Itching for a fight

According to a memo that has recently surfaced, Tony Blair and Dumbya sat down in a room about two months before Saddam was overthrown and talked about how to go to war.

Or, put more accurately, how to provoke one.

Bush apparently suggested that US airplanes be painted in UN colors and then flown over Iraq, in hopes that one would be shot down in violation of Iraq's treaties with the United Nations.

What a sneaky fucker.

Of course, the option of a straightforward assassination of the Iraqi leader was also discussed. No surprise there, although you'd assume that our experiences with Castro would put this kind of thinking in perspective.

Bush apparently went on to say that he thought it "unlikely that there would be internecine warfare between the differing religious and ethnic groups" in Iraq after the fall of Saddam. Looks like Georgie's crystal ball had a glitch that day, no?

I can't say that I'm at all surprised that GW would be plotting of ways of provoking Iraq into going to war. His administration has long stated that regime change in the country has always been high on their list of foreign policy priorities. Well, Dumbya finally got his way.

And look where it's gotten him.

And us.

For years, sound has been used as a method of torture:

Nile - Black Seeds Of Vengeance
(more vicious black metal from the Egypt junkies)

Doubting Thomas - The Infidel
(apparently too spooky to be included on a Skinny Puppy record)

David Byrne - Forestry
(Jack has his way with Talking Heads head)

Fred Astaire - The Astaire Story
(two discs of singing and crooning)

Louis Armstrong - This Is Jazz 1
(Satchmo blow blow blow)

More wacky PS

Then again, there are plenty of Christians who look nuts. Apparently there's a gent named Bob Larson who is performing exorcisms down in Tulsa, Oklahoma. And right near Oral Roberts University, home of the 900 foot Jesus.

"Eat this bible. It's good for you."

Arrogance

Are all the Muslims in Afghanistan crazy? This insanity about executing Abdul Rahman is simply ridiculous. I know I've been poisoned by western thinking, but killing a man because he converts to a new religion is simply preposterous. Religion and spirituality are innately personal things, as they guide one's own relationship with god, so who is to say what fits right? Sure, I find organized religion pretty useless (and baffling at times) when it comes to my own faith, but that's not to say it doesn't work for other people.

"Rejecting Islam is insulting God. We will not allow God to be humiliated. This man must die," says cleric Abdul Raoulf.

Statements like this just blow my mind. How incredibly arrogant it is to believe that one knows the will of god. And as for god being humiliated... First, that's imbuing Rahman's soul with a lot of worth, isn’t it? I mean, one soul flies the coup and god is "humiliated"? Ridiculous. If god was really sentient (and Muslim), he'd probably say "Well, fuck him. He's going to hell. I mean, really, I'm god! What do I care if some schmuck doesn't get the picture." Second, as for "not allowing" god to be humiliated? God hardly needs your protection. If he was truly pissed about this, I dare say it is well within his powers to smite this guy, no? I mean, he is supposedly omnipotent, omnipresent, and all powerful, so swatting a little gnat like a human being would be no problem. Hell, he routinely wipes out people by the thousands (earthquakes, floods, etc.; after all, if you say god is all powerful, then these have to be his fault, too).

Statements about "not allowing" your god to be humiliated sure make him sound like a sissy. I can just imagine him, "Abdul doesn't want to play with me, so let's kill him."

Please.

This is just a further example of how radical Islam continues to re-enforce the perception that Muslims are crazy. I certainly know that I'd go nuts if I was straight jacketed by so many strict rules and regulations. I feel in my soul that god really just wants people to live their lives as they see fit, as long as that doesn't bring harm to anyone and adds somehow to the overall joy of the world.

I can't imagine a truly loving god would want anyone to kill anybody.

Constant cacophony from:

Jesu - Jesu
(Godflesh slows down and opens up)

Judas Priest - Screaming For Vengeance
(sounds soft now, but still a classic)

Carcass - Reek Of Putrefaction
(throat strip mining lessons)

Enduser - Comparing Paths
(stare down the blackest of sonic barrels)

D.H.S. - Attention Earth People
(Ben Stokes strokes and pokes the notes)

M'kay

I had my first drink when I was 29 years old and I've never even smoked pot. I have, however, had lots of friends who've dabbled in this and that (some dabbling more than they should and ending up in jail, rehab, or both), so the world of drugs is not entirely unknown to me. Sure, if you wanted to buy some pot, I could tell you where to go or I could introduce you to somebody who would know. If you wanted to score some coke or heroin, however, you’d be shit out of luck with me. I wouldn't even know where to begin.

