Snitch in WA

“John Jacob” was an activist well liked by many in Tacoma and Olympia, WA. He was active in the anti-war and anarchist communities in both towns. Aside from attending meetings, events and actions organized by activists, he spent much personal and leisure time with other anarchists in the area.

Some recent records requests done through the City of Olympia, asking the City for any information on anarchists/anarchism/anarchy, SDS and the radical union Industrial Workers of the World, surfaced an email from a John J Towery II from Fort Lewis Force Protection with a daily force protection update for Fort Lewis.

By his own admission, John Towery spent the past two years spying on anarchists, Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans, SDSers and anti-war activists in Tacoma, Olympia and the Pacific Northwest. He admitted that he reported to an intelligence network that included county sheriffs from Pierce, Thurston and other WA counties, municipal police agencies from Tacoma, Olympia, Seattle and elsewhere, WA State Police, the US Army, FBI, Homeland Security, Joint Terrorism Task Force, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agency among other agencies.

MORE INFO ON ohn Jacob Towery II

Lou Dobbs: Mainstreaming Fascism

Lou Dobbs is exactly what comes to mind when I hear "old wind-bag." He hides behind the label of journalist when he is nothing more than CNN's angry old White man that yells to scare the faithful and rally the rightwing.

He recently caused a bit of an uproar by giving a nod to the lunatics who claim Obama is not an American citizen. Out of that he has formed a cross-network rightwing alliance with Bill O'Reilly.

The Born Identity

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Joke of the Day

This douchebag runs rampant with innuendo and lies:
-including his false claims that immigrants were bringing leprosy across the border and that they intended to take back the American Southwest for Mexico.
-He's hosted Glenn Spencer of American Border Patrol without explaining to his audience that ABP is racist and white supremacist.
-claims the xenophobic Minutemen movement is simply akin to a neighborhood watch.
-Dobbs was one of the many right-wing pundits who attacked the Department of Homeland Security for its warnings about right-wing extremists.

Winograd: Anti-Zionism for Congress

Democrat Marcy Winograd is primarying Congresswoman Jane Harman in California. Winograd, who is Jewish, is making the race all about the special relationship with Israel. She is accusing Harman of dual loyalty.

“I’m not clear who Jane Harman represents in Congress – the people of her district or a right-wing faction in a foreign government?” says Winograd. “When elected to Congress, I will represent the people of this district and the interests of the United States.”

Winograd's press release:
Winograd’s opponent in the 36th congressional district was previously investigated by the FBI for allegedly using her influence in Congress to get spying charges dropped against American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) analysts. Harman voted for resolutions in support of the Israeli siege of Gaza and invasion of Lebanon and was a featured speaker at the recent AIPAC conference.
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This is important because we see someone invoking AIPAC, not as a way to shore up Zionist votes, but as a liability. We should pay close attention to this primary fight (and I would go as far as to suggest lending support to Harman's defeat).

READ MORE

WINOGRAD'S WEBSITE

Animal Cancer

Not too long ago, I had a conversation with a co-worker about veganism. He just could not fathom the notion that meat and dairy were unhealthy for him and that they could contribute to him developing cancer. He stated that whatever was good for lions must surely be good for humans. He wanted to know if lions or other animals get cancer- As if their contracting cancer would derail my argument.
The first thing that came to my mind was the polluting and destruction of the planet that contributes to cancer as well. I knew this would be way too much for a watercooler chat at work, so I didn't even bother...

Cancer is killing animals in the wild. And it is our fault!


Quite sad and another testament to the guilt of humankind and industrial capitalism.

Stark's beard

Is anyone else bothered by the odd shape of Tony Stark's beard?

There Is No Authority But Yourself

Sure, there is a bit of dirty hippy about it all, but we sure owe a lot to Crass.

Collection of News

A group of big wig media chiefs, including Walt Disney Co. CEO Robert Iger, are challenging the accepted model that consumers pay for Internet access and then content is free.
“We have ample evidence both in traditional and new media that people are willing to pay for quality, to pay for choice and to pay for convenience,” Iger said. “And they are willing to pay for what they perceive as value.”

We must continue to subvert their idea.
Share free content online!

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Chuck Palahniuk wrote some racist/xenophobic book, I guess.

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Bow Wow and Soulja Boy's simple minds are furious that women are allowed to have short hair.

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Is G-Force an imperialistic tool of pro-vivisectors?

Fuck Twilight!

A note to all TV executives, screenwriters, movie studio execs, book authors, illustrators, artists, and anyone else who fancies themselves creative:

Do yourself and all the rest of us a favor and throw out that hip young vampire story you are working on.


Sheesh! Talk about an idea 'jumping the shark'!

Defense

Whoa!
I suppose if some tool is going to hold his gun like that guy, you know you got a chance.

(thanx Spiderghost)

Geek Out

DPRK <3s Christians

A Christian woman accused of distributing the Bible, a book banned in North Korea, was publicly executed last month for the crime.

Her husband, children and parents were allegedly sent to a political prison the day after her June 16 execution.

Souley Vegan: The Return

Oh, I have been waiting for this!

