FMTM: U$A

My good friends and righteous comrades, From Monument To Masses, are touring the belly of the beast.

Kasama sergio has been doing a tour blog of sorts.
Like everything sergio does, this blog is rooted firmly in the culture of resistance and dialectics.

So, when bands say they travel this country and don't see anything; it is only because their eyes ain't open.

Fucked Up: "Mixing fascist imagery with a leftist anarchist punk band is like a bomb going off"

If you are cool enough, Fucked Up's "Hidden Worlds" can be found to download.

Even Bloc Party, The Arcade Fire, and the amazing Jarvis Cocker are fans!

fuck Howard Dean!

According to Howard Dean, the head of the Democratic Party, if you don't condemn Hizbollah, you are an "anti-Semite."
(Nevermind that Hizbollah are Semetic people.)

AIPAC controls our government.
Fuck that liberal Zionist bastard!

what struggle looks like : Philippines

Two non-Filipino comrades in an exposure program in the Philippines have set up a blog.
It recounts some of their amazing experiences amongst the real movement culture of the Philippines and how the struggle operates there on multiple fronts.

I highly encourage everyone to check it out!
It is very inspiring!



(thanx sergio!)

Spidey/Venom trailer

The newest teaser trailer for Spider-Man 3 is online!
(I am assuming this is the one shown at ComicCon.)

It shows some quick shots of Venom (not too exciting but his mouth looks good), Harry Osborne's Green Goblin, and I am guessing a quick shot of Dr. Curt Connors.

Hurry and watch it before it gets removed!

crit.

The key to progress is critical thinking.

The key to critical thinking is self-esteem.

I can't believe in myself if I don't value myself.
If I don't value myself, I won't value my own opinions.
If I don't value my own opinions, I cannot arrive at any objective conclusion.
If I don't arrive at an objective conclusion, I have no direction.
Without direction, there is no up, no down, no forward, no backward... No progess.

Life is not floating on putrid still water.

Power Of Nightmares

The Power Of Nightmares is an AMAZING multi-part BBC documentary chronicalling neo-conservativism and political Islamists.



I HIGHLY encourage everyone to watch them!
The last half of the last episode feels a bit too upbeat or optimistic and it was clearly made prior to the London bombings in 2005, but the connections, parallels, and profiles the documentary provides are priceless.

Dan Quale hates poor people

Douchebag former Vice President walked out of a John Mellencamp concert because Mellencamp introduced a song with, "This next one is for all the poor people who've been ignored by the current administration."

ELF: snitch

In Sacramento, Zachary Jenson has pled guilty to one count of conspiracy in connection with a plot to blow up commercial and governmental facilities in the name of the Earth Liberation Front and has also agreed to cooperate with authorities in their prosecution of his former friend and alleged co-conspirator Eric McDavid.
Jenson will be required to provide information to the government in whatever way they demand him to for as long as they deem necessary.

The arrests were the result of an FBI informant named "Anna".


(thanx Bombs And Shields)

know your enemies: "ZOG"

The US House Of Representatives passed a nonbinding (aka pointless) resolution supporting Israel's attack on Lebanon and condemning "enemies of Israel."
It says Syria and Iran should be held accountable for the fighting in Lebanon. (Of course neither country are doing the bombing or minor rocket attacks.)

Only 8 members voted against the resolution:
Ron Paul,
Neil Abercrombie,
John Conyers,
John Dingell,
Carolyn Kilpatrick,
Jim McDermott,
Nick Rahall,
Pete Stark

This bullshit was done to appease the Zionist spies of AIPAC.

Zidane/Materazzi fined

I wish FIFA would reveal the insult that got both Zidane and Materazzi fined.

The insult must have been something violating FIFA conduct rules (such as the oft-speculated racism) to warrant a fine on the player who received the headbutt.

American Hardcore

"normal people did not listen to hardcore and we liked it that way"

quick topics

Anti-abortion fuckers have clinics lying to women about abortion-related health risks.
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Chicago tortures Black people.
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Buddy, Steve Aoki, is nuts.
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The government is putting a lot of effort into making sure "under god" remains in The Pledge Of Allegiance.
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Russia dissed Bush and said they want no part of his "crusades."
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Keep an eye on Mexico!
The Left is rising.

Psycho City!

Famed legal graff spot, Psycho City, seems to be back!

Homeland Security vs. The Boogeyman

The government is certain Hizbollah agents are among us and they aim to find them... or just harrass and jail Muslims and brown people.

Dearborn, Michigan:


I remember being assured that Homeland Security would ONLY be used to fight terrorism.
Well, Homeland Security is spying on anti-war groups in SF and Santa Cruz.
Their info is handed over to the Pentagon.