That is until this morning.

In one of the weirdest experiences I've ever had, a guy tried to sell me some coke... ON THE SUBWAY. I don't know if he had a screw loose, but the dude just strolled up to me and asked, "Hey, wanna score some blow?".

It must have been a joke or something.

He was wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase, so this came as a complete surprise to me. I was expecting to be asked for directions or something since we suit-wearing types tend to look to each other for help at times; drug deals were the furthest thing from my mind. But he posed the question and then opened his free hand, revealing a tiny plastic bag with some white shit in it.

My first thought? "This is really too much to deal with at 7:30 in the morning."

I managed to choke out a "No thanks, man, I'm good" and then began to studiously observe the adverts posted around me; anything to avoid eye contact with this guy. "OK, no problem," he replied, promptly exiting into the next car.

Fucking weird.

Yet strangely balls-y.

The reason I have to believe that this was not a joke is that the guy was pretty twitchy and looked totally out of it (probably due to use of his own product). I mean, hell, he offered a COMPLETE STRANGER an ounce of cocaine ON A FUCKING SUBWAY. You have to be a bit altered to do that kind of wacky shit.

"To be dope man you must qualify. Don't get high on your own supply."

Maybe he was some business man who decided to unload the stuff he wasn't using himself. Maybe he was a full-time dealer looking for new ways to expand his market share. Most puzzling is why he chose to get all True Romance on my ass and offer me Dr. Zhivago? Did I look as if I was really in need of a snazzy morning pick-me-up? "Fuck Starbucks, man! I've got Columbian marching powder. Good for what ails ya!"

Say what?

Even if I had been interested (and brave enough to do business ON A FUCKING TRAIN), this guy was his worst advertisement; as I said, twitchy and washed out. I always get a chuckle out of guys who are too messed up on their own stuff to realize they're ruining their own business. Reminds me of the time I was at a Pink Floyd concert in about 1986. There was a filthy, wrecked-looking guy stumbling around the crowd mumbling, "Doses... doses...". Jesus, man, if it's going to mess YOU up that badly, why the hell would I it?

Then again, maybe mild mind erasure is an excellent selling point for some folks?

Makes me wonder what kind of goodies I might be offered on the way home...

"You tried to sell my shit WHERE?"


In lieu of drugs:

Various - DJ Abstract 8: Black Eye Mix
(thunderous booms and basses)

Various - DJ Abstract 11: The Headcrush Party
(Satan puts this on loop)

Beef Terminal - The Isolationist
(bleak and ready to ruin)

Arvo Part - I Am The True Vine
(brilliant modern classical compositions)

Nat King Cole - The Billy May Sessions
(cool king of croon)

Foresight or consistency?

So I whipped out one of my favorite CDs today, Frankenchrist by Dead Kennedys. Released in 1985, it has been on my greatest hits list for almost twenty years. Of course, I've always been a fan of Jello Biafra's lyrics and I continue to believe that he is one of the greatest songwriters in punk when it comes to mixing biting sociopolitical commentary and humor.

I think what struck me the most today while listening to "Stars And Stripes Of Corruption" was whether the lyrics showed foresight or whether there is an awful consistency to America's approach to the rest of the world.

I think both statements are true.

You can find the words here, but some lines struck me as particularly apt given our political climate. Remember again that these were written over twenty years ago:

Makes me feel so ashamed
To be an American
When we're too stuck up to learn from our mistakes
Trying to start another Viet Nam
While fiddling while Rome burns at home
The Boss says, "You're laid off. Blame the Japanese"

"America's back", alright
At the game it plays the worst
Strip mining the world like a slave plantation

No wonder others hate us
And the Hitlers we handpick
To bleed their people dry
For our evil empire

The drug we're fed
To make us like it
Is God and country with a bang

People we know who should know better
Howl, "America rules. Let's go to war !"
Business scams are what's worth dying for

Sound familiar? Startling how little things have changed over the last two decades. Wouldn't it be nice if in another twenty years this song would have only historical significance? But somehow I doubt I'll live to see the day when the lyrics aren't a reflection of America. Then again, in twenty years we may be bankrupt and run by one of our foreign creditors anyway. Perhaps we should take Jello's advice? "Budget's in the red? Let's tax religion."

