Wednesday, December 31, 2008

FMTM Wedding

From Monument To Masses made it into In Style Weddings Magazine! Apparently, "deafening" is a good wedding jam.


I bet Victor Jara never would have dreamt his words being declared a wedding song... especially as he was forced to play guitar with fingers broken by Fascists.
______

The new From Moument To Masses lp is due out soon!


(thanx for the heads up and photo Francis and sergio!)

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Anti-Zionist Lunch

Today, my friend Neel and I went to a local vegetarian restaurant/cafe for lunch. We happened to overhear a kinda crazy old woman discussing/arguing with a tall young man about Israel's most recent attack on Palestine. The woman was attempting to convince the man that Israel's tactics were overly harsh. The young man did not dispute the harshness of Israel's bombardment of Gaza but kept making statements insinuating that Palestinians bring it upon themselves and that somehow Israel was apparently incapable of inflicting unrighteous violence because Jews have been persecuted for ages.
I couldn't resist and when he repeated his line "Why would Israel attack Gaza?!", I harshly told him, "Because Israel carries out a policy of genocide against Palestine!" I don't think he expected to be confronted by the calm White guy in business casual (although I was sitting with a suspiciously Brown young man). It went on for a bit with the young Zionist basically telling us all that he did not believe any fact we gave him about Israel. Then he left.
After he left, to my surprise, the cafe's employee launched into an eloquent anti-Zionist rant. He then apologized for being so outspoken but we assured him there was no need to apologize. From then until we exited the establishment, the crazy old woman and the employee talked anti-Zionism to every customer that came in... And they all agreed! It filled me with some optimism.

(I don't name the restaurant/cafe in this post to spare them the ire of Zionist fuckers like the ones who tormented Rainbow Grocery with death threats but I will continue to hype them up to friends and on this blog.)

_____

With all the pro-Zionist misinformation spewed out in the US media, it is no surprise that people believe Israel can do no wrong and Hamas are to blame for all ills.
Well, check this out:
Despite an international blockade and opprobrium from the Israeli leadership, Hamas repeatedly signalled its willigness to accept a two-state settlement. It imposed a unilateral ceasefire on its own cadre, refusing to be drawn by repeated Israeli provocations. A crippling blockade, habitual violence and naked attempts to destabilise the elected government did not deter Hamas from this course. Only this year, after a US-Israeli sponsored armed coup attempt in Gaza, a successful putsch in the West Bank, and repeated incursions by the IDF, Hamas offered Israel a ten year ceasefire if it could abide by the terms of a two-state settlement: this offer, just like every other peace overture, was contemptuously dismissed. And now, most recently, a ceasefire agreed on in June has been flagrantly overturned by Israel. No one noticed, at least no one who writes for a newspaper. The myth that Hamas ended the truce as just the latest example of its innate rejectionism now underwrites a depraved assault which has killed 300 people and is about to become a ground invasion. Israel's intransigence, brutality, recklessness, refusal to work with anyone or negotiate in any meaningful way, will continue to be projected onto its opponents for as long as Israel has the superior propaganda resources, and for as long as the colonial trope of 'native fanaticism' governs discursive responses to occupation and resistance.

I'm Sick Of Paying For It

I was thinking/reflecting on the fucked up endgame Israel is subjecting Palestine to and the solution became as clear as it could be.
End US aid to Israel.
Why should we be paying for their bullshit?! All it does for us is give us higher gas prices while Israelis get fuckin' swimming pools!

Israel received $2.4billion in 2008 from the US government!

United Nations in DC

In what seems somewhat odd, United Nations will play their first show (I think) on inauguration day, Jan. 20th, in D.C.
They are playing with Anti-Flag and some others.


So whether you are part of the "Hope Bloc" or decrying mass movements while smashing windows, UN are about to throw down some revolutionary culture.

(Everyone shout "DEAD TIME PACIFIES" during United Nations set- including band members!)

Total Fury & my boys

Friday, January 2nd @ 924 Gilman


I know nothing about Total Fury but they came all the way from Japan.
Broken Needle are my boys and deserve much respect... Punch receives full support as well.

Monday, December 29, 2008

Civil War

Luckily, Igor Panarin tells me it is all coming to an end soon.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

4 Day Weekend Appreesh

Work sux. I am reminded of this by having just wrapped up a wonderful 4 day weekend.

Sure, a holiday was thrown in there but the highlights included:
-seeing the film, Milk, and being inspired by the organization shown in the film as well as feeling the love I have for the Bay Area.
-RJ & Shalon's annual White Elephant party. Damn, anytime you can get together nearly 50 people, all of which, I consider friends and many who I haven't seen in ages, it is a blast!
-Dancing at the Cat Club with much of the old crew. I love dancing and I love my ladies.
-Protesting the unfortunate events in Palestine with some great folks of all ages.
-Getting some shopping for myself done that I been wanting to do for a while.
-Watching my first full Indian film, Swades, along with tasty Indian food made and hosted by Neel.

