Looks like PP are offering NQ subscriptions to US and Canadian players.

NQ is $6 an issue; US subs are $55 for six issues. One will be paying a bit of a premium for postage. This, however, is good. Why? Because it means a FLGS can stock NQ without fear of being undermined by PP and cheaper subs.

crowbar is the perfect name for this band. well, “Doom-laden NOLA-brand grave-digging dirgeing metal” would be the most accurate name, but not quite as punchy.

on this album, their first full length, issued way back when, the band is arguably at their finest. the music is unpolished and left raw and crackly by Philip Anselmo’s amazing production job. the album is slow, assertive, and honest from head to toe.

there are only ten tracks, which is a bit of a disappointment. or at least it was for me when i walked back from that small record shop about 2 miles from my house back in my freshman year of high school. i remember walking on the side of the road looking at the album and being let down that i spent 13 (it may have only been 12, i dont remember all that clearly) dollars on a 10  track cd. but then i got home and i played it on my dad’s stereo system. the album was unlike anything i had ever heard before. it was Black Sabbath meets Corrosion of Conformity meets Sunn 0))) meets Motorhead meets Pantera meets a whole lot of bourbon meets one serious singer. it is funny that i reacted like that. i had heard ‘Existence is Punishment’ and ‘All I Had I Gave’ before. but i hadnt liked them. they sounded ‘goofy’. but when i sat down and played this album i was quickly persuaded otherwise. the one song that stuck out to me as the absolute perfect crowbar song was actually a cover. track five, ‘No Quarter’.

the song is slow, building, and most of all painful. the singer’s voice on this album had a Keith Caputo circa ‘River Runs Red’ quality to it. there is such amazing honesty in the words and voice that it is almost off putting. when he sings ‘I Have Failed’ or ‘Existence is Punishment’ he actually believes it. and it hurts.

the album is beautiful though. like a perfect car-wreck, it just has this true beauty and serene destruction that must be seen to understand.

http://www.amazon.com/Crowbar/dp/B00004YX2V/ref=ntt_mus_ep_dpi_lnk

do yourself a favor, pick up a copy.

Faroo Khan / EFE

Existe un bello lugar rodeado de montañas y de lagos al norte de la India que, además, linda con Afganistán, Pakistán y China. El historiador Henry Kamen se refirió a éste como país en un artículo publicado en el diario El Mundo hace unos años, aunque en la actualidad tal soberanía no está tan clara y más bien habría que hablar de una serie de territorios controlados por alguno de los estados citados. En conjunto reciben el nombre de Cachemira —”Kashmir” en inglés—, una región que desde 1947, año en que los británicos abandonaron la colonia asiática, no ha hecho sino padecer los estragos de multitud de enfrentamientos armados. Su caso es comparable con el de Palestina, pero desafortunadamente no recibe el mismo trato mediático y es desconocido para demasiada gente —salvo si se les pregunta por el origen de sus alfombras—. Y si quien firma estas líneas lo recuerda de cuando en cuando, no se debe a los periódicos, ni siquiera a la televisión, sino a cierta canción de una de las bandas más prestigiosas que ha dado y dará Gran Bretaña, Led Zeppelin.

Nos referimos a Kashmir, el tema publicado en 1975 como parte del álbum Physical Graffiti. Robert Plant, vocalista del grupo, lo escribió  a raíz de “su expericiencia marroquí”, tal y como aclara Benjamín A. Estacio en  el libro Monsters of Rock. De manera que nos encontramos en él con la influencia de la cultura africana,  pese a  la introducción dedicada a aquel rincón de Asia por mi parte. Quizás habría sido más lógico que el telón de fondo de la canción hubiera sido oriental, pero la historia  no la inventamos nosotros.

Y prosiguiendo con la historia de Kashmir, lo cierto es que la acogida dispensada por la audiencia no fue excesivamente calurosa. Plant siempre se caracterizó por unas letras espiriturales y místicas, habitualmente con reminiscencias mitológicas,  pero la de nuestra protagonista fue más allá hasta convertirse en una de las composiciones más originales de la banda. Personalmente la comparo con Stairway to Heaven, y no precisamente por la dilatada duración de ambas. Para que me entendáis,  ante los oídos del gran público ésta sería la gemela buena y guapa —con permiso de su oculto y supuesto mensaje satánico—, mientras que la otra sería la fea y mala, “La incomprendida”. No obstante, si prestamos atención descubriremos que su estructura, sus riffs… es mucho lo que guardan en común, incluido ese singular aura de misterio.

Pero la crítica no ha opinado igual y no ha dudado en situarla entre las mejores del Rock ‘n’ Roll de todos los tiempos —ránquines de Rolling Stone, VH1, Q o Classic Rock entre otros—. ¿Quién tiene razón entonces?, ¿en qué quedamos? Antes de que salgáis de dudas vosotros mismos, si es que no lo habéis hecho ya, un último apunte. Innumerables han sido las versiones de esta canción de Led Zeppelin desde su lanzamiento a mediados de los 70: Orquesta Filarmónica de Londres, Jeff Buckley, Paul Di’Anno (primer vocalista de Iron Maiden), Slash, etc. Y tal vez la mejor de ellas sea la que los propios Robert Plant y Jimmy Page grabaron en su disco conjunto grabado en directo No Quarter (1994), con los rasgos de Marruecos más marcados si cabe, y que podéis encontrar a continuación. Un lujo para los sentidos.

Oh let the sun beat down upon my face
With stars to fill my dream.
I am a traveler of both time and space
To be where I have been.

To sit with elders of a gentle race
This world has seldom seen.
They talk of days for which they sit and wait
When all will be revealed.

Talk an’ song from tongues of lilting grace
Whose sounds caress my ear.
But not a word I heard could I relate
The story was quite clear.
Whoa-ohh-oh
Whoa-ohhh-oh-oh

Ooooh
Oh baby, I’ve been flyin’
Nooo-yeah
Oh mama there
Ain’t no denyin’

Oh!
Ooooh-yes
I’ve been flyin’
Ma-ma-ma
Ain’t no denyin’
No denyin’-uh

Oh!
All I see turns to brown
As the sun burns the ground.
And my eyes fill with sand
As I scan this wasted land.
Tryin’ to find
Tryin’ to find
Where I’ve been.

Oh pilot of the storm who leaves no trace
Like thoughts inside a dream
Who hid the path that led me to that place
Of yellow desert screen.