Sure, some of what Jello has to say is even too far left for me (can you believe it?). Socialism will never work because the vast majority of humans will always be greedy and self-serving. However, I do agree with Biafra in that we'd be a lot better off if we put Rambo back inside our pants.

Punk, politician, prophet?


Hearing hellish heathen hosts:

Dead Kennedys - Frankenchrist
(glorious harmful matter)

Various - Merciless World Of Trance
(pumping up the jams)

His Name Is Alive - Home Is In Your Head
(weirder than you)

Enduser - From Zero
(breakcore to break your face)

Redman - Whut? Thee Album
(Reg and the Green Eyed Bandit do dat thang)

Mind of metal

Ever since my friend Gio returned to Texas (a gain for the Lonestar State, a loss for New York), we swap emails every couple of weeks. These messages inevitably detail what kind of tunes we're listening to, what shows we're checking out, etc. As he shares my love of metal, I was psyched to tell him about some of my more wicked purchases, "Annihilation Of The Wicked" by Nile and Immortal's "Battles In The North". His reaction?

"Pure death"

That makes me smile. While Immortal is firmly black metal, the differences between death metal and black metal are so tiny, they barely warrant mentioning.

If I had to pick a fave, I'd have to go with Nile's release. While "Battles In The North" is a non-stop assault of blastbeats and croaky vocals, "Annihilation Of The Wicked" is just so massive. The production is better (black metal is famous for the crappy sound quality of most of its most famous releases), the songs more epic, and it's just more satisfying overall.

If you don't believe me (and you're brave enough), check out the album's title track. It begins with a jarring, seven second blastbeat attack and then smoothes into a more melodic intro. This lasts about 40 seconds and then the first riff fest ensues. And then at about a minute and twenty seconds in?

All hell breaks loose.

Over the course of this eight and a half minute epic, there are innumerable tempo changes, interludes and terrifying passages. This is an amazing tune and a prime example of premium death metal.

Would that I had the means and the room to possess all the music that I want. The biggest problem nowadays is just keeping up with all my new acquisitions. I've still got to listen to some of the stuff I've been downloading.

So much music, so little time.

Bustin' a cap in your ear:

Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
(the greatest hiphop album of all time)

Aphex Twin - Come To Daddy
(because I am a funny little man)

Various - Robot Love
(marvelous minimal)

DJ Throttler - MP3 Compilation 1
(pulling out your brain and showing it to you)

Immortal - Battles In The North
(icy, windswept fields of war)

Mission accomplished

Happy anniversary, George.

We invaded Iraq three years ago today. A little over a month later, our Fearless Leader was seen aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln declaring that the major hostilities in Iraq were over. At that point, we'd only lost about 140 people. Pretty peachy, no? Quick, clean, and efficient.

About 2200 dead soldiers later, we're still at it and there's no end it sight.

Kinda jumped the gun, eh George?

Should have talked to Nancy Reagan's psychic friends first...


I was down in Philadelphia last weekend for Mom’s birthday and I was speaking with my stepfather. He told me about a dream he'd had where he was over in Iraq and in charge of a squad of "celebrity" soldiers. Bush's two daughters were there as well as the children of several cabinet members and prominent administration officials. The squad was attacked and almost wiped out. What a way to add to the almost 20,000 US troops that have been killed or wounded so far, no?

Not to wish death on anybody, but can you imagine the reaction if that actually happened? I think it would be great if any politician who actively supported a war was required to send their children into battle. My point is that I think Mr. Bush and friends might be a bit more reluctant to throw people in harm's way for nothing if those people were their own flesh and blood.

From the sweet to the sweat:

Charlie Parker - The Quintet
(Bird and Diz bring the bliss)

Charlie Patton - Founder Of The Delta Blues
(bluer than blue can be)

Bounty Killer - 5th Element
(dem step up and dem get beat down)

Nile - Annihilation Of The Wicked
(King Tut's favorite brand of thrash)

Godflesh - Streetcleaner
(steamrollin' hedz for over 16 years)

From Dust 'til Dee

In the days of my youth I'd often be out on Friday, Saturday and sometimes Sunday nights until 3 or 4 the next morning. As I've gotten older, it's begun to take longer to recover from these outings; not because of drinking but because of lack of sleep. So I've pretty much curtailed this approach to things. Sure, I'll make a long night of it now and again, but it's no longer a standard practice, especially for Sundays, as it's a school night. I do have to say, however, that I'm glad I made an exception last night, catching a show at Tonic.

