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Thursday, August 26, 2004

Basebollocks

DC Mayor Anthony Williams' plan for a publicly financed baseball stadium in the District is pretty popular among the citizenry. In the sense that it's not.
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Ready to laugh till it hurts?

Go.
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Monday, August 23, 2004

A techno-empire built on precision

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Remembering our martyrs

Today is the 36th anniversary of 1968 presidential candidate Pigasus' abduction from his first press conference. According to this site, "he may have been taken to the Humane Society, or he may have ended up as dinner at the home of some Chicago police officer." Perhaps if Pigasus had instead been elevated to the nation's top executive position, we wouldn't (as the distinguished senator and racist Trent Lott opined in a very different context) have had all these problems over all these years.
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Friday, August 20, 2004

Funny, I don't feel that wild

New York Times, page 1: Anarchists Emerge as the Convention's Wild Card

Not a bad treatment of the @ set. Actually, I think the real x factors will be the size of the Sunday march and how assertive the masses are feeling. But could we please, please talk about violence not as something that looms large just because a bunch of people who don't believe in heirarchy are getting together in the same city, but instead as something perpetrated so massively by the government that no individual or group of individuals could ever possibly hope to replicate it, short of access to a nuclear device? And, while we're on the subject, when did non-pacifism become a wild, extremist, minority ideology? A belief in violence in limited situations is pretty standard among radicals and non-radicals alike. I don't want to see people get hurt in New York, but I also don't want to see the authorities get away with the egregiously antidemocratic behavior they've displayed during the run-up to the convention. And really, any public celebration of the Bush administration ought to be considered a provocation by anyone with even a passing interest in humanism. Let's have fun, let's try to be safe, but let's not allow ourselves to be pushed around.

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Wednesday, August 18, 2004

Killing thousands of innocent foreigners = acceptable violence; scuffling with riot cops = unacceptable violence.

I'll wear one of these little buggers as soon as Bloomberg shells out taxpayer bucks to make buttons for Republican conventioneers that say "Member of a Peaceful Government."

I'd like to point out that Bush's war resulted in a lot of broken windows.
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Tuesday, August 17, 2004

We don't like short people with muscles in Sweden

So, I'm back. The past four days have been the longest I've gone without posting since I started this thing, but I don't think I missed that much in the way of news while I was out of town this weekend. Pointless Fest was a blast. Some highlights:

-Sweden's Bruce Banner, who gave us, in addition to the gem I used as the heading for this post, a bit of progressive wisdom as they introduced their song "Race Mixing": "This song is about achieving racial equality through the act of fornication and other nocturnal rites."

-Some young neighborhood kids being brought into the show and crowdsurfed during Hellshock and Tragedy.

-Too many good bands to mention individually.

-Staying with my friend Josh and watching--repeatedly--the Best of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog DVD.

Upcoming shows in DC:

Wednesday 8/18 - Aphasia, Kakistocracy, Aghast (+1 tba?) no Victims, unfortunately, due to a badly broken ankle

Friday and Saturday 8/20-21 - Different Kind of Dude Fest

Monday 8/23 - Defiance, Ohio, Washington Social Club, Soophie Nun Squad
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Thursday, August 12, 2004

"We are inevitably the mouthpiece for whatever administration is in power"

The Post today offers up a less-than-scathing criticism of its pre-war coverage. The article focuses on a number of pieces raising questions about administration assertions that were placed at safe distances from page 1, and to a lesser degree on the relative paucity of such pieces. It says almost nothing about the sycophantic bellicosity of the paper's editorial page.

Liz Spayd, the paper's assistant managing editor for national news is quoted as saying, "I believe we pushed as hard or harder than anyone to question the administration's assertions on all kinds of subjects related to the war. . . . Do I wish we would have had more and pushed harder and deeper into questions of whether they possessed weapons of mass destruction? Absolutely," she said. "Do I feel we owe our readers an apology? I don't think so."