My shangri-la beneath the summer moon
I will return again.
Sure as the dust that floats high in June
When movin’ through Kashmir.

Oh father of the four winds, fill my sails
‘Cross the sea of years
With no provision but an open face
Along the straits of fear.

Whoa-oh ah-oh
Whoa-ohhh oh

Ohhh

Whoa!
When I’m on,
When I’m on my way yeah!
When I see,
When I see the way
You stayyyyy-yeah!

Ooh-ooh yeah-yeah
Ooh-ooh yeah-yeah
When I’m downnn-yeah

Ooh-ooh yeah-yeah
Ooh-ooh yeah-yeah
When I’m down, so down

Ooh my baby
Oooh my baby let me take you there

Oh-oh
Come on, come on
Oh!
Let me take you there
Let me take you there

Ooh yeah-yeah
Ooh yeah-yeah…

]]> http://losthemisphere.wordpress.com/2009/11/07/nq27-a-plethora-of-shininess/ Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:00:21 +0000 gdaybloke http://losthemisphere.wordpress.com/2009/11/07/nq27-a-plethora-of-shininess/

So I knew it was coming… I’d been told to expect it… but I was still on tenderhooks waiting for a very special parcel to arrive at the front door of the Gdaycave.

This afternoonI walked through the door to find it waiting on my desk.

Okay, so why was I so excited? Let’s take a wander through the issue and enjoy the niftiness. The answer to my excitement is, of course, revealed the moment we get past the table of contents… and it even came with a bonus.

That’s my Castigator! Wheee! Sculpted by CaptainSpud as a birthday gift, I painted up that hunk of metal and putty for the first WarmaHordes Challenge. Confident in its stability, I took it with me on vacation to Quebec in the hope of finding a cool Jack About Town opportunity.

As a bonus, online pal Darren MacGregor got his ink on the same page! We’re, like, blood brothers or something now! Yay for his remarkable dedication to his PressGangery! Gratz on making print, Dazza!

November and December releases look very exciting for me, and painful to my wallet, with a whole bunch of Retribution stuff coming out in both months, stacked on top of both the Fennblades and Runeshapers this month. Darn, but my finances curse the name of Privateer, while at the same time my wallet seems just so eager to throw money at my FLGS…

Next we get a remarkable gallery of models from the 2009 Formula P3 Grandmaster Painting Competition.

I don’t know if it’s a taboo subject, I’ve never seen it discussed, but I have to say  that I am amazed – AMAZED at the degree of painting skill shown by the participants, and I’m thrilled to see so many women participating in what’s stereotypically such a male-dominated hobby. I know we have remarkable women playing the games (*waves hi to Jen and Michelle*), but to see them performing so well in things like this just makes me feel proud that there’s no evidence of an “old boy’s network” or the like in the judging.

 Major props to the Judges, Kudos to all the winners –  notably to Jen Haley for her… um… Haley,  Susan Wachowski for her frankly astounding Circle warpack, and Marike Reimer for my favourite piece, if only because of my bias towards Menite models -

I just love this thing, the Redeemer wading through the swamp to smack the heck out of Asphycious, with thralls  – and one of the Combine – emerging from the brackish depths to defend their commander. The tableau just makes me happy… and the freehand on the carapace is enough to make me cry.

Special mention to Jason Lilje’s Drakhun as well… buy the mag, look it up on page 19 and enjoy the awesomeness. Oh, and Rich Curtiss needs a slap for hoarding all those trophies. Awesome work, everyone – trophies well deserved!

Next up is some Mk II awesomeness, with writeups for Caine, High Reclaimer, Butcher and Skarre. I’m posting Silent Bob’s pic here because, well, I love me some Menoth and it looks freakin’ awesome, but I have to say – I’ve flicked back to Skarre’s page about half a dozen times now to enjoy the art. It’s freakin’ awesome, I love the way the sigils are circling and arcing on her dagger. Again, buy the magazine. She’s on p47.

After some sneaky Cygnaran concept art on p48 which I won’t go into because I love to tease the Cygnarans, we get to a water featuer terrain building article, and then onto one of the recurring features I enjoy most in this magazine – the Gavyn Kaye files. Considering it’s a two-character article I thought it might have been a bit longer, but it still has a passage from Bolden Rebald, so it gets my approval.  Of interest: Deneghra has some unique Slayers? Future character jack maybe?

Next are the lists from the 2009 masters and the Hardcore Championship. Once more, major props to all the winners, even if none of them were playing Protectorate, Trollbloods or Retribution. Fie on all you Cygnar and Cryx players and all your winningness… I’m namedropping Jason Watts and Malone Screen, since they both walked awaywith medals and neither played Cryx or Cygnar. I don’t care how darn pretty Jess Hodges’ Stormblades are, or that Justin Herring won Masters without using the Deathjack, I refuse to name any of the Cygnar or Cryx players, I…. Dammit!

Pendrake encounters the Totem Hunter, before Guts & Gears looks at one of my favourite warbeasts in terms of concept, the Satyr. Behold on p71 a very very awesome piece of art, a Gnarlhorn shattering some Kriel shields. Of course, we all know Bradley and Ernie are just out of shot and about to teach that goat a lesson, but that doesn’t take anything away from how cool the art is. Seriously – buy the mag, look at it. It’s cool, and Todd Arrington’s Iceblade River Sect painting article is pretty darn spiffy too. I really like the light blue/silver armour he’s painted.

Also in Guts & Gears is a piece of warjack porn by Eric Deschamps that I never thought I’d even want to see; an exploded Wroughthammer Rockram diagram. There’s something about the inner workings of a warjack that’s not as atypical as the crabjacks (or the new Basher), but still isn’t quite the normal bideal steamjack we see from the main factions…

Rounding out the issue is the Order of the Golden Crucible, some Hardcore Searforge, the winners of the Shades of Gray challenge (Grats Melissa Mayhew, even if your entry was an unholy Cryxian abomination that should be purged in purifying flame in the name of Menoth!), Tracy Constantine’s latest Drawn & Quartered, and the usual teaser for the next issue. Order of the Fist, the Templar and what happened to the Butcher? Protectorate and Khador force book previews? Sign me up! GenCon costume pics are a bonus. Of interest: Order of Keeping? Possible hint of something to come?

