Archive for the 'Mortification of a Nation' Category
(Chronologically Listed)
there IS something funny about Palin…
…in addition to Fey :)
We’ve gotta laugh, and we’ve gotta pray.
don’t vote
A well-done appeal to register and to BE SURE TO vote… even if you think your state is going your way without your vote, PLEASE VOTE!! Just do it.
Silverman is a scream. Produced by Leonardo DiCaprio
spiralling
I’ve been under the weather since my return from my too-short vacation. Not sick-in-the-bed-head-under-the-covers sick, just a little scratchy-throated-and-tired sick, maybe a little sick and tired, too. It takes very little of my precious energy to edit myself, and so editing I am… there are enough pundits and issues out there to wax on (and on and on) about the state of the nation, the economy, the impracticality of Palin (God bless Tina Fey and Amy Poehler for making us laugh and others rethink through the Palin ‘gags’ (literal and figurative), the war (oops - edit Leslee, edit!) and everything else that should make all of us sick and tired. All that said, and on this day of a record 777.68 point drop of the Dow Jones industrials, the biggest one-day fall ever, here’s the remarkably appropriate, and yet still upbeat “Spiralling”, off the new release by Keane. Enjoy and let’s remain hopeful in spite of the events of the day, month, years… watch the VP debate, if it actually occurs Thursday night (laughter is great medicine… although on second thought, cringing ain’t so comfy…). Lastly I leave you with a thought shared last week by my friend Michael, now even more frighteningly plausible; that is, that our money may just be safer in a mattress.
Okay, I hafta - Palin’s got a (parody) problem, and her name is Fey. The funniest thing is that they don’t even have to stretch it that much to be funny. If all were right in our world and we weren’t facing the challenges as a nation that we are, I might feel a little sorry for her…
Just in case you missed them, or have turned off the TV in an effort to maintain your sanity:
The real thing:
Classic: click here
sit and wonder
And here we are… seven long, war-laden, bin Laden still-at-large years later.
It’s been a coincidentally long 9/11 week, and I’m too wrung out to go into one of my tirades, but not to tired to sit and wonder what the light of a new administration will feel like… give us some light.
From The Verve’s first new release since “Urban Hymms” like, 11 years ago. This one’s called “Forth” and worth the wait. So then, onward we go.
Hope you enjoy. Much peace, love and light to you.
Here’s another, Love is Noise. Couldn’t resist.
harmony
I’ve elected (forgive the pun) to post an Elton John song today; Harmony, a nice cover of the Rocket Man by Jesse Malin. I do so that you may listen as I share just some of the disconcerting facts about the GOP’s vice-Presidential candidate, Sarah Palin. It’s all meant to offset the political anxiety and support the visualization of recovery, the sense of peace and hope and yes, even the pride (haven’t said that in awhile) that the thought of change brings. We must remember though, that things are so very screwy that nothing is going to come fast and easy, and that even in the face of these… situations, we cannot assume anything (and now that we’ve had one, we can never discount (wow, a 2-for-1) the possibility of another chad debacle, but lets not go there). We must simply get out and rock that vote. Speak your peace. Feel the pride. Visualize change. Let’s make it all a reality - do we really have a choice?
Okay, before I really get going, let’s get some music going:
I’m going to preface the following list with a few of my own observations… a) shouldn’t the mother of a four-month-old child with Down Syndrome be… not necessarily home with her child every waking moment - but not necessarily on the campaign trail every waking moment, giving her every attention (one would hope) to learning everything she possibly can about foreign policy, domestic policy and everything else that her lack of experience would command that she learn asap via the hard core cram? b) shouldn’t the mother of a pregnant, unwed 17-year-old child be rethinking her priorities, even if the 4-month-old with special needs hasn’t managed to spur that on? c) Thanks for the bone, Mr. McCain, but we don’t need your token puppy smashing our glass-ceilings, anymore. If the Hilary supporters that were going to vote for you just because they were mad that Hil didn’t get the Democratic nod still haven’t heard Mr. Obama, then there priorities are as effed up as Mrs. Palin’s, and finally d) McCain sure has a penchant for beauty queens!
Lastly, and in follow up to my last (Radiohead) post, I have to say that last week coincidentally contained two (back-to-back) of the most inspiring occasions on my personal recent record. They were very different, but both brilliant. The first was the Radiohead show. Pure genius. Mesmerizing. Stunning. The next night was Barack Obama’s already historic acceptance speech of the Democratic nomination for President of the United States of America, delivered to an audience of 38 million plus. I got chills. I got misty. I got conviction.
