Music

All about Jazz has a nice review of King Crimson's The Great Deceiver Boxset. One of the most important rock n' roll documents ever.

Politics

I know, I know, thing are really looking bright for Democrats according to the polls. I'm still of the mind that the GOP huge end-election money dump, the stalworth nature of Evangelical voters, and robo-voting, we will wake up the day after the election, and still see a GOP majority, despite contrary polling projections. The problem isn't the will of the voters, it's gerrymandered districts and incumbency re-election rates. It's always the other guys member who's got to go, never the same bag of dust you've been voting for for twelve years. That would make you the bad guy. Guys like Schwarzenegger in California aren't sweating, for all intensive purposes, they should be. Challengers aren't bringing it hard enough.

Music

By way of the the fine, fine music of Santa Cruz's and Sub Pop Record's own Comets on Fire, check out Arthur Magazine's Magpie music/alternative blog.

Political Science

Some new random samples and in-depth reports from polling report.

Music

I've been digging into the new Mastodon record. Nothing could be as epic in it's sheer majesty then it's review at allmusic.com. I've never seen this much gushing over anything. Anyway Mastodon is one of a few band that will be soon breaking into the pop cultures consciousness along with Isis, Pelican, Opeth, Clutch, Mono, Boris, The Twilight Singers, Super Furry Animals, Tortoise, Mogwai, Lake Trout, Godspeed You Black Emperor!, Explosions in the Sky, A Silver Mt. Zion, Aesop Rock and all the artists on the Definitive Jux, Stones Throw, Ninja Tune, Cuneiform Records, and Quannum labels, Boards of Canada, Broadcast, Comets on Fire, Radiodread: the dub version of Radiohead's OK Computer by the Easy Star Dub All-Stars, Danger Doom, MF Doom, Danger Mouse, Gorillaz, Death From Above 1979, Deerhoof, Desus Ex Machina, Dios Malos, June of 44, Kopecky, LCD Soundsystem, M83, Mew, Oneida, Rothko, Sufjan Stevens, Tarentel, The Coup, Blackalicious, The Roots, Umphrey's McGee, Zaar, Zero Hour, and I could go on forever because System of a Down, Radiohead and Tool broke the door down, you see bands like Wolfmother, Queens of the Stone Age, Avenged Sevenfold, Muse, Sigur Ros and The Mars Volta on MTV now, when about ten years ago that would be impossible. Even Porcupine Tree is on a major label.

It's really not about the acceptance of metal, alternative, punk, progressive rock, Zappa-jazz, post-rock, even hip hop, it's the acceptance by the music consumer that it's OK to have a diverse musical diet, whence before the Internet and access to more College Radio Station like content, most folks listened to one or two genres of music. No more. People want it all, and mostly all in one song. Frank Zappa is very, very happy about this somewhere. The only thing that most of these bands have in common is a super-high degree of musicianship by their members and a willingness to throw everything but the kitchen sink into their albums, without care for commercial acceptance. These cats can all can BLOW.

A sensibility not a style, now that's really what Progressive Rock was really supposed to be about. They failed, because they stopped really making "new" sounds around 1977, had to make certain sounds to retain label status, or go unheard. The internet has set now and future muscians some what free, because almost any band that's any good can build just enough of a niche, to produce well produced songs and recordings. That's why the future of music is so bright.

I really suggest looking into any or all of these artists at their websites, or allmusic.com. Also attend shows, that's their lifeblood, recording sales are just enough to make the next recording. Buy direct from the artist when at all possible. Check out used record shops like Rasputin Records in the Bay Area for great deals. CD Universe is also a great place to get a deal.

What we are fighting,who will do the best job for you and your family and why

There are many extremist groups that wish the US and the powers that be harm by any means necessary. There are many nations that would rather that we not be number one. This is the natural condition of the ecology of nation-states. Due to technology even the most minute portion of society can co-opt any creed and via the tactic of terror effect and affect even the most mighty giant. Bin-Ladin isn't an Islamo-fascist, that's a hyphenated oxymoron. He's a Theocratic Reactionary Islamic Militant Sociopath, or TRIMS.

He is of a small portion of people in the world that not only think ill of the US and of the powers that be, but are willing to die and kill anyone to achieve any infliction of pain on the "alpha" nation.

How the "alpha" nation reacts. That's the test. The tactic of terror is a mechanism for political pressure, and how members of a democracy that is so corporation dominated process intelligence, information, and events is crucial to the long term viability of our United States. Terror has caused the retraction of the rights endowed to you by your creator. Terror has allowed fear to rule the ballot box in three straight American elections. Fox News, talk radio, and the right-wing Internet are leading too many voters to false conclusions. They are tabloid driven money making machines who are not looking out for you. The Economist, a Conservative weekly, by contrast, is looking out for you. It's not Conservatism, it's the Corporate Evangelical Reactionary Neos that have hijacked that ideology and our nation. Lincoln Chafee should be in a museum as an example of more rationale times.