Much love to the NQ team, and now that I’ve finished writing this post up so it can go up in short order, I look forward to actually being able to take the time to pore over the articles in minute detail.

Go! Buy Magazine! Salivate!

“Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles.”  The Olympic Charter

What do Barack Obama, Valerie Jarrett and Michelle Obama have in common?

Long term, strong ties to corruption in Chicago and Illinois.

They have traveled to Denmark to persuade the IOC, International Olympic Committee, to select Chicago as the host city for the 2016 Olympics. As reported by the Citizen Wells blog yesterday:
“What is this really about?
Obama’s pay to play contribution to cronies, diversions away from troubling issues that cloud his presidency and trying to prop up his failing legacy.”

“I was in the process of reporting more on Valerie Jarrett and her past ties to corruption in Chicago and I will do so. For now, Michelle Malkin does an excellent job in this video of exposing the truth about Obama and Jarrett and their motives for getting the Olympics for Chicago.”….Michelle Malkin and Fox News reveal truth

I sent this unplanned email last night after I chanced upon the press email link to the IOC. 
“As a youth, I had aspirations of participating in the Olympics.
I can state factually, and in all humility, that at one time I could compete with
anyone in the world up to 50 meters.
My life did not play out that way.
However, I had a successful business career and in the past several years I have been
researching and writing, covering the 2008 elections.
I have researched and written extensively about Barack Obama, his past and especially
about his ties to crime and corruption in Chicago and Illinois. Valerie Jarrett has many of
the corruption ties that Obama has.
 
I urge you to not consider Chicago, if for no other reason than the citizens of Chicago
do not want this and cannot afford more “pay to play politics” at their expense.
I will be writing more articles about this and I assure you that the American public will
not support this financially. This I can promise you.
 
Barack Obama is attempting to add a feather in his cap at the expense of American
citizens, something he has excelled in.
 
One of my favorite movies is “Chariots of Fire.” I beg of you to make your decision in the
spirit of true sportsmanship and higher ideals lived by the life of Eric Liddell.
 
Sincerely,
Mr. Wells”

Do I expect anyone to read this and factor it into their decision? No. However, if enough people stand up and say no to this, perhaps we can stop this travesty, even if Chicago is selected. It may be too late for Chicago, but we can still salvage the rest of the country.

From an article at NoQuarterUSA.com by Larry Johnson about the possibility of the Olympics being held in crime infested Chicago.
“16-year-old boy beaten to death in Chicago. This makes my heart ring low down to my knees. It keeps happening there. Something is wrong.

Baghdad, Belfast and Beirut sound like scary places. The inner city in America is even more troublesome to me than these places because one never knows the enemy is the enemy. I lived for a while in the Chicago area. Gangs were recruiting younger and younger members and, without “proper gang-military training” (yes – I read that phrase in a Chicago paper?!), some of their shots went into unintended windows.”
“Chicago continues to break all world records for youth on youth death by violence, excluding war zones. I dream of a day that we can find a way to understand why this happens and how we can stop it, without being an incarceration nation.”
“After drafting this post a friend made a private comment that I think should kick off the discussion.

You wrote in your post it isn’t Obama’s fault – but I think this is partly the fault of Obama and all his cronies. All those decrepit buildings and areas… not doing more to control the crime…. AIG

Yes. We seem to forget that Obama represented the South Side of Chicago after he cheated his way into the state senate. His number one fund-raiser, the convicted felon Tony Rezko, got favors through Obama to help Rezko become the most insensitive slumlord in modern history. In turn Obama got a sweet deal on his first mansion with Rezko’s help. I guess a state senator who thought about his poor constituents between his long bouts of self-adulation would have worked on Tony to educate him on the benefits of providing a better environment to raise families. But I never saw evidence of Barry telling Tony to straighten up or I am going to quit taking your money. Nope. I probably missed that press conference and subsequent speech on why it is America’s problem that we don’t understand that ghetto people are like hillbillies. We don’t really need them to follow Bill Ayers’ plan for america. Let them eat yellow cake.”

Read more:

http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/10/01/the-olympic-ring/

Consider Obama’s exploitation of the poor due to his long term close ties to ACORN

Report to the Catholic Bishops from 1997
“The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) which is also patterned on Alinsky’s organizational recommendations, recruits individual members.”
“To be eligible to receive CHD funds, a program must be run by the poor, benefit the poor, and change social structures that harm the poor.” However, in light of the politically oriented thrust of ACORN’s activities, it is fair to ask whether the CHD subsidies to ACORN are advisable and commensurate with the purposes of CHD.”

 
“However, when the CHD funds Alinsky-style, church-based community organizations as in the best interest of the poor and supports organizations which advance other agendas, it divests the poor of their right to an authentic voice. This process tends to treat the poor as exploited units of human capital, rather than as human beings created in the dignity of God’s image.”

Read more:

http://www.wandererforum.org/publications/focus025.html

Fox News, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity and MIchelle Malkin have done a superb job of exposing the real agenda of Barack Obama, Valerie Jarrett and Michelle Obama. The day after Glenn Beck began exposing Valerie Jarrett and her hidden agenda, the White House blog began their Orwellian lie and smear campaign against Beck.
White House blog
“WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2009 AT 1:15 PM
Reality Check: Trying to Turn a Point of Pride into a Moment of Shame
Posted by Jesse Lee
 
Last night Fox News continued its disregard for the facts in an attempt to smear the Administration’s efforts to win the Olympics for the United States. In the past, hosting the Olympics has been a source of pride and unity for the country, but once again Fox News’ Glenn Beck program has shown that nothing is worthy of respect if it can be used as part of a partisan attack to boost ratings.
 
RHETORIC:          BECK SAID VANCOUVER LOST $1 BILLION WHEN IT “HAD THE OLYMPICS.”   Glenn Beck said, “Vancouver lost, how much was it? they lost a billion dollars when they had the Olympics.”  [Transcript, Glenn Beck Show, 9/29/09]
 
REALITY:              VANCOUVER’S OLYMPICS WILL NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL 2010.   Vancouver will host the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games from February 12 – 28, 2010 and March 12-21, 2010, respectively. [Vancouver2010.com, accessed 9/29/09]“

Citizen Wells response

had – past tense of ownership. A better word, perhaps could have been chosen, such as has. However, had is accurate since they have been working on this for some time and are already losing a large sum of money.