The best thing of all is getting back on my 'natural' time clock. There is nothing natural about waking up at pre-dawn 6:30am and feeling overwhelmingly tired by 11:30pm everyday. I much prefer waking when it feels right and seeing the lights of SF at 2am.

See you next week, life!

Saturday, December 27, 2008

"Now Is The Time To Fight"

The above quote is from Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

Never Again... That is usually the sentiment when thinking about the genocide against Native Americans or German Jews. I even hear a lot about ending the genocide in Darfur. The actions of Israel against Palestine are nothing short of genocide. Genocide.



I am at a loss of what to even type.

In recent times, Israel has kept Gaza on the brink of starvation and collapse. Almost no one is allowed in or out. Periodically, the Israeli Defense Forces will enter Gaza to kill people. If Hamas, the elected body of the Palestinian people, (or anyone else) reacts in self defense, Israel becomes outraged, blames, Gazans, tightens its grib, and intensifies the genocidal situation.

Israel has launched unprecedented airstrikes on Gaza. Over 200 people have been killed. Over 400 are wounded- most are civilians. Streets are lined with dead bodies and blood. Hospitals cannot cope.

___

Now what are WE to do?

Friday, December 26, 2008

Fake Guitar Heroes & Rock Bands

I am no fan of video games. Most people know this. Aside from the political critique that video games are the pinnacle of the spectacle, I just never got into them as games.
The new crop of "games" such as Rock Band and Guitar Hero (along with a lot of the Wii games) have turned video game consoles into social interaction or party fun. I sit and watch my friends play them at parties and I enjoy listening to the music but was seriously letdown with them when I learned that the "players" don't actually create the sounds as much as push buttons along with a soundtrack. In that regard, I would prefer karaoke.


Some dude from the rock magazine MOJO has written a very interesting article dealing a harsh criticism against the Guitar Hero and Rockband games.
"...the global electronic game corporations who have co-opted this youthful narcissism into a competitive game of manual dexterity, with plastic reproductions of Gibsons and Fenders, are having a negative impact on music's future."
"Guitar Hero and Rock Band broaden the perceived gulf between performer and audience by pandering to the most juvenile extremes of rock 'n' roll idol worship. "
"A spokesman for the game makers has claimed that they teach "sensitivity to rhythm, as well as develop the dexterity and independent hand usage necessary to play the instrument," but this seems disingenuous when the games do nothing to impart the real fundamentals of music."


So go ahead and play your Rock Band and your Guitar Hero but let's not pretend they are more than pushing a sequence of buttons with music playing in the background.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Deep Space 9: The Search

I just watched one of my favorite episode(s) of Star Trek Deep Space Nine: The Search (parts 1 and 2).

The scene where it becomes apparent that The Founders are The Dominion is a great example of why I like DS9 so much. The political drama of it all. As The Founder begins to explain why The Dominion was created, her words sound much like the defense Zionists give for Israel and its barbarism.
The imposition of order.

abridged version:

6:00 is the scene

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Greece: New U.S. Target


It looks like things may be picking up in Greece. The riots and fires continue and more actions seem to be carefully and strategically attacking not only the symbols of the system but the arms of the system as well. Police are being fought by superior arms such as automatic weapons.

Anyone who thought the toothless Greek state would remain so as attacks against it begin to shake its foundation are soon going to be shocked into reality. Germany and Israel have already aided Greece with supplies for the pigs to fight people in the streets.

Now USA based firm, ScienceApplications International Corp. has delivered a command, control, communications, coordination and integration system to Greek authorities.
I believe that the will of the people is stronger than the tools of the man but this definitely presents a more dangerous dimension to Greece’s struggle. This also clearly presents targets for those demonstrating solidarity!

(Some good news is that SAIC has locations ALL over the place!)

Post-Katrina Ethnic Cleansing

Days after Hurricane Katrina hit, Whites in an all-White enclave of Louisiana formed a sort of militia. They shot Blacks with impunity and barricaded their neighborhood.

Luckily, this has (finally) caught some media attention. Of course, it will primarily be shown as an aberration and not the norm.
What is important to note is the institutional racism that is reshaping post-Katrina New Orleans (aka ethnic cleansing or class war).


(thanx Pranjal)

Thieves & Rioters

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

"I Am An American"

Everlast kills it.

Monday, December 22, 2008

"Crooks & Rooks"

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Targets: Germany & Israel

Greek pigs have ran out of teargas.