If Post readers aren't owed an apology, I suppose families of the thousands of dead here and in Iraq shouldn't expect one either.
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Michael Moore, Re:Porter

Seems Porter Goss was pretty humble a few months ago about a possible future with the CIA. Humble and unqualified.
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Wednesday, August 11, 2004

This could be fun

The only thing better than never having Wal-Mart come to your community is having Wal-Mart try to come to your community only to get its ass kicked out. DC residents may soon have the opportunity to do some of said ass-kicking, as the Wal is trying to slip a store into Northeast.

Does Wal-Mart sell stuff cheap? Sure they do. Wal-Mart prices for Wal-Mart wages. Oh, and if you see any Wal execs around town, be sure to ask them how that largest sex discrimination suit in history is going.
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Tuesday, August 10, 2004

Coming soon to a metro stop near you

Even in the wacky world of monotheism, Jews For Jesus stand out. Expect to see them out in force around the city next week.

Some of the responses to the forthcoming wave of evangelism, as reported in the above piece (from the distinguished Washington Times [motto: Pravda for Patriots]), are themselves amusing. "Jews for Jesus uses what we consider deceptive practices: Jewish garb and symbols to attract Jews into a different religion," says Rabbi David Bernstein, director of the Washington office of the American Jewish Committee. Now, is it just me, or do you think it might take more than a good costume to convert a person of established faith? Consider:

Jew for Jesus: You there! Hebrew! See this star on my necklace? Does it look... familiar?

Regular Jew: Of course. That's the Star of David. I'm wearing one too.

Jew for Jesus: Ah, yes, but does it remind you of anything? Or... of anyONE?

Regular Jew: Well, yeah. It reminds me of my family, especially my grandparents, and I guess my rabbi and my old fourth grade teacher who was Jewish...

Jew for Jesus: But does it make you think of, perhaps, oh, I don't know... a man? A man named... JESUS!

Regular Jew: [eyes glaze over, muscles go slack] Yes... of course... Jesus. Who...is...not...only...a Jew...himself...but is also...my....

Jew for Jesus: [triumphant, foaming] SAVIOR! YOUR SAVIOR! AH-HAHAHAHAHA!!! YOUR MUST WORSHIP YOUR SAVIOR!!

Regular Jew: [regaining composure, fully converted] It all makes perfect sense, really. I couldn't help but be sucked into this conversation with you, what with--

Jew for Jesus: What with my authentic Star of, uh... what with this necklace.

Regular Jew: Yes. And you made such a deep spiritual connection with me by, for instance, addressing me as "Hebrew."

Evangelical Apprentice Jew for Jesus: Wow, Mr. Kensington-Smith, you didn't even have to use the dreidel on that one! How many more years of Conversion School do I have before I can be a high priest of re-Jew-venation just like you?

Jew for Jesus: Oy, always the questions with you. Ah, excuse me sir! Sir? Do you by any chance enjoy the works of the young author Anne Frank? Of course you do...




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In one ear and in the other

Recent listening:

Undying - The Whispered Lies of Angels -- In the player right now; tight, catchy, way metal hardcore. They played the show I traveled farthest to attend (nine hours, give or take).

Mix du Scott -- Hot stuff from the Avengers, Descendents, Velvet Underground, From Ashes Rise and more. Scott's been informed that I'm not a Misfits fan and will tailor the next mix accordingly.

Pinback - 2002 Tour EP -- Music doesn't get much more fun than this. I love these dudes. Go buy their records.

Dismember - Like An Ever Flowing Stream -- ripping Swedish thrash/death metal from '89. Amazing music, less-than-stellar lyrics. At some point I'm going to write a long entry here about the relationships among artist, content, and consumer, which this record made me think a lot about.

Old Man Gloom - Christmas -- I've only listened to this twice so far, but it's pretty damn good. Heavy, throaty hardcore from Boston (and now L.A.) area all-stars.

!!! - Louden Up Now -- "Dance punk"? Try "bad 80's new wave mixed with Jamiroquai." Boring music made worse by pretentious vocals. I expect at least one impassioned defense of this band to appear in the "comments" section, but really... !!! = yawn yawn yawn.

Songs:Ohia - various -- Amazing singer/songwriter stuff. Occassionally sounds a lot like Neil Young, but is at his best when he doesn't.