From CBC News Canada, January 9, 2009:

“Vancouver taxpayers could be on the hook for as much as $875 million to complete the Olympic Athletes Village unless city council can reopen a loan given to the developer or find new financing.”

“The Olympic village is a billion-dollar project, and the city taxpayers are on the hook for all of it.”
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson

Let’ see, January 9, 2009. That appears to be past tense. Citizen Wells
White House blog
RHETORIC: VALERIE JARRETT WILL BENEFIT FINANCIALLY. Beck asked, “Is it possible that she is going to benefit if the Olympics come to Chicago?” Caddell responded, “Well, that’s the word. She has certainly had a lot of dealings going on in real estate.” [Transcript, Glenn Beck Show, 9/29/09]
 
REALITY: UPON ENTERING GOVERNMENT, VALERIE JARRETT DIVESTED ALL HER REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT HOLDINGS EXCEPT FOR A SINGLE INVESTMENT THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OLYMPIC BID. Valerie Jarrett divested all her investment real estate holdings upon entering government except for a single real estate holding that she was unable to sell. This single real estate investment has been determined by White House Counsel and the independent Office of Government Ethics to present no conflict of interest in performing her duties as a White House advisor.  It has nothing to do with the Olympic bid.
Citizen Wells response

Valerie Jarrett, as Obama, is entrenched in Chicago pay to play politics. She worked for Mayor daley years ago, worked with Michelle Obama at several jobs and gave Michelle an almost triple pay raise after Obama was elected to the US Senate. Her involvement in shady real estate transactions and slum housing is well documented. She has not been divested of political connections that will benefit her and them.

Conclusion

Regardless of whether or not the IOC selects Chicago, we the American people should not get stuck with the bill before during or after the event and we should not pay for Obama’s falling legacy boost or involvement in pay to play politics.

IOC, if you select Chicago as the site for the 2016 Olympics, you will regret it. Chicagoans and the American public does not support it.

What can you do?

Regardless of which city the IOC selects, contact your congressmen and let them know you are fed up with pay to play politics and paying for shady political maneuvers. Valerie Jarrett is already trying to craft a suspicious HUD deal. We are beginning to see more than the tip of the iceberg of ACORN corruption in Chicago and nationwide and Obama’s long time ties. We cannot aford more of the same.

The Citizen Wells blog began reporting about Acorn corruption, voter fraud, contributions to  mortgage meltdown and strong ties to Barack Obama on August 21, 2008. Since then we have produced numerous articles on Acorn and Obama, in fact, more than enough to prevent Obama from winning the presidency if the public or the MSM had been paying attention. Hat’s off to Michelle Malkin, Larry Johnson and other great journalists who paved the way with extensive research on Acorn and their ties to Obama.

Here are what I consider the top 4 articles on Acorn corruption and how Obama fits in:

October 8, 2008 – Straight from the horse’s mouth

“ACORN Report
The ACORN Report is published by ACORN’s National Office and contains up-to-date information. We have ACORN Reports indexed by date and topic available.”

“City Limits February 1999
During its 15 years in New York City, ACORN has helped squatters claim derelict city-owned property, forced bankers to invest in low-income communities, and organized a war against the city’s workfare program.

It’s also developed a reputation for no-holds-barred tactics—getting results through adversarial campaigns against bankers, politicians and bureaucrats using confrontation and concession rather than consensus. ACORN, unlike most social service non-profits, scorns charity. Their goal is to help poor people seize power.”

This comes straight from the Acorn national office.
Note the following:

“Their goal is to help poor people seize power”

It does not say, as John Mccain or Ronald Reagan would say, help poor
people to better themselves and their economic condition, but rather
“seize power.”

Oct 8, 2008 Acorn National Office report reveals radical agenda

October 8, 2008 – Catholic Bishops report on Acorn, Democratic Socialists of America, New Party.  Obama’s ties

“Barack Obama attended and participated in meetings of the Chicago New Party and the Chicago DSA, the local affiliate of the Democratic Socialists of America.”

“Most New Party members hailed from the Democratic Socialists of America and the militant organization ACORN. The party’s Chicago chapter also included a large contingent from the Committees of Correspondence, a Marxist coalition of former Maoists, Trotskyists, and Communist Party USA members.”

Catholic Bishops report on community organizing, Acorn

“Introduction: This commentary is submitted to the Catholic Bishops of the United States with respect to their possible consideration of changes in the organization, funding, and structure of the Campaign for Human Development (CHD). It is essential to note, however, the limited purpose and scope of this commentary:”

“COMMUNITY ORGANIZING: During the funding period of 1992-1995, CHD gave significant grants to community organizing efforts that implement many of the organizational techniques recommended by Saul Alinsky.”

“The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) which is also patterned on Alinsky’s organizational recommendations, recruits individual members.”

“To be eligible to receive CHD funds, a program must be run by the poor, benefit the poor, and change social structures that harm the poor.” However, in light of the politically oriented thrust of ACORN’s activities, it is fair to ask whether the CHD subsidies to ACORN are advisable and commensurate with the purposes of CHD.”

“This commentary does not oppose CHD funding of genuine, grassroots community organizations, run and supported by individual members of a parish or diocese. There is potential value and virtue in the collective voice. However, when the CHD funds Alinsky-style, church-based community organizations as in the best interest of the poor and supports organizations which advance other agendas, it divests the poor of their right to an authentic voice. This process tends to treat the poor as exploited units of human capital, rather than as human beings created in the dignity of God’s image.”

“There are alternative, self-determined organizations of the poor, which are supportive of life. Those alternative, grassroots community organizations do not merely serve their constituency but rather they are their constituency. They do not use community organizing to further an additional agenda.”
“It would be reasonable for the bishops to consider:

The immediate cessation of all CHD funding to Alinsky-style, church-based community organizations.

To accomplish its goals, as outlined in the People’s Platform, ACORN has developed a political alliance with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Together with others, ACORN and the DSA have formed a political party, the New Party.

National ACORN president, Maud Hurd, along with Dr. Cornel West (honorary chair of the Democratic Socialists of America) and a representative from the Reproductive Rights Coalition Fund, are listed as New Party supporters.”