They have turned to Israel and Germany for more.

_____

Remember, it was the imperialists who supplied Franco while the people starved.

The Greek state is our target but they are already feeling the weight. Their allies, Israel and Germany (both no stranger to violent oppression) need to feel the heat too!

Greece!


Long live Alexis Grigoropoulos!

I cannot begin to adequately cover the uprising(s) in Greece. The best source of information following these Greek uprisings as well as solidarity actions across the globe is Center For Strategic Anarchy.

"...the rioting in Greece is not simply an inevitable result of economic recession, but a proactive radical initiative that speaks to the general public."

CrimethInc. posted a very good and thought provoking analysis worth checking out HERE.

Some great photos.

how to treat a bank:


how to blind a pig:



"If something scares us, it is the return to normality. For in the destroyed and pillaged streets of our cities of light we see not only the obvious results of our rage, but the possibility of starting to live. We no longer have anything to do, other than to install ourselves in this possibility and transform it into a living experience: by grounding on the field of everyday life, our creativity, our power to materialize our desires, our power not to contemplate but to construct the real. This is our vital space. All the rest is death."
-statement from the occupation of the Athens School of Economics and Business

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Rioters Of The World Unite!

"We are the law, we'll stay on the streets."

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE GREEK UPRISING
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20TH!

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 20, 4pm
WHERE: 24th & Mission, San Francisco

WHAT:
On Saturday, December 20th a march will begin at 24th and Mission at 4:00PM as part of an international day of action called for by the assembly of the occupied Athens Polytechnic University. Worldwide actions are planned in resistance to global capital and exploitation, in memory of all assassinated youth, and in solidarity with migrants and other marginalized people and all those struggling for freedom and human dignity.


WHY:
For two weeks now, Greek youth, immigrants, and workers have been taking over streets and schools demanding an end to police brutality and capitalist exploitation.

Last week, students at the occupied Athens Polytechnic University issued a callout for solidarity actions on Dec. 20 - both to commemorate the Greek student killed by police several weeks ago, and to commemorate other youth killed by the police worldwide, such as Alwy Al-Nadhir, Byron Debassige, and Fredy Villanueva.

At the same time, here at home we are facing increasing precarity - and people of color, immigrants, youth, and others who are the most marginalized in our society are the ones who are suffering the most. From the streets of Athens to the streets of San Francisco, we can't afford to stand idly by while marginalized communities face the precarious
conditions of economic decline, are increasingly denied the basic right to food, affordable housing, education and dignified conditions of labor.

While the banks get bailouts, we get pink slips and eviction notices, police harassment and the skyrocketing cost of living, schools close and social services are cut. And in the Mission District of San Francisco we get gentrification and ICE raids. In order to survive the great storm that is upon us, we must come together as a community and develop autonomous ways of supporting and sustaining each other.

PLEASE JOIN US!

Come join us this Saturday for a march and General Assembly where we can begin to imagine a new society - a free Mission District, a free Greece, and a free world. Come in solidarity with the university occupations and street battles in Greece, France, Italy and Spain and with the occupation of the New School in New York City. Their struggle is our struggle.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

2008

These are some things I found interesting and exciting in 2008.
I am sure I forgot some things and this list doesn't attempt to include the political highlights of the past year.



Google Reader:
I will admit it took me a minute to understand how incredible Google Reader is but once I did... WOW! I subscribe to a million blogs and just check out Google Reader for the updates. When I run out of updates to read, I check out Google's suggestions and add even more blogs. This has totally tranformed my life (haha). I find blog after blog of good stuff (and more free music than I know what to do with) and I share it all with my friends. It just dawned on me that my love of magazines and the decline of that medium is being satisfied by my obsession with blogs. Check this shit out!


Japan:
I was able to return to Japan this year. I love that place. Mel and I trekked across Tokyo and Kyoto finding so much amazing vegan food and so many cool sites. I never get tired of that metropolis. Most importantly, we were able to see the Matsuura clan and meet Akari and Shizuku. Thank you so much for all your help and hospitality!


Pressvre- "Beasts":
I discovered this amongst the many things I download and this is a great example of how free downloads can work for all parties involved. This is probably the only HC record I heard all year that really got me going. The guitar is so rocking without sounding cliché! I had the opportunity to catch them live as part of a superb lineup on Halloween and I thoroughly enjoyed their set. I promised myself to purchase some music from them but they only had vinyl. Well, I am pro-technology and don't own a turntable. Good thing I got that download!! I was also a little disturbed to find out that Beasts was not their latest recording although it is their best. I did end up buying a viking Pressvre t-shirt. Vikings are all the rage, y'know?