Okay, back to business; courtesy of MoveOn.org, a few of the cold, hard Palin facts:
- She was elected Alaska’s governor a little over a year and a half ago. Her previous office was mayor of Wasilla, a small town outside Anchorage. She has no foreign policy experience. 1
- Palin is strongly anti-choice, opposing abortion even in the case of rape or incest. 2
- She supported right-wing extremist Pat Buchanan for president in 2000. 3
- Palin thinks creationism should be taught in public schools. 4
- She’s doesn’t think humans are the cause of climate change. 5
- She’s solidly in line with John McCain’s “Big Oil first” energy policy. She’s pushed hard for more oil drilling and says renewables won’t be ready for years. She also sued the Bush administration for listing polar bears as an endangered species—she was worried it would interfere with more oil drilling in Alaska. 6
- How closely did John McCain vet this choice? He met Sarah Palin once at a meeting. They spoke a second time, last Sunday, when he called her about being vice-president. Then he offered her the position. 7
1. “Sarah Palin,” Wikipedia, Accessed August 29, 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin
2. “McCain Selects Anti-Choice Sarah Palin as Running Mate,” NARAL Pro-Choice America, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17515&id=13661-8065754-X4T89Ox&t=1
3. “Sarah Palin, Buchananite,” The Nation, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17736&id=13661-8065754-X4T89Ox&t=2
4. “‘Creation science’ enters the race,” Anchorage Daily News, October 27, 2006
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17737&id=13661-8065754-X4T89Ox&t=3
5. “Palin buys climate denial PR spin—ignores science,” Huffington Post, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17517&id=13661-8065754-X4T89Ox&t=4
6. “McCain VP Pick Completes Shift to Bush Energy Policy,” Sierra Club, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17518&id=13661-8065754-X4T89Ox&t=5
“Choice of Palin Promises Failed Energy Policies of the Past,” League of Conservation Voters, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17519&id=13661-8065754-X4T89Ox&t=6
“Protecting polar bears gets in way of drilling for oil, says governor,” The Times of London, May 23, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17520&id=13661-8065754-X4T89Ox&t=7
7 “McCain met Palin once before yesterday,” MSNBC, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=21119&id=13661-8065754-X4T89Ox&t=8
In case you missed it, I’m proud to offer you (through YouTube, of course) the opportunity to witness for yourself this stirring, celebrated speech. It’s the stuff of which history is made. Do have a harmonious day, and do be prepared to fight for your rights, and to then say hello to a new nation and a new administration.
i’m voting republican
So I’m thinking that if this post heading, coming from this writer, hasn’t captured your attention yet, then certainly this inspired short by Synthetic Human Pictures should. Don’t hesitate to pass this one around… and do have a beautiful day.
By the way, I look forward to changing this category from “mortification” to “restoration” soon. Let’s make it happen.
Since we’re at it, this one’s called How To Speak Republican, by Swift Warning Films.
cusack takes mccain
From MoveOn.org, an ad featuring John Cusack and a challenge to take the Bush-McCain Challenge. Now that there’s one Dem candidate (phew!), the focus can be on the one vital task at hand… the win!
You may also be interested in catching not one but two of Cusack’s most recent films, both dealing with the war in Iraq; Grace is Gone, and War Inc.
P.S. let me know if you’d like to wear Obama on your bumper. I have a few hundred stickers to distribute, or you can always order some yourself at MoveOn.org, and in doing so contribute to his campaign.
Here’s another one, full of hope with some fun scrambled in from MoveOn.
black cat
Here’s something from the recently released new cd by Ladytron, Velocifero. This electroni-cat purrs in French. May it fire you up for a luck and fun filled weekend.
I’ll spare you too much info on the political buzz of the week, former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan’s memoir “What Happened“. If you’ve not yet heard about it you either live under a rock or more likely you’re totally over the political banterings of all the pundits out there and simply stopped listening (which is probably way better for the blood pressure). Anyhoo, although I’ve not yet read it, it seems that there’s quite a stir brewing at the Bush digs (not to mention Fox News); scathing! scandalous! disgruntled! Ha! More like blowing a whistle on a runaway train, and a long time coming. Hear his very believable and very unsurprising story first hand, at least pieces of it, here.
On another note but closely related to both my previous entry earlier in the week and also “What Happened” above, if you’re home this Friday night you may want to tune into Bill Moyer’s Journal on PBS:
Bill Moyers fantastic one hour special on Body of War will be
re-broadcast on PBS nationwide tomorrow, May 30th.
Check your local listings for broadcast time.
* * * * *
Check Nationwide Theatrical Openings at
Tomas Young, a 26-year-old veteran, was shot and paralyzed after serving 5 days in Iraq. His story is told in the critically acclaimed antiwar feature documentary Body of War, produced and directed by legendary talk show host Phil Donahue and award-winning filmmaker Ellen Spiro. The film features two original songs by Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam.