Oct 8, 2008 Acorn, Catholic Bishops report, New Party, Democratic Socialists of America

October 10 2008 – Obama lied about Acorn

“Obama lied about his connections to Acorn:

• Obama helped Acorn in organizing of “Project VOTE” in 1992.
• Obama was a community organizer.
• Obama represented Acorn as attorney, ACORN vs. Edgar.
• Obama was involved in Acorn leadership training sessions.
• Obama, Annenberg Challenge, William Ayers, Acorn.
• Acorn, New party endorsement of Obama.
• February 25th to May 17th 2008, Obama camp paid $832,598 to Acorn.
• Acorn Voter fraud.
• Obama may have stolen the nomination through Acorn voter fraud.”

Oct 10, 2008 Obama long time strong ties to Acorn

October 13, 2008 – Acorn contribution to mortgage crisis

“FOR years, ACORN had combined manipulation of the CRA with intimidation-protest tactics to force banks to lower credit standards. Its crusade, with help from Democrats in Congress, to push these high-risk “subprime” loans on banks is at the root of today’s economic meltdown.””
““Instead, Democrats like Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Reps. Kennedy and Waters allied with the Clinton administration to broaden the acceptability of risky subprime loans throughout the financial system, thus precipitating our current crisis.

ACORN had come to Congress not only to protect the CRA from GOP reforms but also to expand the reach of quota-based lending to Fannie, Freddie and beyond. By steamrolling the GOP that March, it had crushed the last potential barrier to “change.””"

““ACORN’s alliance with the Democratic Party is at the root of the current financial meltdown. And Barack Obama has stayed true to ACORN’s ways.””

Oct 13, 2008 Acorn and Democrat allies built mortgage crisis

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD)  suspended funding for Acorn in October 2008. This is hardly a right wing organization. Where was the media? Where was Congress?

We will provide more details about research done for the Catholic Bishops, much of it done and reported by 1997, and certainly mountains of evidence available in 2008. This is criminal that Obama was given a free ride on this by the main stream media and allowed to continue his pattern of lies and deception.

Stay tuned for more details.

A lot has been written about Robert Nozick’s experiment involving the experience machine. Here’s my take.

The question is: if you could program a life full of the choicest experiences, would you leave the real world behind and live in your self-created sensory utopia?

Nozick says that one reason the experience machine would be a defective way to live is that “we want to do certain things, and not just have the experience of doing them.” This strikes me as not quite correct, and not really consistent with some other things Nozick says a little later, namely his creation of other “machines.”

What I mean is that it seems that nothing about the experience machine rides on whether we are in touch with reality or not. The concern about the experience machine is all about the ability to program our future. Imagine: we boot up a program to climb Mt. Everest. The experiences are all there: frost bite, exhaustion, and dehydration, all followed by our triumphant ascent to the summit. How would this be any different than if we, standing outside of the experience machine, set up a series of events to befall us on our trip to the top of the real Mt. Everest (pretend we are a type of God who can choose the future). In one case, we are standing on a simulated Mt. Everest after the program runs and in the other, we are standing on the real Mt. Everest after we adjusted reality to our whims. Both seem empty, it’s just that one is inside our technical proficiency as a species where the other one requires imagining us with power over time and space. What really bothers us about both of these cases is that we took all the chance out the climb. Climbing Everest isn’t a challenge unless there are genuinely factors which we cannot control; the world must resist our attempt to make it the way that we want.

I think this insight is powerful and powerfully ignored by a lot of theorizing about what makes a life go well. What this tells us, I think, is that life loses it’s meaning without genuine difficulty and at times even suffering. And, it won’t due to say that life need only have the possibilty of suffering for it to have meaning, there must actually be suffering at some points, otherwise, what would it mean that life could have it? The fact that we can control the results of our actions only up to a point is what makes them worth doing and what gives accomplishments their value: they come about only in spite of opposition by fate.

When we climb Everest, we don’t want to only feel what it’s like to reach the top after hardship. We want to reach the top after knowing that it might not have been so and that we might have been defeated along the way. This is the possibility of failure that the experience machine denies us.

Note: The song that best gets one in the mood to appreciate this argument is “No Quarter” by Led Zeppelin.

Greetings.

No Quarter 26 arrived at my door step this week with a whole load of Khador orientated bits, of particular interest is the battle report against the newly released Retribution of Scyrah…

Of particular interest was the way in which the Scyrah dispatched the Khador Warjacks (one round of combat). So this begs the question does Khador philosophy stand the test of time against Privateers new pointy ears? Doesn’t look like it. Ed (the Khador player) fielded a very Infantry machine army list backed up by the Extreme Juggernaut and Devastator (possibly to tie in with the issues Guts and gears: Devastator). The list founds itself torn apart by the mass fire power of the Scyrah and it was only the use of Zerkova and the multi blizzards cast by the Ternion that stopped the force being torn apart earlier in the game. I won’t say any more about the game for those who are anticipating reading up on it, but needless to say it was brutal, short and entertaining.

Very nice modelling article this month with a build and paint of the Extreme Juggernaut and a nice Convoy with detail on how to make your own little horse and wagon with seated warjack. A very characterful article which I am sure I will use once I get through the flurry of painting. Throw in the Guts and gears article on the Devastator, is Privateer giving hints out already about whats ahead? are we to expect a sudden Red invasion with the release of MKII in 2010? or is all just coincidence?

I picked up a few reinforcements for my army too in the form of Assault Kommando’s and the kazazy Underboss which is a very characterful model and one I am looking forward to painting soon. This brings the Khador count to 4300 points in total.

Now the approaching months do look Scyrah saturated but there are a few very nice little bits and pieces which I am keeping tabs on. “Grind” which is basically a American Football style board game with Warjacks is due for release end of September/start of October but with no deinite trade price for the UK, early buyers should be wary of being over charged. Still with a proposed 10 Warjacks with interchangeable arms this item looks to have massive entertainment value and also give insight into the future evolution of Warmachine models post MKII release.

On the painting side of things I am still chugging away at September’s Vow with the very final touch being applied to the Kodiak. Its looking good which for me to say is quite a rare thing as I am always massively critical of my own work. Working with the new colour of Cayman Green was a positive gamble and one that allows me to experiment with colour spectrum that I have long neglected, secondly it break the stigma of “How will I tackle Warjacks”. Now that I am reaching the completion phase, I am fully aware of the time investment required for NMM Warjacks. On the table primed and ready to roll are the Widomakers and remains of the Iron Fang Pikemen. Although September’s Vow is small compared to some of the other painters out there, its a reasonable vow for me…I think if given a whole month off to just paint I still would not be able to paint a full army lol…such is the weakness of a over critical painter.