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Well, that clears THAT up

More words of wisdom from our Dear Leader re tribal sovereignty. Click on the "having a nervous breakdown" link. You may first want to cover your chair with a towel.
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Ok, where's a camera when you really, really need one

Riding into the city this morning, I saw a bright green truck, at least as big as a dump truck, operated by a company that presumably disposes of sensitive and private printed material via shredding and who knows what else. There was a message painted on the side to that effect, helpfully reminding local residents that the service offered is in some cases required by federal law. And then I saw the logo. Really, folks, I couldn't make this up if I wanted to. The logo consists of a bald eagle head backed by an American flag-patterned shield and emblazoned with the words "Certified Destruction."

Ok, so I NEED a picture of this logo for obvious reasons. If you see this truck and have a camera handy, please please please, I'll give you my firstborn child, I'll steal someone else's firstborn child, I'll take your firstborn child out for ice cream or a piercing, anything. Get in touch.
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Friday, August 06, 2004

Campaign juggling

It occurred to me today, hearing about the underwhelming job growth last month, that the Bush administration has backed itself into a bit of a tactical corner this election season. As we move toward November, there are three major issues on the table: Iraq, terrorism, and the economy. Iraq is a lost cause for the Bushies insofar as it's an unlikely source for positive propaganda between now and the election. There are absolutely no signs that things are getting better there, and it's really, really hard to put good spin on the situation as long as dead American soldiers keep popping up in the news. (And does anybody even remember Afghanistan?) So that leaves only national security and the economy. Ignoring for a moment that the economy hasn't been good at any point during the past four years (though that won't stop el presidente from telling us that it's been great), these two planks are at odds. It would seem that occassional terrorism panics (which are at least partially meant to make us want to run into the strong, white arms of Bush, Cheney, Ashcroft & Co.), complete with road closings and quasi-military presences in New York, DC, and elsewhere, don't tend to foster a sunny, robust investment climate. People here are skittish, what with the very real possibility of new attacks and the government's deplorable exploitation of their fears. And it's too late in the game for the administration to actually do anything about the economy now. They've put all their eggs in the tax cuts basket; if the economy bounces back, they'll claim supply-side success, regardless of the facts. But it would have to be an awfully big bounce to impact the conventional wisdom that the economy's been in the crapper for four years. And that's not likely to happen if we hunker down with a fortress mentality.

So it's narrowing to a one-issue race. Without recent poll numbers at my fingertips, I know Bush's Iraq policies have fallen out of favor, and he can't possibly run on his economic record. It's seems we'll be hearing a lot about terrorism, terrorism, terrorism till November. Which also raises the question, if there is an attack in this country before the election, whom does it help? Kerry, because it will suggest incumbent incompetence? Or Bush, who can, assuming the attack isn't of catastrophic proportions, which would pretty much torpedo his chances, play the "strength" and "resolve" and "rally round the flag" cards? And furthermore, whom do Al Qaeda and their ilk want to win? I think it has to be Bush, for pretty obvious reasons. So how does that affect their plans, if they have any? It's going to be interesting, kids.

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Thursday, August 05, 2004

Your honesty is an inspiration, Mr. President

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."

George W. Bush, 8/5/04
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Averting the unplanned

Thanks to the diligence of the FBI, anarchists did not firebomb media trucks at the DNC.

or

Thanks to anarchists having no interest in firebombing media trucks at the DNC, anarchists did not firebomb media trucks at the DNC.
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Swedes on speed

The new Nasum album will contain, in the band's words, "the fastest parts ever performed by us." If so, this October may be known among extreme music fans as "the month of soiled shorts."*

*actually, I can't vouch for the general level of hygiene among grindheads; October might not involve any more pants-shitting than, say, April.
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The universal language of tight clothing

In a piece this morning on a hit pop song in Iraq, NPR mentioned young "Iraqi hipsters...packed into their Peugots with slicked-back hair and tight orange shirts."

Note to fans of Interpol, Modest Mouse, etc.: orange is the new black. And Peugots are the new... ok, to be honest, I have no idea what the Peugot could possibly be displacing at this point. Really, a travesty. This war was such a bad idea.