Bloc Party- "Intimacy":
Bloc Party shot this lp out into the worldwide web with no warning. I had grown less and less interested in each Bloc Party release but this blew my mind. I want to dance to every song! Do they still have a drummer or did his lung collapse and the band replace him with a drum machine? Quite the banger!


Santogold:
I kept hearing Santogold's name in the same circles as MIA and hipster hop and I don't really need another Cool Kids. Then I heard her... I was immediately reminded of 'Til Tuesday and Missing Persons from the 80's. She mixes in some electro, a dash of dancehall, and a healthy amount of contemporary hip hop/pop. I just love this lp!


XTube:
Gotta give it up to this amateur contributor based website. It has probably the best porn video content online. When I first discovered the site (maybe over a year ago), there wasn’t enough uploaded videos to make it worth my while (content or quantity wise). Now, not only can you find whatever floats your boat. You can also check out tons of stuff you never thought you would see! Since it is almost entirely amateur contributions, the site is strong with various perspectives; from queer/transgender to piss to college kids fucking. I love it.


Common- “Universal Mind Control”:
This single is just a straight banger. It invokes The Soulsonic Force and makes me wanna dance. That’s all and that is more than enough.


World Soccer Daily:
Listening to Steven and Kenny discuss football saved my sanity as the show became my lunch refuge after starting a horrible job. It can be difficult for a North American football fan to get news of the sport as well as any taste of the culture and characters involved. WSD gives you that. I now consider myself a veritable fountain of football knowledge. Of course, like any radio show, some subjects become a bore: namely Steven's hatred of Liverpool and his love of Chelsea (during last year's Champion's League final). Perhaps the shows 3 top highlights have been Tim Vickery's insane knowledge of South American futbol, Robbie Earle's weekly appearances, and of course the show's coverage of the David Beckham debacle.


2008: disappointments

While thinking up my tops of 2008, I came up with the following 3 disappointments.


The (International) Noise Conspiracy- "The Cross Of My Calling":
I think back to how hard T(I)NC hit me circa 1999. It fit right in. Now I am sure some people can relate to the new purple suits and 70's rock but I cannot. I still have a lot of love for T(I)NC and am almost saddened they don't touch me like they use to. Putting aside the purple suits, I think I am most let down by the lyrics. T(I)NC lyrics used to have me digging for meaning and filled with an almost decadent revolutionary spirit. Continuing what was started with Armed Love, I found COMC to be more general in topic and less energetic musically.


Power Exchange closing:
Although I had no future plans of attending Power Exchange, it is a bummer that it closed. Sure, the place was a bit odd and the decor was very strange but it still provided an easy place to go for people to get introduced to public and/or group play, etc. Apparently, the club is moving to Las Vegas... sounds lame.


Kanye West- "808's And Heartbreaks":
I was super excited upon my first listen of Love Lockdown (which remains a banger). Yeezy changes the game more often than most rappers change sneakers. I even thought 808 was interesting on the first listen but it fell flat quickly. I heard Kanye say that if it alienated people, maybe those listeners forgot how they liked early Michael Jackson or some Phil Collins. Unfortunately, his autotune gets old and as much as he equates this lp more with work sampled than sampling work, I would rather listen to the work he actually samples (Tears For Fears). In the end, it is all just too mellow to bump in your ride or at a club.

(I am sure there were plenty of other disappointments throughout 2008 but I will leave it at that.)

Ben Edge On Music 8


Cream:
"Ginger is the best part of the group. SWLABR is a great song. "And the rainbow has a mustache!" You think there were any drugs involved?
Considering they were the first "power trio", and from their template sprang forth the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Rush, Deep Purple, and every other hard rock and heavy metal band that ever existed, they really aren't that good."



Crass:
"Yeah, I do like Crass, although much more for their lyrics and what they stand for than for their music. They really didn't know how to play very well, but WOW, they had a lot to say. They said more politically per song than 99% of other punk bands said in their entire catalogs."


Crime:
"Crime is cool. I own the first 7" (Hotwire My Heart), which may be the most valuable record I have. I got it from my dad."


Toy Dolls:
"HATE them. Saw them in '92 with Fear and the Adolescents. They sound like sped up pirate music. I can't believe how many people love this band."


Steve Vai:
"Frank Zappa discovered him, so there must be something to him. I can't figure out what it is though. Maybe the fact that he can play a lot of notes really fast. Him and Joe Satriani make me shameful to be the owner of an Ibanez guitar, which is a shame in itself, because Ibanez guitars are good."

Why Greece?

A poll published Sunday suggested that most Greeks believe the violent protests indicate a "popular uprising," and are not driven by "minority activists."
_____


As the revolts in Greece continue and gain momentum, it is important to look to how Greek anarchists have built such a force (and whether this force is capable of doing more than racking up a big cleanup bill).

