Dublin trouble

An Ulster loyalist group tried to go on another provocative march in Ireland.
Republicans stopped them and have been rioting.

Many of the Republican demonstrators chanted slogans supporting still active radical factions of the IRA.

FBI vs. Moz

Federal Bureau of Investigation has branded Stephen Patrick Morrissey: potential threat to national security.

Morrissey said,
"The FBI and the Special Branch have investigated me and I've been interviewed and taped and so forth. They [the FBI] were trying to determine if I was a threat to the government, and similarly in England."
"I always assume that so-called authoritarian figures just assume that pop/rock music is slightly insane and an untouchable platform for the working classes to stand up and say something noticeable."
"My view is that neither England or America are democratic societies"

symbiote

In Spider-Man 3, Spidey wears the black costume.
hhmmm...

11 travellers kidnapped by Philippines police

On February 14, a group of 11 backpackers (one of which is from SF) went to Baguio to join the festivities in the annual Baguio Flower Festival and proceed to Sagada. They came from a punk music event that was held in Tarlac
Without any provocation, they were held in gunpoint by police looking for New People’s Army (NPA) rebels. The youth were beaten and tortured.
FREE THE SAGADA 11!

Oust Arroyo!

The revolutionary spirit of the Filipino people has always served as inspiration to me.
Now is a time to lend our support/solidarity (in any/every way possible) to their struggle.

smells like Marcos

Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has declared a state of emergency.

Apparently, a foiled coup attempt is the justification for what seems to be a road towards martial law.
School classes have also been cancelled.

A ban was placed on commemorating the ousting of former Philippines dictator, Marcos.
Clashes erupted immediately as Filipinos defied the ban.

People Power!

A7X

Avenged Sevenfold snagged the opening spot on Metallica's next tour.
Need ANOTHER reason to hate them?
Here:

be right back

Due to technical difficulties and living in the real world, I haven't updated much.

Updates to begin appearing soon.

Henry Rollins tried to read Jihad: The Rise of Militant Island in Central Asia on a plane and got detained.

temporary detention

The federal government awarded a Haliburton subsidiary $385 million to build "temporary detention" facilities inside the US.

10Feb.06

All Bets Off played their final show.

Last night, 5 local hardcore punk bands that very few people outside of Northern California probably care about played at 924 Gilman to a packed club.
The Starting Point. Dispute. Doomsday Device. Life Long Tragedy. The Bets.

Although long, it was an amazing night.
There are very few bands that have aroused such a sense of community and pride for the Bay Area as All Bets Off.
What an amazing celebration.

"One should die proudly when it is no longer possible to live proudly."
All Bets Off
1997-2006

The Office (USA)

Ricky Gervais has agreed to write an episode of the US version of "The Office".

borders

Unlike most any other country, Israel has always refused to officially draw its own borders.

Now, acting Israeli Prime Minister, Olmert, has stated that Israel should separate from Palestinians and draw final borders.

seeking cartoonists

A prominent Iranian newspaper said it would hold a competition for cartoons on the Holocaust to test whether the West extends the principle of freedom of expression to the Nazi genocide as it did to the caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad.
_____________________

A coworker asked me if I had seen these caricatures of Muhammad. I told her I had.
She asked if they were "bad." I asked her to define bad.
She asked me if they were racist and I replied yes.

Look- Fuck Religion!
Why do you think The Catholic Church is siding with irate Muslims on this issue?!

For every European embassy/mission burned, I lay partial blame on the US & European governments and their neo-con New World Order.
When you eliminate the actual possibility of secular dissent (as the US helped Iran and most of the Arab world do) and in its place foster a fundamentalist Islam (as the US did in Afghanistan and other parts of the Islamic world), this is the reaction you get!

Smashing Pumpkins reunite...

well, almost.

Only Billy Corgan & Jimmy Chamberlin are back and recording as Smashing Pumpkins.

"2nd wave"

We are in what I would describe as the 2nd wave of retro-80's pop.
(The 1st wave being about 5 yrs ago with The Faint, Interpol, Fischerspooner, Ladytron, etc)

Some of this newer wave has me excited.
Although aspects of it are highly derivative, these newer bands have explored pop sensabilities more than the likes of Ladytron or The Faint.

She Wants Revenge rely the most heavily on redundancy.
They also seem to be the most reliant on a false image (one of scantily clad females instead of the 2 ugly producers behind the music). That said, I still enjoy dancing to their jams.

Editors are still in the Joy Division shadow... or maybe just perhaps an Interpol shadow.
Nonetheless, quite enjoyable.


White Rose Movement are my current favorite within this sub-genre.
Their sound is one of Duran Duran mixed with The Faint... Even their vocals have a distinctly 80's feel.
I love their look and their music.


Of course, there is also Bloc Party.
Bloc Party definitely take cues from 80's pop but add so much originality (and are so damn fabulous) that they barely fit into this category.

dumpster divin'

Douchebag Tucker Carlson talks shit about "freegans".


(thanx Mel)

What is the cost of war?

Oh, about $100,000 per minute.

Olympic Hearts On Fire

In preparation for the Olymic Games, The Swedish Women's Curling Team have enlisted the musical inspiration of HammerFall in the form of "Hearts On Fire", for which a video was recorded last week.
VIDEO HERE