Now Tonic is definitely one of my favorite venues in the city. Add to that the fact that Derek's band, Dream Into Dust, was opening and I had myself a serious case of the screamin' gotta-be-theres.



The core of Dream Into Dust is Derek Rush and Bryin Dall. Derek plays acoustic guitar and provides the vox while Bryin plays... Geez, how do you describe it. "Dark ambient guitar"? Lots of spooky rumblings and layers of sound. This combined with Derek's melancholic vocals and plaintive strumming makes for quite a startling combination. Sometimes the band plays as a quartet, adding a keyboarist and bassist, but in all honesty, I believe that the duo was better suited for the show last night.

Since they were the opening band (and on a Sunday, no less), attendance was rather sparse. However, I was glad of this because I didn't have to worry about hearing everything over the sounds of a crowd. Sure, there was a couple in front of me who would not shut up, but it wasn't completely distracting.

It was a beautiful set.

At times, Bryin's guitar growled and stalked around the edges of the room. Certainly Derek's vocals kept the listener's eyes on the stage, but there was a sense that something was lurking out there at the edges of the spotlight. Spooky stuff. At other times, Derek's guitar provided the primary focus, with Bryin adding a sparse effect here and there. Equally effective, in my opinion.

There's a delicateness to Dream Into Dust's sound that floats above the shuddering noise and darkness that Bryin provides. It’s as if the listener is hanging onto a slender thread above a churning ocean. But this thread is deceptively strong and will never break, so while there's a certain amount of apprehension and fear in the music, there is also a sense that things will be alright. Difficult, but alright.

As I said, it was beautiful.

They played for about half a hour, performing some songs that I knew and some I was unfamiliar with. To end the set, however, they did a frighteningly effective cover of "Man In Black". Using sparse instrumentation, they really drove home the song's message, which I believe is particularly apt given the present situation in this country. Near the end of the piece, they opted to drop out the guitars completely. Derek's naked vocals lay there for all to see.

"And, I wear it for the thousands who have died,
Believen' that the Lord was on their side,
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died,
Believen' that we all were on their side."

Powerful stuff.

Dream In Dust finished slightly after nine o'clock. I was planning on dropping off a demo to the Wrecking Ball guys (an on-again, off-again breakcore night) over at the Lucky Cat in Williamsburg, but that show wasn't scheduled to start until 10pm, so I decided to stay and catch Baby Dee. I'd never heard her perform before, nor ever heard her music.

I'm awfully glad I stayed.

Baby Dee performs solo, playing piano, accordion, or harp. While Dream Into Dust's sound is dark and epic, her's is more fairytale in nature. Her vocals are very much in a tin pan alley style; in fact, at times it's almost vaudevillian. However, with the exception of a few comedic numbers ("The Song Of Self Acceptance" is side-splittingly hilarious), most of the tunes sound like lullabies. Folky and gentle, with Dee's vocals delicately crooning. Warm and open, yet intensely private, like your mother stroking your hair when you were a kid. There's an innocence to Dee's music that is simultaneously joyful and heartbreaking. It makes you smile with a tear in your eye because you can celebrate that joy while at the same time mourning the loss of it; you see that childlike innocence and realize how much you miss it.

In short, Dee's performance was very much a sharp contrast to Dream Into Dust's. Yet for me, this drew both performances into stark relief, making me realize how much I love almost every color in music's palette and how fortunate I am to be able to see people who are truly masters of their craft.

More masters, some unmentioned:

Baby Dee - Live In Turin
(having heard, I had to buy)

4th Sign Of The Apocalypse - Lost Hour World
(another face of Bryin Dall; another very dark face)

Miles Davis - The Essential Miles Davis
(an excellent collection of some of the musings of Miles)

Koordinate Of Wonders - Koordinate Of Wonders
(when are we gonna hear more from these guys?)

Various - DJ Abstract 9: The Gossamer Mix
(glory to some of the gods of glitch)

On the air

I was tooling around EMusic last night, looking for stuff to download. Imagine my surprise when I came across... my own stuff!

How sweet is that?

Apparently CDBaby has a digital distribution agreement with EMusic and, since CDBaby is selling The Ivory EP by Abstract Audio Systems, they sent it over to the Emusic folks to distribute there.



A number of people have already downloaded it, but that has yet to show up at my account with CDBaby. Sent them a nice email today, so they should be letting me know what's up very soon. They're always really good about keeping in touch.