After Greece's transition out of a military dictatorship in the mid-1970s, a public discourse of resistance against authority emerged and became dominant. Greek has institutionalized forbidding police onto universities due to the brutal legacy of the dictatorship's killing of students. All governments since then have stood by while an anarchist subculture grew, complete with its exclusive urban enclave (the neighborhood of Exarcheia in downtown Athens which is a no man's land for the police).

A "liberated territory" can be extremely helpful in building support, maintaining support, and providing inspiration. Also helpful is the fact that many young people see the frequent riots as "low risk." Few people get arrested and almost no one gets sentenced. A lot of government proposals that spark such riots are also regarding rights/privileges that a place like the USA has long since quietly given up (such as university access).

This serves Greek resistance well and even if this wave of revolt doesn't establish a sustainable alternative to a Greek state, it does build upon that radical goal. This is a long struggle.

Unfortunately, this also paints a picture so different from the material situation in the US, we cannot really use Greece as a model for spreading as a movement. Of course, their struggle is our struggle. We should use this as inspiration and possible a reason to help them defend their revolt.
_____

Like most recent radical actions against 'industrialized' states, Greek actions have made use of text messaging, blogs, and other similar technology. How does this impact how organization happens and the forms it takes?
What happens when the authorities realize that these "new media" are themselves controlable (since cell calls can be monitors and cell towers have off-on switches)? Is reliance on these forms a set-up to befuddled passivity when the plug is pulled? Do these forms leave a recorded transparency that invites (and enables) criminal prosecution by criminal authorities?

(thanx to Mike Ely & Kasama)

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Burning Fight: Pomona Here We Come!

I just purchased my tickets for the May 9th Burning Fight Book Release and Benefit Show in Pomona.
Unbroken, Swing Kids, Undertow, Jenny Piccolo, Threadbare, and Fast Forward.

I remember the last time I saw Unbroken and Swing Kids. It was at 924 Gilman in August of 1995. The show happened to be during 'Chaos Days' which in Europe is when anarchists would fuck shit up. For crusty unprincipled US anarchists, it seemed to mean being violent assholes. Those dirty fuckers were ruining the show and even pulling knives. I distinctly remember my friend Larry teaching me a technique I have still not grown tired of: kicking people that deserve it. He also dragged a few drunk crusties to the back of Gilman for a beating. I got on stage during Swing Kids and yelled for either some unity or dancefloor justice but only seemed to confuse people. This show was also the first time I saw the Moz-influenced rockabilly look of Unbroken which has since become standard for so many sXe kids.

Almost 15 years later and a lot more money later, I will be driving to SoCal to get my 90's on.
I am happy to hear that all money will be donated to various decent charities.

(thanx Jose, Yosef, Israel)

OR Bank Blast Kills 2 Pigs

A caller warned Oregon's West Coast Bank officials of the impending bomb. A police officer and a bomb disposal tech were both killed in the explosion.
The police claim they have no suspects. No one has claimed responsibility as banks are coming under attack across the country.

3/5 Portraits Of Past Reunion

I see that Portraits Of Past have added an LA date for Dec.27th at The Smell.

You can see 3/5 of POP even sooner!
Currently Matthew (aka Grimace) is drumming for Bellavista on 12/16 at Café Du Nord in SF. That makes all 3 Bellavista members formerly of POP.
Hell, I like Bellavista more than POP. Check em out!

Commie Sci-Fi

Metallica's new video...hhmmm... Commies and Zombies!...

very interesting
_____

That video reminds me...
I almost never read fiction. I will be honest, I tend to think of fiction as a bourgeois waste of time (even though I watch tons of sci-fi and fiction television- haha). Here is a list of fantasy & sci-fi that I WOULD read:

Fifty Fantasy & Science Fiction Works That Socialists Should Read

Iain M. Banks -- Use of Weapons (1990)

Edward Bellamy -- Looking Backward, 2000 - 1887 (1888)

Alexander Bogdanov -- The Red Star: A Utopia (1908; trans. 1984)

Emma Bull & Steven Brust -- Freedom & Necessity (1997)

Mikhail Bulgakov -- The Master & Margarita (1938; trans. 1967)

Katherine Burdekin (aka "Murray Constantine") -- Swastika Night (1937)

Octavia Butler -- Survivor (1978)

Julio Cortázar -- "House Taken Over" (1963?)