Souley Vegan Grand Opening

Friday, July 24th

New location!

301 Broadway, Oakland

(Jack London Square)

Hours of Operation

11am-9pm Tuesday-Saturday

Live Band Every Friday Night 5pm-9pm

Represent

Fight Gun/Ammo Restrictions!

(California)

CA State Assembly Bill AB 962 would require that all lawful purchases of handgun ammunition be registered and the ammunition seller must keep the records on the premises for review by law enforcement.
It would also require that ammunition buyers make their purchases in person, not by mail order or the internet.

The authors of this bill are Kevin De Leon (D - 45th District) and Bonnie Lowenthal (D - 54th District).

This Bill is moving fast.
Assembly Bill 962 is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday, 7/20/2009. Please contact the members of the committee and urge a NO vote on AB 962.

LIST OF CONTACTS

Feel free to copy:
To whom it may concern:
I am writing to express my opposition to AB 962 which would require that all lawful purchases of handgun ammunition be registered to the buyer by the ammunition seller who must keep the records on the premises for review by law enforcement.
It would also require that ammunition buyers must make their purchases in person, not by mail order or the internet, that handgun ammunition not be displayed by retailers in a location where customers can have access to it, thus necessitating that the retailer obtain it from storage upon the specific request of a potential buyer, and other related provisions. AB 962 is unnecessary, costly and would be a burden to lawful dealers and lawful ammunition buyers. If its purpose is to prevent crimes involving the use or possession of a handgun, it would be ineffective.
Those who would use firearms and ammunition illegally can, and do, easily obtain them from out of
state sources or from the local underground marketplace. This bill would affect only lawful
businesses and individuals. It would have no deterrent effect on criminals.
The damage it would do to retailers and their customers is substantial and unjustifiable. Accordingly,
I am strongly opposed to the enactment of AB 962.
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CA State Assembly is also trying to band gun shows from the Cow Palace!

can haz?

ZOG: Missile Tests

What kind of country allows another country to perform missile tests in their territory?!

The USA is allowing Israel to test missiles off the coast of California!

"Great Expectations"

I can't get enough of this, so I am gonna try and force you to love it too.


I saw tail lights last night in a dream about my old life.

Ward Churchill: Jobless

Last April, a jury concluded that Churchill was illegally removed from his position for his political beliefs.
Recently, Chief Denver District Judge Larry Naves ruled against Ward Churchill’s request to be reinstated to Colorado University and against financial damages.

Churchill’s attorney David Lane stated:
“It’s an extremely rare thing for a judge to throw out a jury verdict — that’s big, that doesn’t happen… Here it’s being done at the expense of the Constitution of the United States of America, and it’s really a tragedy. It sends the message to the public of, ‘Oh, jury verdicts. Who cares?’”

Personal Change Will Not Save The Environment!

Derrick Jensen has written an excellent article on why personal change does not equal political change, entitled Forget Shorter Showers.

This goes out to everyone who feels good about recycling, buys into green consumerism, drives a hybrid, or doesn't flush their toilet.

Jensen points out that "we’ve been victims of a campaign of systematic misdirection. Consumer culture and the capitalist mindset have taught us to substitute acts of personal consumption (or enlightenment) for organized political resistance."

More than 90 percent of the water used by humans is used by agriculture and industry. The remaining 10 percent is split between municipalities and actual living breathing individual humans... People (both human people and fish people) aren’t dying because the world is running out of water. They’re dying because the water is being stolen.

individual consumption—residential, by private car, and so on—is never more than about a quarter of all consumption; the vast majority is commercial, industrial, corporate, by agribusiness and government

Municipal waste accounts for only 3 percent of total waste production in the United States.

If we choose the “alternative” option of living more simply, thus causing less harm, but still not stopping the industrial economy from killing the planet, we may in the short term think we win because we get to feel pure, and we didn’t even have to give up all of our empathy (just enough to justify not stopping the horrors), but once again we really lose because industrial civilization is still killing the planet, which means everyone still loses.

it incorrectly assigns blame to the individual (and most especially to individuals who are particularly powerless) instead of to those who actually wield power in this system and to the system itself...
The whole individualist what-you-can- do-to-save- the-earth guilt trip is a myth. We, as individuals, are not creating the crises, and we can’t solve them.


(thanx Harjit)

Edging closer to the Right

The Tax Day Tea Party protests seem to have vastly overstated their actual significance -- except as a harbinger of the slide towards right-wing populism.
Collaboration between the official Republican establishment and the Tea Parties has not lasted. No Fox News anchors will be attending future Tea Parties and the attendance and news value of the events looks to be lower than that of the April rallies. However, the "Patriots", "Oath Keepers", "Birthers", and other rightwing nutters are taking up the anti-tax mantle.

These Tea Parties have been a joke. A hoax to get the poor and working class to "protest" in support of the ultra-rich.
I do remember seeing an anti-Zionist sign at some Tea Party protest. Organizers and their GOP masters didn't know what to make of it or do about it. (The had less problem with the anti-Black racism and xenophobia I guess.)