Lebanon: on fire

"It's our war" cries the neo-con rag The Weekly Standard.

Those fuckers want direct US involvement in Lebanon and engagement with Iran.
I guess they were so hyped on the US invasion of Iraq, they need some more.
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Apparently Bush has given Israel another week to cause as much damage and chaos as possible.
Then he may have to tell them to ease up.

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Although most other countries have been able to evacuate their civilians in Lebanon efficiently and free, the US military is charging to airlift civilians out.

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This attack on Lebanon is similar to the Israeli instigated civil war in 1982, but there are a few important differences:
1) Israel can't expel an indigenous organization
2) Israelis also don't have any clients hoping to be installed in power

THIS LINK is a bit dense but also goes into the history of the conflict and players involved.
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Both Hizbollah and Israel may have been planning and preparing for this fight for some time.
VERY interesting!

It is always nice to get the children involved.
Israeli little girls:

rape in Contra Costa County Times

An 11 yr old girl was allegedly raped by 10 men; most of the men being local football players.
Reporting the alleged rape, The Contra Costa Times found it necessary to add the description of the victim as "tall and mature looking."
Contra Costa Times also thought of the rape as a "tragic end to athletes' pursuits."

Luckily, a later editorial appearing in The Contra Costa Times decries the paper's blaming of the 11 yr old rape victim.

(Apparently, The Contra Costa Times picked up the story from AP. So, although Contra Coasta Times chose to run the fucked up articles, heavy blame should be placed on the asshole AP writer.)

-thanx Mel

Smallville: Green Arrow

Next season on the Superman drama Smallville, Green Arrow will make an appearance for 7 episodes.
He is apparently forming the Justice League and attempting to recruit Clark Kent.

Justin Hartley will play Green Arrow.
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I have never watched Smallville but whenever I hear about superhero crossovers, it intrigues me.

dollar signs

A new Gather track "Dollar Signs To The Industry" is online.

Peep that revolutionary brutality!!

Zionist war

"War" is a defined situation regulated by international law. It takes place between enemies, who are obliged to observe basic rules.
But the Israeli government asserts that it is facing not an enemy with rights, but "terrorists", "criminals" and "gangs". And those, of course, have no rights.
In a war, there are "prisoners-of-war". That applies to Corporal Gilad Shalit, who was taken prisoner in a military action. But Israel defines captured soldiers as "kidnapped" and the Arab prisoners it captures as criminals.
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Blaming the victim:
It is never Israel's fault.

This Israeli ambassador had the audacity to demand Lebanon halt hostilities toward Israel (as Israel destroys civilian infrastructure, bridges, roads, blocks Lebanon's borders, and blockades Lebanon's sea ports):

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Lebanon:

"The surprises that I have promised you will start now. Now in the middle of the sea, facing Beirut, the Israeli warship that has attacked the infrastructure, people's homes and civilians — look at it burning."




"Our homes will not be the only ones to be destroyed, our children will not be the only ones to die. ... Those days are over, I promise you."

Russians are telling it like it is

Gorbachev recently accused Americans of arrogance and trying to impose their way of life on other nations.
He went on to say of the Bush administration, "They are just hawks protecting the interests of the military -- shallow people."
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"If we go back 100 years and look through the newspapers, we see what arguments the colonial powers of that time advanced to justify their expansion into Africa and Asia," Vladislav Surkov, Putin's deputy chief of staff said. "They cited arguments such as playing a civilizing role, the particular role of the white man, the need to civilize 'primitive peoples.'"
He went on: "If we replace the term 'civilizing role' with 'democratization,' then we can transpose practically word for word what the newspapers were writing 100 years ago to today's world and the arguments we hear from some of our colleagues on issues such as democratization and the need to ensure democratic freedoms."

right-wing religious power: USA

A list of the top 10 right-wing religious power brokers in USA is definitely worth checking out!

There is this AMAZING message board dedicated to lunatics waiting for the rapture.
Right now, they are all hyped that Israel is going nuts. Unfortunately, the board now requires a password.
If I figure out a way in, I will post it.

news from this crazy world

How much power can a "gang" have before it is not considered a criminal gang?
Well, Brasil is "in the midst of a civil war" due to reprisals against torture in the prisons.
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Joss Whedon discusses why he writes strong women characters.
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Wal-Mart employees now function as bomb squads.
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Citgo, which is wholly owned by Venezuela's state oil company will stop distributing gasoline to U.S. stations.
Hugo Chavez has long claimed that parts of Citgo's business produce losses for Venezuela and constitute a subsidy for the U.S. economy.
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Homeland Security is listing really odd events/places as potential terrorist targets.
Listing the likes of Old MacDonald’s Petting Zoo, the Amish Country Popcorn factory, the Mule Day Parade, the Sweetwater Flea Market does work to scare people.
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When does a 14 yr old girl become a "young woman"?
When she is raped and killed by US soldiers.