Philip K. Dick -- A Scanner Darkly (1977)

Thomas Disch -- The Priest (1994)

Gordon Eklund -- All Times Possible (1974)

Max Ernst -- Une Semaine de Bonte (1934)

Claude Farrere -- Useless Hands (1920; trans. 1926)

Anatole France -- The White Stone (1905; trans. 1910)

Jane Gaskell -- Strange Evil (1957)

Mary Gentle -- Rats and Gargoyles (1990)

Charlotte Perkins Gilman -- "The Yellow Wallpaper" (1892)

The Dream Years -- Lisa Goldstein (1985)

Stefan Grabinski -- The Dark Domain (1918-22; trans. and collected 1993)

George Griffith -- The Angel of Revolution (1893)

Emile Habiby -- The Secret Life of Saeed the Pessoptimist (1974; trans. 1982)

M. John Harrison -- Viriconium Nights (1984)

Ursula K. Le Guin -- The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia (1974)

Jack London -- The Iron Heel (1907)

Ken MacLeod -- The Star Fraction (1996)

Gregory Maguire -- Wicked (1995)

J. Leslie Mitchell (Lewis Grassic Gibbon) -- Gay Hunter (1934, reissued 1989)

Michael Moorcock -- Hawkmoon (1967-77, reprinted in one edition 1992)

William Morris -- News From Nowhere (1888)

Toni Morrison -- Beloved (1987)

Mervyn Peake -- The Gormenghast Trilogy (1946-59)

Marge Piercy -- Woman on the Edge of Time (1976)

Philip Pullman -- Northern Lights (1995)

Ayn Rand -- Atlas Shrugged (1957)
(Know your enemy. This panoply of portentous Nietzcheanism lite has had a huge influence on American SF. Rand was an obsessive "objectivist" (libertarian pro-capitalist individualist) whose hatred of socialism and any form of "collectivism" is visible in this important an influential -- though vile and ponderous -- novel.)

Mack Reynolds -- Lagrange Five (1979)

Keith Roberts -- Pavane (1968)

Kim Stanley Robinson -- The Mars Trilogy (1992-96)

Mary Shelley -- Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus (1818)

Lucius Shepard -- Life During Wartime (1987)

Norman Spinrad -- The Iron Dream (1972)

Eugene Sue -- The Wandering Jew (1845)

Michael Swanwick -- The Iron Dragon's Daughter (1993)

Jonathan Swift -- Gulliver's Travels (1726)

Alexei Tolstoy -- Aelita (1922; trans. 1957)

Ian Watson -- Slow Birds (1985)

H.G. Wells -- The Island of Dr Moreau (1896)

E. L. White -- "Lukundoo" (1927)

Oscar Wilde -- The Happy Prince and Other Stories (1888)

Gene Wolfe -- The Fifth Head of Cerberus (1972)

Evgeny Zamyatin -- We (1920; trans. 1924)



(thanx Frank)

Friday, December 12, 2008

Does this signal the end of the world?



whoa... Lowest common denominator for sure.


(thanx Ben Edge)

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

How To Cut Carbon Output

Forget the sham of "green" capitalism.
The most heavily guarded power station in Britain have been breached by a single person. All power from the station was halted for four hours, in which time it is thought the saboteur's actions reduced UK climate change emissions by 2%.

Fuck Raymond Pettibon!

Raymond Pettibon... First thing that comes to mind is the iconic art he created for Black Flag.

However, Mr. Pettibon likes to raise dogs and fight them for sport. What a fuckin' douchebag!
He raises pitbulls and mastiffs mostly. They live in breeding sheds and kennels in his backyard. They are "sporting" dogs that he trains and fights in and around Southern California and Mexico.

"Well, listen, I train them and I fight them. It's not a big deal, and it's not something I like to talk about, really. I also have a charity where I give dogs to underprivileged kids. Not everyone can afford to buy a dog, and it gives kids the opportunity to attain a certain level of responsibility."



(thanx Mel)

Greek Solidarity!

The situation in Greece is important to us all.
Greece is in revolt not because of an issue specific to Greece. Their revolt is against state repression and the capitalist system that bleeds us all dry. Furthermore, it is not led by a political party or force that is distinctly Greek. It is largely a non-hierarchical / decentralized force whose sympathizers and comrades extend across the globe.
This is our struggle.

We must make it as visible as possible to those around us.
We must stand in solidarity with and in defense of both the street fighters and the striking workers.
Take it to Greek consulates.
Those of us with Greek contacts should raise funds to transfer to our fighting comrades in Greece. (Check the legality! Luckily, with no Party/Organization leading the fight, our governments can't ban funding them.)
Be creative!

Let's hope these Greek actions are just the beginning. We see global solidarity as well as global actions with similar sentiment springing up already as the capitalist beauraucrats and bankers steal from our future to feed their greedy bellies. Make no mistake, Greece is able to launch into action only after many many years of building and organizing (as well as years and years of repression).
_____

A solidarity demonstration in Rome culminated in the overturning of cars, burning barricades and fierce battles with riot police outside the Greek embassy.