Terror is never going to go away. It's too easy in our 2006. We need to mitigate it, and work to change the conditions that foment support for TRIMS. Not the way Bush does.

We need a secular-scientific approach to economic development, political development, and the development of moderate societies actioned by understanding of and implementation of effective diplomacy.

I think we shouldn't underestimate the fact that the world prefers and would rather work with American Democrats then American Republicans. Our Agendas are different. Our priorities are different. We apply the scientific method augmented by a few thousand years of human wisdom to not only write better laws but also execute those law in an excellent manner.

The Democrats of 2006, not the 1990s, not of any other time. That's who we need. The Democrats who would be the 2006 Freshman Class. These Democrats are convicted by fiscal restraint, modesty, and real ethics reform as well as the best ethics of the past. Looking out for Working people. Trust busting. Freeing people from scams, corporate fraud, and general haves vs. have not abusive behavior. Health Care for all. Election Reform, Campaign Finance Reform, Lobby Reform. Let Democrats write the laws not Corporate lobbyists. Our choice is between Faith in Corporations and the Supernatural or Faith in Reason, Science, and humanity's natural and accrued values from where ever they are drawn. Values like tolerance, liberty within reason, higher wages and real benefits means more saving, more kids in College, and more people who own their lives instead of their employer and that week-to-week paycheck.

We are handing in the wrong direction with regard to economic policy. Our infrastructure cracks, we're susceptible to disaster and attack, people work harder for less pay, The Executive is experiencing no real constitutionally commanded over site.

Yes the Democrats can and will do better. Read "The Plan" the book by House Leaders. Check out "Blueprint" the policy option newsletter from the DLC. There are tons of specific policy proposals out there by Democrats. We'll debate them, vote on them and make them work. Anyone who tells you the Democrats will be no different, that they have no plans, is a liar. Democrats are superior because we are constantly evolving, learning, and growing. Progressing, pushing the boundaries of what is doable, intellectual curiosity. That's the value set of any party that can best help any nation.

The Struggle at Twilight

Items nearing the anniversary of 9/11.

Pakistan agrees to 'amnesty' for al Qaeda, Taliban.


Osama bin Laden, America’s most wanted man, will not face capture in Pakistan if he agrees to lead a “peaceful life,” Pakistani officials tell ABC News.

I guess when President Bush said he would get those people who knocked down those towers dead or alive or whatever combination of BS he used right after 9/11 he had his fingers crossed behind his back. It is very important to bring Osama Bin-Ladin to justice, I don't appreciate the way the Bush Administration marginalizes the importance of killing or capturing yes, this one guy. He's one of many, but he's an important symbol to those who wish us harm. He's the guy that brought down those buildings, surely not Saddam Hussein. Collaring the wrong perp isn't justice, it's propaganda to satiate the public demand for accountability. You want to unite Democrats and Republicans? Get this animal in a cage.

The fascist dictator in Pakistan who is our "buddy", isn't. I don't even know how much in charge he really is, it seems the Theocrats are more and more in charge.

That's right there's no such thing as an Islamo-fascist. There are Theocrats, but if Bush used the correct political scientific terms he might have to explain what a theocrat is and maybe why he isn't a Christian Theocrat. A Christian Democrat, yet warped not like Angela Merkel. He's more reactionary. He's flavored more with Leviticus then Mark.

An Evangelical Democratic Republican. Source documents are liturgical and misinterpreted. Believes in the will of the people, so long as their information is as limited as his, non-science based, faith as the concluder of open minds and open solutions and a unitarian executive theorist, who believes that the triangle of three seperate and equal branches from our Constitution should resemble some other more lordly polygon.

Elections

For forecasting elections, try incorporating the Iowa Electronic Market into you analysis. The Wharton School at the U of Penn has a fine forecasting tool called Polly. Polly actually predicted the 2004 popular vote total on the nose.

Rock In Opposition - Paris, France April,2007

If you happen to be in Paris, do not miss The Rock In Opposition France Event, April 2007.. Magma, (and friends) will blow your head off. Seriously. For the thinking person.

History

Artists

Location

You've got to love Paris in the Springtime.

Pip

Pip Pyle, RIP

Earlier this week we received the sad news that Pip had passed away in his sleep on Monday 28 August. Many of course will know Pip as the drummer with Canterbury stalwarts Hatfield And The North (who he was instrumental in reforming only last year) along with Gong and National Health. Pip will be remembered for his creative and inventive drumming, which has kept him in demand
since the early 70s.

Source: DPRP

This cat was a great, great, drummer. For more on his legacy, here.

Rocky Anderson

The Mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah may have a future beyond his current position.