Thanks for reading and happy painting

DiStudios

It’s good to be skeptical at times. It leaves room for wonderment and surprise, the kind that grabs you by the throat at the moment you least expect it. Saturday night at Slim’s in San Francisco on 11th and Folsom proved to be a remarkable night. A band that called themselves Led Zepagain was set to play. I’ve never heard of them up until two weeks ago when my husband found them on YouTube, so yes, I was extremely skeptical. Especially after hearing of bands like the ghastly Dredd Zeppelin that mutilated Led Zeppelin songs for years on end. I’ve been a Led Zeppelin fan longer than I’ve been a Tori Amos fan. Those who have read my previous posts would know how long, indeed, that is. My husband and I couldn’t believe how good they were that we  just HAD to see them for ourselves.

This was beyond imitation and flattery. This was beyond cover bands and songs. This was (nearly) a paranormal event staging Led Zeppelin, because in the dim red and blue lights at Slim’s, a lingering buzz from knocking back a few Sierra’s, and the energy that ran through bodies electric, I swear I saw them. On stage. Live. It started with a screening of “The Song Remains The Same” a concert/movie of Led Zeppelin’s tour in 1973 filmed in New York’s Madison Square Garden. Juxtaposed with the bellowing crowd filmed in New York, the audience at at Slim’s lauded as the screen slowly lifed, unveiling Led Zepagain. And then it happened. Once the first chord was stuck, the first word sung, you had no choice but to sing along. Resistance is futile. You can’t help but give in, eyes closed, beads of sweat running down your cheeks, hands up in the air waving like a soft breeze just ran through a meadow.

What Led Zepagain has done (with almost a ritualistic flair) is to pay tribute to one of the most musically complex, intriguing, and controversial bands in the world. Led Zeppelin’s music is dark and captivating with bouts of enchantment and bliss. Their songs are brilliantly written, both divine and arcane that to this day, with a good ear, one can easily tell which musicans have been heavily influenced by the group. Considered as the BEST Led Zeppelin tribute band, the four members of Led Zepagain channel all four Zeppelin members Robert Plant (vocals), Jimmy Page (Guitar) John Paul Jones (Bass/Piano), and John Bonham (drums) with such discernng precision that Zeppelin Heads regardless of age, nationality, sexual orientation, shower-or-no-shower, arrived to celebrate the music, the memory, and the experience that has never again been embodied by any group and musician since.

“It’s amazing how much you sound like us.” “You must have grown up on this because you were inside the music, and you paid attention to detail in your presentation…I can tell you guys really love the music!” – Jimmy Page

The beauty of that is, Led Zepagain is not trying to mark their own territory. Members of Led Zepagain (Swan Montgomery as Robert Plant, Steve Zukowsky as Jimmy Page, Jimmy Wooten as Jonesy, and Jim Kersey as Bonzo) closely studied Led Zeppelin’s music and everything else about them. This group of people are hardcore fans, playing for a cult following of fans (for 18 years now!), determined to keep the music alive. They radiate Led Zeppelin down to the finest details of Robert Plant’s mannerisms. How he held his mic (not to mention his voice), his beckoning stage presence (although no one can EVER be like Robert Plant), and the frail snapping of his fingers while he sang. Zukowsky’s take on Page’s stage antics were spot on: His use of a Theremin (an electric instrument used to create sliding tones by placing your hands in its peripheral area), and the infamous cello bow used in the exact guitar solo. Even the guitars they used are the same.

Jimmy Page Bow Guitar Solo

Led Zepagain’s Steve Zukowsky (as Jimmy Page) Bow Guitar Solo

The band played a wide range of Led Zeppelin legendary hits: Stairway to Heaven, Whole Lotta Love, Rock N’ Roll, Immigrant Song, Kashmir, Going to California, Ramble On, Black Dog. Of course they were fabulous, as if the band crawled into each of the songs and lived there for a while only to come out emmanating the voice, sound, emotion and energy of each track. But it was the songs that I thought I would NEVER (in my life) hear live that startled me stupid. Not just because some of these songs are difficult to play in front of a live audience, but because these aren’t exactly Casey Kasem’s Top 40 hits material. They weren’t even released as singles. These were songs that made the night worthwhile: The heavily toked up track, Dazed and Confused, The Song Remains the Same (probably one of Led Zeppelin’s best songs in my opinion), Bron Yr Aur Stomp, and the deeply enigmatic, No Quarter.

Led Zeppelin: Circa 1975

LOOK AGAIN: It’s Led Zepagain!!! (Circa 2009)

The music lives on. Someday when the Mothership returns once again and lands on earth for a reunion concert (this time not just in London as they did in 2007!) My husband and I will be in line–up front–with Swan, Steve and the rest of Led Zepagain, waving our golden concert tickets. Jimmy Page will step down in his dragon suit, armed with his 1275 Gibson double neck guitar and a cure for cancer and say, “I’ll take over from here.”

You can visit Led Zepagain at: http://www.zepagain.com/ and the Legendary Led Zeppelin at: http://www.ledzeppelin.com/

No Quarter

“Cryptic Sea is a fictitious name for a person or persons who develop computer games”. That’s what the About page of their site says We say that Cryptic Sea is one of the most promising indie teams in the game industry. You’ve surely heard of Gish, Somnia or No Quarter. Well, the guys at Cryptic Sea are responsible for these games.

Alex Austin was kind enough to answer a few questions for us. We asked him about Cryptic Sea, about their games and their future plans.

GMZzz: Each of your games are different as genre, gameplay and visual style. Do you guys like to experiment or you just like to have a wide range of game genres?

Alex Austin: I like to experiment with different ideas, it makes you think about things from other perspectives. The best designers (like Sid Meier) have made games in a lot of genres and I think that’s important to always be experimenting and learning.

GMZzz: What type of game genres (from the ones you haven’t tried yet) you would like to approach in the future?

Alex Austin: I definitely want to do more multiplayer games, I think there’s tons of potential there. Also an RTS game might be fun.

GMZzz: Somnia’s world is a very interesting one and it really creates a certain feeling when playing the game. Do you think it would’ve been possible for the game to have a different type of gameplay?

Alex Austin: I’m not sure, the gameplay came first and we designed the world around that. Aimee did an amazing job of creating all the art in a really short amount of time, and she also did most of the level design.