Dozens of solidarity actions in Germany.

In New York, someone on a bike threw bricks through windows at the Greek consulate and graffiti was painted on the building including an anarchist symbol and the words "Alex was here" and "murders."

The Greek consulate in Russia was firebombed.

_____

A message from the group which has been occupying Athens Polytechnic

A Call For Solidarity

Strikers 5 (aka Vegan Power)

An anarchist (and vegan) fighter I know, Matt, will be fighting this Saturday, Dec.13th in SF.

These fights are A LOT of fun. Come on out!

Watchmen: 3.5minutes

CLICK HERE to view a clip of three and a half minutes of Watchmen clips!

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Chicago Workers Winning

Bank of America is backing down.

This is very important. It shows that the working class doesn't "win" by caving in the the bosses as they would have us believe.

It ain't over yet.

Keep Greece Burning

Athens and other Greek cities continue to burn.
Destruction in central Athens reached levels not seen for decades.

“The state will protect society.”
-Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis

Stores, including one with weapons, were smashed and looted.
The Greek government is focusing on working with political parties... but the force of these riots does not lie with the politicians.

Long live Alexis Grigoropoulos!



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Can these actions transform society?
Do Greek anarchists have means of "building" as well as destroying?
How much of the country is on fire or sympathetic? Is this relatively isolated?

Sunday, December 07, 2008

The People's House

"Thinking about the diversity of our culture and inviting jazz musicians and classical musicians and poetry readings in the White House so that once again we appreciate this incredible tapestry that's America," Obama said.

Very interesting.
He better have Young Jeezy and Shepard Fairey up in there.

Pacquiao Wins!

(Sorry if the title is a spoiler. I figure the result would be difficult to avoid at this point.)
Manny Pacquiao beat the shit outta De La Hoya.

(click on awesome photo to download the fight)

I just wish Pacquiao wasn't such a stooge to GMA.

India: A New Front?

What is an excellent strategy for winning a guerrilla war? How about opening up a new front and thus thinning out the enemy's resources/troops?!

The recent attacks in Mumbai, India have been described as a “pre-emptive strike” against Barack Obama’s strategy to put Pakistan and Afghanistan at the centre of US foreign policy.

It will be very difficult for the USA to lend support to India's fight against these Islamic forces while maintaining a needed alliance with Pakistan to fight them in Afghanistan.

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Nepal also has an interesting take on what the Mumbai attacks will bring to the region: competition between China, Russia, and USA for influence.

Greece/Palestine/Chicago

Even liberal US media is now forced to report on how Greek anarchists run the streets.

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Apparently, it is open season on Palestinians.
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Chicago workers have occupied their plant!

(Wow. When was the last time you heard of American workers taking over a factory??)

Jizz In My Pants

I believe these guys DJ at Frisco Disco and Blow Up

Saturday, December 06, 2008

Humans Are Animals VS. Animals Make Us Human

I was shown a video profiling Temple Grandin and promoting her book, Animals Make Us Human. A bleeding heart liberal proudly showed the video and declared that Temple Grandin is responsible for McDonald's killing their animals a little nicer.
?!?!?!
WATCH VIDEO HERE
While watching the video, I was struck by the totally biased and illogical speciesism cloaked in faux compassion. I was immediately reminded of Making A Killing by Bob Torres. His book does an excellent job at illustrating how these people that tout more "humane" ways in which to kill animals for human consumption have NO correlation to these animals liberation or well-being. These engineers ultimately only serve to make industries based on animal death more efficient and thus stronger and more profitable.
This makes all the more ludicrous that Temple Grandin, the engineer of non-human death techniques, was awarded PETA's "Visionary" award in 2004!

Friday, December 05, 2008

Prop 8: The Musical

It took me a while to finally watch this. The real good part is the "pick and choose" bit from Jesus Christ.
See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Amenity "Shine"

I try to approach reformed/reunited punk/HC bands with severe trepidation.
Amenity have reformed and now a new track is online.
"Shine"

I dig it!
I think some people might raise an eyebrow at the intro talking but I like his acknowledgement of the passage of time.

Long Live Fred Hampton

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Build Popular Power Bloc

An open letter to those seeking to build a world from below, in which many worlds are possible

We call on all anarchists, horizontalists, autonomists, anti-capitalists, anti-authoritarians, and others organizing a world from below to bring our best creative spirits to the project of a “Celebrate People’s History and Build Popular Power” bloc on January 20, 2009, in Washington, DC—or in your hometown, if you can’t make it.

