travelled with a guitar that had to be checked as an additional

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-33809449919494264152007-09-29T08:56:00.001+01:002007-09-29T08:56:51.721+01:00

The hour of change has finally come, and I’m leaving the holding pattern that my life has taken on for the past 6 months. It’s a slowly glorious feeling; my joy is lethargic because it has been slow in coming. And also because I know the road ahead is taking me further from other paths I long to walk, and it is taking me further from the fields and neighbors of a home that I love and at the same

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-6809575671837633762007-09-21T01:11:00.000+01:002008-02-03T23:21:47.717Z

http://www.comedycentral.com(Look for the Daily Show clip "OJ and Hillary.")As always, the Daily Show provides a great commentary and insight into the American political scene. Check the clip, which features a litany of talking heads from cable news attacking the Hillary Clinton healthcare plan, and makes the point that no one is bothering to engage with the substance of the plan. Rather, there

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-30965498096223284252007-09-19T01:31:00.000+01:002007-09-19T01:35:09.619+01:00

Well, the visa is here at last and my return to London is both legal and imminent. The packing is nearly done and the shipping nearly sent to sea. But first... New York City.

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-47462874154715408622007-09-14T17:35:00.000+01:002007-09-14T17:55:20.450+01:00

This is a slightly old article from The Economist on the Student Loan Bill making its way through the government, which I wrote on a while back. Do notice the dig at professors at the end, pointing out that teaching loads are down but benefits/pay are up. Also, note that they do not mention that the number of professors has decreased as more of the teaching load at universities is pushed on to

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-64816250315917603552007-09-13T22:44:00.000+01:002007-09-13T22:47:00.443+01:00

This is from www.foundmagazine.com. I think it is a good point.

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-20155239199203193242007-09-10T21:57:00.000+01:002007-09-10T21:58:42.774+01:00

http://film.guardian.co.uk/features/featurepages/0,,2163280,00.html

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-81534410798517292652007-09-10T16:26:00.001+01:002007-09-10T20:24:05.604+01:00

Here's my season that was, in music...1. Micah P. Hinson: "Micah P. Hinson and the Opera Circuit" and "Micah P. Hinson Presents: The baby and the Satellite." Anyone whose spent more than a few minutes around me the last couple of months has probably had me recommend Micah P. Hinson to them. And with good cause, he's one of the more exciting songwriters I've heard in recent years. The music is

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-82088694326097137932007-08-31T22:25:00.000+01:002007-09-02T01:59:06.665+01:00

Muggers are rational people.

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-45080591137123334372007-08-17T06:08:00.000+01:002007-08-17T17:43:51.454+01:00

I'm headed out of town, gleefully running toward the west coast. The past few months I've been living in a mental cave, and while there have been hints of light between the rocks, the air is still musty and the days dark. I haven't tried to break through the loose rock blocking the entrance until know, for some reason today I had the strength to finally clear away the obstructing debris. The

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-84876877796186497762007-08-16T20:38:00.000+01:002007-08-16T21:41:51.525+01:00

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/20/AR2007062002488.html(Information from the Washington Post on the bill and opposition to it, notice how much concern there is for the poor profitable lending companies)http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/19/AR2007071902389.htmlhttp://www.thenation.com/docprem.mhtml?i=20070827&s=kamenetz(Sadly, this is a

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-26323310691582604492007-08-10T15:53:00.000+01:002007-08-10T18:21:22.313+01:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/10/us/politics/10dems.html?_r=1&ref=politics&oref=sloginSo, I've just decided that I don't even want to vote in the next election. I was almost fooled into caring, almost fooled into thinking this would be the best possible moment for substantive change - however minor - in the US political system. But no, it's all more of the same shit with a new label. I'll still

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-38882673982776191782007-07-30T19:09:00.000+01:002007-08-02T17:36:08.907+01:00

My head aches and the early rays of the sun seem to burn,too bright, to sear too painfully the eyes in my head.My heart is melancholy as it travels in the cool youth of the day;too busy the workers rush past me, while I'm still like granite.To move within this crowd, 'tis easier to move through solid rock;too depleted to smile, I do wilt for need of some hot frothy drink.But lo' the world is not

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1913321024571222548.post-40930080109004487182007-07-29T02:37:00.000+01:002007-07-30T19:08:58.443+01:00

There's little on TV that does more than provide an opiate to the mind, little which demands more than the most passive attention. But there are a couple of spots of hope.Just watched a really fantastic episode of the Henry Rollins Show on the Independent Film Channel. The show benefits from a total lack of censorship and Rollin's drill-bit sharp focus on the importance of non-mainstream art and

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11604497441179599699noreply@blogger.com0