I've no idea how much each download will net me, but if I can make a couple hundred bucks, I might break even! Woohoo!

Battering my neurons:

Scorn - Colossus
(deep, dark, and damned)

Various - Cyberdrome: Alien City Part 1
(gabber, bitches)

Various - DJ Abstract 8: Black Eye Mix
(speed freaks unite)

Nine Inch Nails - Further Down The Spiral
(Coil has their way with Trent's whiny songs)

Freescha - What's Come Inside Of You
(glitch mellow pretty)

Bondage PS

"You got some trenbolone? Some testosterone decanoate? I'll suck ya dick!"

Opiate of the masses

I've moved into my new office digs in Jersey City, where I'll be spending the rest of my time on my current assignment, which ends May 12th. My new cube neighbors are very nice, quite friendly, and relatively quiet. There is a particularly personable woman who sits directly in front of me. We exchanged greetings pretty much right away and helped each other move into our respective cubicals. During the move in, I saw that she was literally papering her cube walls with bible quotes. Now, this would have raised my ire in the past, but I've mellowed a great deal in regard to this type of thing.

Today, however, I've been severely tested.

While coding away, minding my own business, I overheard a phone conversation my new neighbor was having with a friend of hers. Apparently, someone in her friend's family is gravely ill. While expressing her sympathies, my neighbor blamed the advent of the disease on...

Satan.

Yes, Satan.

She proceeded to tell her friend that the afflicted family member should be taken to the local church where she could "breathe in Jesus". My neighbor also questioned the sick person's faith, saying that Satan could only affect someone if he was "invited in".

I'm agog.

Living as I do in my own relatively theology-free world, I forget that there are people in this world who actually believe in this stuff. This woman has an explicit belief that there are two preternatural beings that constantly struggle for ownership of our immortal souls. It was all I could do to keep myself from telling her to stow the nonsense and get back to work.

Now I realize that religion is a great comfort for many people and I respect their right to practice whatever particular rituals tickle their fancy. However, it upsets me that anyone would suggest that someone got sick because they invited Satan into their company. I remember now why I used to be so vehemently anti-organized religion.

It's because some of it teaches people stupid bullshit like this.

Beelzebub's greatest hits:

Napalm Death - Scum
(grandness from the grandfathers of grind)

Nitzer Ebb - Ebbhead
(the show's over, folks)

Pete Namlook - VIII + IX
(ambient techno oddness)

Nanospeed - Nanospeed Featuring Spacetank
(burble burble thump thump thump)

Nudge - Cached
(jazz glitch)

Shot across the bow

So here it is, folks. Prep for national debate and be very afraid. May I present, in toto:

South Dakota Women’s Health and Human Life Protection Act (HB 1215)

Signed into Law by South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds
March 6, 2006

AN ACT

ENTITLED, An Act to establish certain legislative findings, to reinstate the prohibition against certain acts causing the termination of an unborn human life, to prescribe a penalty therefor, and to provide for the implementation of such provisions under certain circumstances.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:

Section 1. The Legislature accepts and concurs with the conclusion of the South Dakota Task Force to Study Abortion, based upon written materials, scientific studies, and testimony of witnesses presented to the task force, that life begins at the time of conception, a conclusion confirmed by scientific advances since the 1973 decision of Roe v. Wade, including the fact that each human being is totally unique immediately at fertilization. Moreover, the Legislature finds, based upon the conclusions of the South Dakota Task Force to Study Abortion, and in recognition of the technological advances and medical experience and body of knowledge about abortions produced and made available since the 1973 decision of Roe v. Wade, that to fully protect the rights, interests, and health of the pregnant mother, the rights, interest, and life of her unborn child, and the mother's fundamental natural intrinsic right to a relationship with her child, abortions in South Dakota should be prohibited. Moreover, the Legislature finds that the guarantee of due process of law under the Constitution of South Dakota applies equally to born and unborn human beings, and that under the Constitution of South Dakota, a pregnant mother and her unborn child, each possess a natural and inalienable right to life.

Section 2. That chapter 22-17 be amended by adding thereto a NEW SECTION to read as follows:

No person may knowingly administer to, prescribe for, or procure for, or sell to any pregnant woman any medicine, drug, or other substance with the specific intent of causing or abetting the termination of the life of an unborn human being. No person may knowingly use or employ any instrument or procedure upon a pregnant woman with the specific intent of causing or abetting the termination of the life of an unborn human being.

Any violation of this section is a Class 5 felony.