Body of War is an intimate human drama wrapped in a political documentary — full of emotion, humor and hope. As the paralyzed veteran Tomas deals with his disability, he evolves into a new person, finding his own passionate voice against the war. Body of War also captures the historic debate in the Congress in the fall of 2002 authorizing the war and celebrates those that stood up against the rush to invade.
Body of War was voted “Best Documentary of the Year” by the National Board of Review, nominated for “Best Documentary” by the Producers Guild of America, and received multiple audience awards at film festivals from Toronto to Palm Springs. It’s been acclaimed in the media and by the public. Everyone who has seen the film says that everyone should see it.
A companion double-CD compilation “Body of War: Songs that Inspired an Iraq War Veteran” is available from Sire Records.
war
Hello everyone and happy summer. It’s been awhile since I’ve posted anything but I’ve been stockpiling some new music (no Death Cab or Coldplay here; their new releases are great but I’m sure you’ll be hearing them everywhere else in the world until you don’t want to hear them again for awhile, so I’ll leave that to your professional mainstream dj), and yes, finally going to print soon with those new designs I’ve been promising so thanks for continuing to check in and know that some product updates are in the works.
I thought I’d dive in again on this Memorial Day with something old and somethings new. The older one is unfortunately timeless, especially given the state of the world and this nation in particular - again. An impressive and extensive history of the song War is available by clicking on the link. In brief, the Temptations were the first to record it. It was included on their 1970 album “Psychedelic Shack”. Motown had no intention of releasing it as a single, but many people protesting the Vietnam War made it clear that it would be a big hit if they did. Since Motown head Berry Gordy had other plans for The Temptations, he had Edwin Starr record it and his version was released as a single. It was #1 on the charts for three weeks and Starr won a Grammy for Best R&B Male Vocal. This is a classic, and war is nothing but a heartbreak, good for absolutely nothing. Go ahead, say it again:
The other one is much newer. “Light Up Ya Lighter” was originally on Michael Franti’s “Yell Fire” in 2006 and more recently found amongst the music of many other artists on the soundtrack of a Phil Donahue/Ellen Spiro film in very limited release called “Body of War“. I guess I’d feel remiss if I didn’t point out that in as much as we tend to associate Memorial Day with the fun-filled onset of the summer season, its about our soldiers, active and veteran, dead and alive. We are at war and they are there, not on a sandy beach or a sunny slope in their homeland but over there, fighting for their lives and God only knows what else or why at this point 5 years and 2+ months later. Do enjoy your day, and do enjoy your summer, and do pray for those who cannot.
Click here to view a trailer of “Body of War” and go see it if you have the opportunity, and say (or sing) it too: NO MORE… Written by Eddie Vedder for Tomas Young, the 25-year-old Iraqi War veteran featured in the film, who joined the service after 9/11 to fight in Afghanistan and find bin Laden but was deployed to Iraq instead, and was paralyzed one week into his tour by a bullet to his spine.
One of the current Green Tee causes directly addresses the plight of war veterans and their families. Read more about the Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust here. Buy a tee or send something directly. Light up ya lighter for the troops. Make peace.
Other “Body of War” Links
Phil Donahue: Body of War - In his own words
“Donahue Tackles Iraq” from Wired Magazine
the trees were mistaken
It’s been a busy week. I missed my usual Sunday posting and on a full moon no less… Now it’s Earth Day and I was having a hard time slowing down enough to come up with something to say. I started feeling sorta guilty for not being more promotive of all things earthy. This is Green Tee, after all. Then I started thinking, why today? Isn’t every day Earth Day, really? And if we aren’t thinking that way, shouldn’t we be? No excuses, just thoughts. I guess the guilt is more about not being more productive; I owe you some new stuff; designs, causes and other stuff too and this too shall come - in its own due course evidently. And yes, Earth definitely does deserve it’s own special day, too.
So I’d been wondering what song might suit today’s occasion and today’s mood, which may be considered somewhat out of sorts. Maybe its the pace previously mentioned… anyway nothing was striking me. Then late this afternoon I heard this song and it I knew it was what I was looking for. The title clinched it, especially when I got home and realized that not only were the trees mistaken, but so were the people of Pennsylvania. I’ll give her one thing; Hil’s got grit… alright I’ll give her more than that but she’s not my candidate (currently) and I’m tired of the negative campaigning and her “experience” including the Beirut sniper and other fish tales. Come to think of it I’m over the campaigning and politics and pundits altogether. See? Totally out of sorts.
So without further ado, do have a happy. Do something for our Earth today, tomorrow and the next day. Leave places and people and things better than you found them. Envision the change you want - and as Gandhi so powerfully conveyed: be the change you wish to see.
Andrew Bird’s story about mistaken trees… a Bird oughta know:
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Tee of the Month