As people striving toward a nonhierarchical society, yes, we can—and should—be rigorously critical of Barack Obama. It goes without saying that we want a world without presidents; we want worlds of our own constituting via directly democratic structures, not states. But not all heads of state are alike, and if we fail to recognize both the historical meaning and power of this particular moment, we will ensure our own irrelevance.

We can—and should—also be in critical solidarity with people who have been violently marginalized, who see in the Obama campaign the possibility of their own agency. The inauguration affords a unique space for us to stand with a diverse group of activists inspired by Obama, many new to political organizing, even as we maintain our views on the limits of change from above.

Perhaps, as people working to build a world from below without electoralism or statecraft, we also need to listen on January 20. It is neither the time nor the place to critique hope or excitement on the part of people who have engaged in grassroots struggles in so many ways and won a substantial victory. The inauguration marks a watershed event in the often cruel history of these United States, and the whole world will be watching, hoping that we’ve done just a little to grapple with the legacy of slavery, lynching, segregation, displacement, and racism in general, both of the personal and institutional varieties.

There’ll be a true rainbow coalition on the streets of DC, made up of exactly those people who the libertarian Left has always aligned itself with and always should: those who are not radicals but who have been exploited, oppressed, and relegated to powerlessness. So instead of breaking things, if we’re serious about building visionary social movements, doing meaningful anti-racism work, and honoring those who have resisted and dreamed before us, we should break bread with those millions globally who will feel moved by Obama’s inauguration—many of whom were also moved enough to participate politically (well beyond voting) for the first time in this election.

With our bloc—using banners, photos, artwork, zines, theater pieces, posters, armbands, and other visual expressions—let’s illustrate the many moments when people on this continent and across the world aspired to better approximations of freedom, via their own forms of collective organizations and mutual aid. Let’s create and display images of social movements, cultures of resistance, and especially our experiments to institute the new society in the shell of the old: from popular assemblies to self-managed workplaces, from freedom schools to free clinics, from autonomous villages to reappropriated land, and much more. And let’s remember all those many moments throughout history when we took to the streets, factories, schools, and neighborhoods; when we built movements ranging from abolition and civil rights to the American Indian Movement and the Black Panthers, from Zapatismo to Ya Basta!, from No One Is Illegal to anti-capitalist mobilizations, from Argentina’s factory occupations to Oaxaca’s federated assemblies; and when we reclaimed the commons and, in the process, ourselves.

For if we aspire one day to live in a world without borders and prisons, without states or capitalism—or presidents for that matter—we must stand in solidarity on January 20 with those most impacted by hierarchy and institutional oppression. Then, in the days beyond, we’ll join with millions of others in demanding fulfillment of, as Obama put it on election night, the possibility of change, as we support the growth of social movements toward a free and directly democratic society.

Points of Unity:

– We believe that human freedom and happiness would be best guaranteed by a society based on principles of self-organization, voluntary association, egalitarianism, and mutual aid. And thus, we reject all forms of social relations premised on systemic violence and hierarchy, such as the state, capitalism, and white supremacy.

– On January 20, we will actively seek to cooperate with as well as support anyone who is working to create a more liberatory world, and in fact, to learn from them and each other.

– We will gather as a bloc, unmasked and with open arms, respecting the celebratory spirit of the day—presence rather than protest—and will encourage others who want to honor social struggles from below to join us.

To sign on to this call, please send us an email at hopefrompeople [at] gmail [dot] com.

For the bloc’s meeting place and time, ideas for celebratory images, and upcoming details on the post-inauguration teach-in and party, keep checking this Web site.

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A lot has been debated regarding this massive project.
Even if I may not agree with every last detail of it or certain verbage, it is important to 1)attempt to maintain relevancy 2)DO SOMETHING!
History is riddled with "First World" radicals squandering chances to transform the world due to some notion of ideological purity. Let us instead act and build and remain critical.

I have little interest in engaging those who shout "Do Nothing!"

What's The News?

A National City Bank Branch was attacked with iron bars by anonymous anarchists who smashed windows and an ATM.

"We know that comrades all over the country are carrying out actions like this in solidarity, and we know that there will be many more. Fight your hardest, and we'll do the same."
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Surprise!!
The US healthcare system is inefficient and wasteful.
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While you read this the US government holds approximately 15,800 Iraqis imprisoned.
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Crimethinc. has a nice new poster addressing the current economic crisis.

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Jeb Bush wants to set up a rightwing shadow government.

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Sean Penn wrote an interesting article about his meeting Fidel Castro among other things.
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In case you forgot...
Israel is keeping Gaza on the brink of mass starvation.
These living standards have triggered a shift in diet that will damage the long-term health of those living in Gaza and has led to alarming deficiencies in iron, vitamin A and vitamin D.
This is genocide.