Section 3. That chapter 22-17 be amended by adding thereto a NEW SECTION to read as follows:

Nothing in section 2 of this Act may be construed to prohibit the sale, use, prescription, or administration of a contraceptive measure, drug or chemical, if it is administered prior to the time when a pregnancy could be determined through conventional medical testing and if the contraceptive measure is sold, used, prescribed, or administered in accordance with manufacturer instructions.
Section 4. That chapter 22-17 be amended by adding thereto a NEW SECTION to read as follows:

No licensed physician who performs a medical procedure designed or intended to prevent the death of a pregnant mother is guilty of violating section 2 of this Act. However, the physician shall make reasonable medical efforts under the circumstances to preserve both the life of the mother and the life of her unborn child in a manner consistent with conventional medical practice.

Medical treatment provided to the mother by a licensed physician which results in the accidental or unintentional injury or death to the unborn child is not a violation of this statute.

Nothing in this Act may be construed to subject the pregnant mother upon whom any abortion is performed or attempted to any criminal conviction and penalty.

Section 5. That chapter 22-17 be amended by adding thereto a NEW SECTION to read as follows:

Terms used in this Act mean:
"Pregnant," the human female reproductive condition, of having a living unborn human being within her body throughout the entire embryonic and fetal ages of the unborn child from fertilization to full gestation and child birth;

"Unborn human being," an individual living member of the species, homo sapiens, throughout the entire embryonic and fetal ages of the unborn child from fertilization to full gestation and childbirth;

"Fertilization," that point in time when a male human sperm penetrates the zona pellucida of a female human ovum.

Section 6. That § 34-23A-2 be repealed.

Section 7. That § 34-23A-3 be repealed.

Section 8. That § 34-23A-4 be repealed.

Section 9. That § 34-23A-5 be repealed.

Section 10. If any court of law enjoins, suspends, or delays the implementation of a provision of this Act, the provisions of sections 6 to 9, inclusive, of this Act are similarly enjoined, suspended, or delayed during such injunction, suspension, or delayed implementation.

Section 11. If any court of law finds any provision of this Act to be unconstitutional, the other provisions of this Act are severable. If any court of law finds the provisions of this Act to be entirely or substantially unconstitutional, the provisions of § § 34-23A-2, 34-23A-3, 34-23A-4, and 34-23A-5, as of June 30, 2006, are immediately reeffective.

Section 12. This Act shall be known, and may be cited, as the Women's Health and Human Life Protection Act. An Act to establish certain legislative findings, to reinstate the prohibition against certain acts causing the termination of an unborn human life, to prescribe a penalty therefor, and to provide for the implementation of such provisions under certain circumstances.




Read it, learn it, learn to loathe it.

Like pong, only inside my head with music:

Nasum - Grind Finale
(perfect purveyors of pissed)

A Great White Bird - Adventures In Ornithology
(all AGWB tracks lovingly mixed by DJ Abstract)

Various - Hopes And Failures
(melancholy mix saved from a tape made in 1993)

Various - Spintrax 12
(DO DAT DANCE!)

Welcome to Nuremberg, NJ

Students involved in a mock court at Parsippany High School in New Jersey are expected to convict President Bush as war criminal today. While some are calling the exercise a sham ("Liberal teachers influencing young, impressionable minds"), I have to say I'm pleased. Of course, I am a bleeding heart liberal pinko commie bastard to begin with, so I've no doubt my opinion would be grouped in and among those liberal teachers.

While I obviously haven't been able to attend the "court" proceedings myself, I'd say there are good grounds for the conviction. After all, I believe that torturing prisoners of war (not to mention "suspected" non-combatant sympathizers) is still against the Geneva Convention, a document that this administration has done their best to completely ignore.

Meanwhile, the trial of Saddam Hussein continues. I think this one is pretty much a slam dunk, too. This fine gent and his cronies are definitely no strangers to torture and oppression. He just didn't have the backing of the largest military machine on the planet, so he couldn't get away with it.

Seems sometimes we become what we despise, eh George?

Brothers in harms.


All rise for my national anthems:

A Great White Bird - Collection 2
(continuing to produce some of the best DIY electronic around)

A Great White Bird - Collection 3
(ibid)

Nasum - Grind Finale
(the definitive retrospective; 2 discs, 152 tracks; grindcore rules)

Skinny Puppy - Last Rights
(the final gasp of really puppy)

N-Joi - Mindflux
(from the ancient days of techno)