The Prestige

Christopher Nolan directing Christian Bale & David Bowie!?

Doesn't get much better than that.

bloody veto

The United States vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution that called on Israel to immediately end its military incursion in Gaza.
Ten of the council's 15 member-nations voted in favor of the resolution, while the United States cast the sole "no" vote.

About 30 of the 81 U.S. vetoes cast over nearly 61 years of U.N. history have been linked to U.S. support for Israel.

A new track from The Mars Volta is posted on their MySpace page.

It is definitely worth checking out. Their new album is going to only feature epic songs that are like 20 minuts long.

Israel attacks Lebanon

Hezbollah of Lebanon crossed the Israeli border and captured 2 Israeli soldiers and killed 3 others (possibly in another but related raid).

Israel considers the abduction "an act of war" and has begun yet another incursion into Lebanon.
The Israeli military bombed bridges in Lebanon and plans to call up thousands of reservists.

The military arm of Hezbollah said its fighters captured two Israeli soldiers "on the border with occupied Palestine, fulfilling the promise to liberate its prisoners" held by Israel.
Israel has carried out several prisoner swaps with Hezbollah to obtain freedom for captured Israelis in the past.

Again, Israel is threatening 'collective punishment' (illegal under international law).
Israel warned the Lebanese government that the Israeli military will target infrastructure and "turn back the clock in Lebanon by 20 years," if the soldiers are not returned.

Hamas, already engaging an Israeli operation in Gaza, saw this as opening a new front against Israel that would strengthen the Hamas position.

Zidane: golden ball

He was playing less than prime. He was set to retire. Then he led France to the finals in an explosion of skills.
...Then he was ejected for an intentional headbutt.

Nonetheless, Zinadine Zidane has been awarded the Golden Ball; World Cup best player award.

Unlike previous tournaments, voting for the Golden Ball player continued until after the final match.
So voters could vote fully aware of Zidane's send off.

Many expected Italy's Fabio Cannavaro to win. He came in runner up.

This only further cements Zidane's legacy as one of the finest footballers ever.

And if reports in the French media are true and Materazzi did provoke Zidane with racist slurs, I only give more respect to Zidane.

CBGB's Vegas!?

CBGB's is moving to Las Vegas.
RETARDED.


I sure hope that bastard Hilly Kristal isn't using all the money righteous folks like Gorilla Biscuits & Lifetime donated to turn the venue into some bullshit tourist trap.

World Cup Final

9July06

Italy VS. France

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In SF, the match will be broadcast live in Dolores Park.

I am sure Mad Dog In The Fog pub in SF will be off the hook as usual.
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Allez les Bleus!!

Gaza on fire

As Israel destroys Gaza and terrorizes the Palestinians that live there, I wonder what should be the fate of the French Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, in whose name this offensive was launched.

I know what he deserves but I fear his death, even if strong in symbolism, would only bring more misery upon Palestine.

After all... Israel would make up any reason to destroy Gaza and Palestine's elected representatives.

“In other words Gaza will be invaded one way or the other. According to Israeli daily, Yediot Ahronot, the invasion of Gaza was planned much earlier than the kidnapping of the soldier. This means not only will child prisoners not be released in exchange for the soldier’s life, but more children will most likely be killed in the coming invasion.” - An Israeli military spokesman

Even if Israel would withdraw upon the release of Shalit, that does not rebuild the massive destruction done to Palestinian infrastructure and resources.
This destruction is nothing less than COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT (illegal under international law but loved by the genocidal regimes of Nazi Germany, Apartheid South Africa, and settler United States).


“I am sorry with all my heart for the residents of Gaza… but the lives and well-being of Sderot’s residents are more important than those of Gaza residents.” - Ehud Olmert

Herbivore East Bay

As rumored, the best vegan restaurant in the Bay Area, Herbivore, is coming to the East Bay!

Signs have gone up on the art deco building at the corner of Haste & Shattuck in Berkeley announcing
'Coming Soon! Herbivore Restaurant'

Hopefully these signs indicate that the opening of the restaurant is sooner than expected.

Lost: 2010

Lost is probably the best show on TV right now. I was relieved to hear that the writers expected the show to be drawn out for no more than 3 seasons and then possibly a movie to wrap it all up.

However, co-creator Damon Lindelof is now suggesting the series run for a maximum of five years and then a possible movie.
He is worried producers and studio executives will drag the show out and ruin it.

I sure hope even five years of non-stop cliff-hangers and riddles doesn't get old.