GMZzz: And another one about Somnia: does it relate in any way (other than having the same name) to Aki Ville Yrjana’s poem?

Alex Austin: I’ve never heard of that.

GMZzz: What’s happening to Gish 2 and No Quarter? Why aren’t we playing them yet? Is there something that keeps from working at these games? (you’re not allowed to say you’re lazy, sorry)

Alex Austin: No Quarter should be out soon, it’s definitely not been an issue of laziness, I’ve been working 70-80 hours a week for the last couple months. Gish 2 won’t be out until next year.

GMZzz: Do you plan to release any of your games for iPhone too?

Alex Austin: We might be porting the original Bridge Builder to the iPhone soon.

PUMA most certainly must be the new(ish) American word for stupid. Now I do have to say I thought for a while about posting this. There most certainly was no rush to reply to a hate filled screed written by some PUMA person.

There is always going to be someone wrong on the internet.

This really PUMA PUMA person may wish to have a blog war with little ol’ me. In part because I was bored and replied to some PUMA people on one of their blogs and in part because I can be often be found at a great site run by a JohnD mocking PUMA people. I do not however care if this PUMA person wants a “war” with me. She is one of those bitter losers who thankfully left the Democratic Party on or after May 31 2008. I hope they stay gone. Really I do. Good riddance.

To me, the best Candidate for the nomination of the Democratic Party won the Primaries. His Campaign Team even had the good grace to compromise at the DNC Rules Committee on 31 May 2008, allowing Florida and Michigan to be half seated, benefiting his opposing candidate – even though all candidates agreed to having no votes from Florida and Michigan. I felt strongly Barack Obama was a better candidate than Hillary Clinton, because I felt he had the better chance of winning. He won. I am happy. PUMA people are sad, that makes me even happier. I am proud that America elected President Barack Hussein Obama. Your President FL Barbara, for another 3 1/2 to 7 1/2 years.

I have some respect for BJK, the blog owner there. The elitist Amy Siskind has nothing on her when it comes to Women’s issues. I also have some respect for her issues. I raised with BJK that it seems to be hypocritical for her to support feminist issues when she has on her blog roll a site like NoQuarter. A completely racist and sexist site. PUMA Barbara does not by the way see the racism, sexism or homophobia.

Not really an issue and in no way as hypocritical as the fake Amy Siskind, who got called out on the excellent Bitch Ph.D. Siskind is happy to call NQ “her friends” and even promotes them on the blog. As I will continually point out, When it comes to issues of real importance to women, such as the assasination of Dr Tiller, she was strangely silent. That makes her NoQuarter post declaring the resignation of Sarah Palin “a dark moment for America” even more perverse. She even promotes Michelle Bachman, something universally laughed at.

With Siskind and ultra PUMA Barbara, I am not sure what attracts them most about NoQuarter, the racism and homophobia, or the disgusting sexism.

PUMA people now love to shrug off charges of racism. Even Siskind does. So supporting these groups is more likely to do her causes damage than help them. Nobody takes PUMA people seriously. In fact this is why Amy Siskind asked Harriet Christian to become a founding member of The New Agenda, but not to tell anyone.

BJK then went all Birfer. Not once, twice. By doing so, as I warned her, she attracted PUMA people who very much are at the bottom of the food chain. Hence getting in to an argument with the idiot FLBarbara and Bird. It does appear that BJK is probably just wanting to up her readership by appealing to those stupid people.

In fact “Boogieman”, who is so PUMA that he(??) is almost illiterate even turned up on the thread attacking me.

This FLBarbara is however quite simply just so PUMA it is laughable. She pretty much blames me for some Libertarians wearing Palin is a Cunt T Shirts, but finds no sexism in this Michelle Obama post. I guess FLBarbara must have thighs and whiskers that are too large to see past. Maybe FL Barbara is just upset that she can not fit in her drag outfit any more. After all, according to her, that was not sexist when directed at the First Lady. (By the way I think Michelle Obama would make an excellent President in 2016/2020).

FLBarabara is a harridan of hate. So much hate and so much PUMA that yep, she really has no understanding of things she says.

FLBarbara 03.16.09 at 2:53 pm

Going to the store to buy Kool-aide for my stand.

I am serious I am going to sell
PUMA-LAIDE

Orange flavored
With a big O on the cup.

5.00 all you can drink.

What ever person really wants to get a “puma-laide”, needs to be paid, a hell of a lot more than $5.00 and far far more if they have to drink from the cup.

Now this FLBarbara is one of those PUMA people that cry out for free speech, (she felt it was wrong that she could not wear “Obama is a Ni@@er” t-shirts). She is also however, along with her friend “Bird” they type of person who demands a site blocks any alternative view point.

JohnD found this very good post from a PUMA person calling herself “deadgirl”;

“in the interest of free speech, why don’t you go find a porta-potty to cozy up to and discuss your shared too small of a world view, since you will get more empathy affection and discussion there than you will here with me, and a very confined space to think about your small world.”

That applies to you FLBarbara.

This FLBarbara does however understand that other PUMA people lack the ability to read other blogs themselves. She says that in my last post, attacking Amy Siskind (and her), I attacked Palin and Clinton. You semi illiterate piece of street slug excrement. I attacked neither Hillary Clinton or Sarah Palin in my last post. I pointed out that Amy Siskind wants to take credit for the World spinning on her Barkingmad backing New Agenda blog.

As for leaving the FEC dodging paid PUMA Queen Darragh Murphy alone, of course I will. Every $ she takes off you stupid people, I laugh at. I find that there is a delicious irony there when on one of her posts she uses the tag, “You’ve Been Had”. I hope that she has made $millions off PUMA people. Really, I do. I find it absolutely hilarious you think it is bullying to wonder where her FEC records are. Or even why there has never been a donation to Hillary Clinton recorded in her name. Wow. Of course I want her to continue. Every $ given to Murphy is another not given to some lunatic cause like the KKK that you would have otherwise of donated to. So go on give big.

As shown there – Murphy does not know how much she raised.

You and I it seems care not that all that donated money appears to go only towards a $9.90 pcm website. I care not that there was no high profile advertising but you gave lots for it. In fact one of the only ads that appeared from PUMA PAC, in spam form was a fake).

Just as fake at the 99 Things, Rap you claim Obama appeared to, another PUMA fake. You are just a fake. In fact the whole basis of the passport story ran by PUMA people is also a fake. There was no travel ban to Pakistan in 1981. Here are the 1981 visa instructions for American citizens travelling to Pakistan.