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I ask a question: Was joining/infiltration of these Tea Parties by the Left and/or Anarchists a lost opportunity? I ask partly as a theoretical critique of our inaction but I also ask as a material critique on what could or should be done.

I can assure you, anti-government sentiment is rampant. A lot of wild shit gets thrown out in these circles and is easily subscribed to by the participants (with little to no critical analysis). Why would our ideas make any less sense? Libertarian communalism/anarchy appeals to this constituency's interests maybe more than the pro business/anti-government shit.

Of course, this eventually leads to questions of giving up privilege and the revolutionary potential of White working class America.

Shuttin Detroit Down..?

The video is for the obviously anti-corporate bailout song, 'Shuttin Detroit Down' by rightwinger, John Rich.
The video stars left progressive Kris Kristofferson and at 4:08 it shows a clip of Dennis Kucinich, probably the most progressive member of Congress.

Democrat Kucinich has stood against any corporate bailout and has pushed for measures to help the public.
I find all this interesting since John Rich is a Republican, admitted friend of rightwing nutter Glenn Beck, and wants to run for TX Governor.

Robot

I would be doing you all a disservice if I didn't hip you to this.

Glenn Beck <3s The Coming Insurrection

"Actively calling for violence"

haha. nice.

back

Full Deck

Opening Reception/Book Signing 

Thursday, July 9, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. 

Admission: $5 

Meet Sean Cliver, author of Disposable: A History of Skateboard Art and The Disposable Skateboard Bible, and other skate culture celebs. 

Artists include
Sandow Birk • Neil Blender • Todd Bratrud • Sean Cliver • Lori D. • Skip Engblom • Jeremy Fish • Justin Forbes • Todd Francis • Mike Giant • Mark Gonzales • Keith Haring • Evan Hecox • Damien Hirst • Wes Humpton • Faye Jaime • Ian Johnson • V. Courtlandt Johnson • Bryce Kanights • Obi Kaufman • Natas Kaupas • Mike Kershanr • Krayola • Billy Kroft • Tom Ledin • John Lucero • Amanda Lynn • Chris Main • Gwen Manfrin • Marc McKee • Mike Miller • Marilyn Minter • Mofo • Johnny Mojo • Lance Mountain • Takashi Murakami • Don Pendleton • Jim Phillips • Jimbo Phillips • Pushead • Matt Ritchie • Jenny Schmid • Kirk Shelton • Chase Tafoya • Winston Tseng • Usugrow • Jake Watling • Derek Weisberg • Tobin Yelland • and many more

(I realize this is out in Walnut Creek but this exhibit is going to rule and is definitely worth the very short trip out there!)

Office Tales: Hamster Trauma

This afternoon, I sat down at my desk and a co-worker told me someone in the office had a hamster in their briefcase or something. I am not exactly sure what she told me because the whole idea didn't make any sense. So I went into the next cubicle to discover a hamster in a cardboard box. The hamster was rolled into a ball and I could clearly seeing its tiny traumatized heart nearly beating out of its body.

I asked if the hamster was ok and the briefcase woman responded, "Is IT OK?! What about me?!"
I told her she looked fine and asked if it really had been in her briefcase all day. She confirmed that it was one of her kids' and had apparently snuck into her briefcase before she came to work. I was terrified thinking of this tiny animal being banged around in a briefcase all day. I couldn't see its legs moving and suggested that it might need to see a vet.
Briefcase woman told me, "We do not take hamsters to the vet!"
I wasn't sure I understood where she was coming from and so I told her that I would be willing to take it to the vet. To that, she insisted, "We do not take hamsters to the vet!" As if I was being completely unreasonable. So, I informed her that if it needed help, I was taking it to the vet! It looked like the poor thing could have a heartattack.

The hamster had water and people were trying to figure out what to give it to possibly eat. I felt so bad for the hamster as briefcase woman lightheartedly called her kids to tell them that she had a stowaway hamster. Her attitude and the fact that I was being thought of as silly for actually caring infuriated me.
I called a local vet and asked for advice. They told me that having water available was good and that we should feed it. Hamster food options in an office are limited but the vet techs suggested apples. I cut some tiny pieces out of an apple I had and the hamster perked up a little. My main concern was if it was able to use its legs. Some co-workers assured me that it had, in fact, walked.

I had to ask Briefcase woman if she would be able to take it home. She assured me that she could take it home in the cardboard box. She told me I had a tender heart. It just further pissed me off that she would tell me that. I don't have a "tender heart." I just happen to be responsible enough to want to help a being that obviously needs help!

This woman made numerous comments that bordered on retardation. At one point I almost told her that if she wasn't prepared to treat a potentially mortally wounded animal in her care, the only other option was to kill it. Oh, they would have loved that.
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This is a perfect example of the trouble with pets. In particular this illustrates why animals like hamsters should not be kept as pets or playthings. A hamster has little to no control over its circumstances. They are at their "owners" mercy. At least a cat or a dog can try to escape or effectively fight back.

I hope that little hamster gets home safe and is able to relax, recuperate, and have a healthy and fun little life.