All that I ask of PUMA people is that they concentrate on helping Sarah Palin. Go on be single minded about it. No body, even those as nutty as Baachman would want a bunch of racist bitter losing zealots on their side. So when you associate with any cause you will ensure it fails.

I personally believe that it is right for gays to be angry about the continued operation of Defense Of Marriage Act and Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. I think that they are awful pieces of legislation that should never have been signed off. Whatever the crazy remnants of Hillary’s campaign to the baser elements of The Democratic Party may now be saying about it, their Sainted Bill Clinton should have vetoed this. Their current opposition is only for nefarious reasons.

It should also be noted that this is a Bush carry over, written by a Mormon lawyer, as reported by America Blog.

Firstly, a President can not and nor should we expect one to just completely ignore a law passed by Congress and signed off by a Predecessor. Especially when that law has gone to Court 6 times under previous administrations and was declared Constitutional.

One of the main criticisms people had of W was that he ignored the law and sought too much Executive Privilege. So why should a Democratic Party President do the same?

The President has certain duties within the Constitution, above all ensuring it is protected.

Another obligation within the Constitution is protecting the right of States. DOMA does protect State rights, wrongly or rightly. And for all those running round saying Cheney is more progressive all he was saying is he agrees with DOMA, he argued gay marriage is a State issue. He did so after he left office, so his words were very carefully chosen for entirely Partisan purposes. Why did he not raise the issue of gay marriage when he was Vice President?

With regard to the brief that Queerty and America Blog so heavily objects to, it is the sworn duty of any Lawyer to put forward their best case. For those getting inflamed by the stories that suggest the deposition compares gay marriage to pedos and incest, it does not. The deposition recognises that States have different rules about who can marry (ie how closely related) and at what age. The case in question quoted was that of a 16 year old girl, hardly paedophilia.

The deposition in Arthur Smelt and Christopher Hammer v The United States of America stated

The courts have followed this principle, moreover, in relation to the validity of marriages performed in other States. Both the First and Second Restatements of Conflict of Laws recognize that State courts may refuse to give effect to a marriage, or to certain incidents of a marriage, that contravene the forum State’s policy. See Restatement (First) of Conflict of Laws § 134; Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws § 284.5 And the courts have widely held that certain marriages performed elsewhere need not be given effect, because they conflicted with the public policy of the forum. See, e.g., Catalano v. Catalano, 170 A.2d 726, 728-29 (Conn. 1961) (marriage of uncle to niece, “though valid in Italy under its laws, was not valid in Connecticut because it contravened the public policy of th state”); Wilkins v. Zelichowski, 140 A.2d 65, 67-68 (N.J. 1958) (marriage of 16-year-old female held invalid in New Jersey, regardless of validity in Indiana where performed, in light of N.J. policy reflected in statute permitting adult female to secure annulment of her underage marriage); In re Mortenson’s Estate, 316 P.2d 1106 (Ariz. 1957) (marriage of first cousins held invalid in Arizona, though lawfully performed in New Mexico, given Arizona policy reflected in statute declaring such marriages “prohibited and void”).

Cousins marrying cousins is not in reality incest, nor does it say it is, someone marrying a 16 year old is not paedophilia and the deposition does not state that either. AmericanBlog are being disingenuous.

This law must be repealed. Unlike 1996 – 2008 there is a President who will not veto a bill that comes out of the Senate to repeal these awful Acts. While I agree that there is a possibility that he could (and therefore I believe he should) use USC 10, to suspend operation of DADT, he holds no power to simply overturn legislation directed towards protecting State “rights” and I would not wish him to do so.

This is a matter for Congress. They have mid terms coming next year and Primaries even sooner. Get them to work for your money, support and vote. If they will not get a better Candidate through the Primaries.

Gays represent the demographic with the largest levels of disposable income and high levels of free time.

There are 59 Democratic Senators, all wanting to keep their seats. (60 once Franken is finally seated). Get them to vote in line with the platform that they were elected on.

The motion to dismiss

CASE NO. SACV09-00286

NO QUARTER - Live In Viña Del Mar, Chile (23.01.96)

Jimmy Page y Robert Plant, Practicamente ¡Led Zeppelin en Chile! en el estadio Sausalito de Viña del Mar, completamente lleno, quedandose gente afuera según cuentan, el show lo abrio una banda poco conocida en chile, pero aclamada en europa y estados unidos “Black Crowes”…

…el show de Page & Plant se retrazó de tal manera que empezo alrededor de las 23:00Hrs, por que habia quemado un transformador.Creo que esta era “LA” oportunidad de ver a estos dos músicos en un escenario acá en Chile, y los que fueron (y lograron entrar) podran decir toda su vida yo los vi en vivo, pero ahora podemos decir ¡yo lo escuche!, todas menos rock n’ roll que no fue registrada.

Set List:

01 – Intro
02 – Immigrant Song / The Wanton Song
03 – Bring It On Home
04 – Heartbreaker
05 – Thank You
06 – No Quarter
07 – Hurdy Gurdy Solo
08 – Gallows Pole
09 – Since I’ve Been Loving You
10 – The Song Remains The Same
11 – Going To California
12 – Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You
13 – Whole Lotta Love
14 – Four Sticks
15 – In The Evening
16 – Black Dog
17 – Kashmir
18 – Rock And Roll (no registrada)

Genero: Rock
Formato:Mp3
Bitrate:128Kbps
Grabación: Extraída de la transmisión por TVN.
Tamaño: 98.3 Mb
Uploader: Dz
Pass: Sin Pass.
Servidor: Megaupload (Protegidos con Lix.in (Para que nunca mueran))

Links:

Parte Única:

http://lix.in/-4e12f9

FiredUpDem did an excellent post earlier on Democratic Underground on how much this story stank.

There was no evidence of voter intimidation. There are no links to the Obama campaign. It is not as though the two “panthers” are wearing Obama stickers. They were in an area that polled 95% for Kerry in 2004. I do not yet have the results for 2008, but I can imagine the results were pretty similar.

It does not stop the bigots from jumping into their sheets and having their race-baiting fun.

The Right if you are White Reverend Amy was only too keen to don her white sheet, linking this story to ACORN (of course), Bailouts, The Census, The Dept. of Justice (Obama), General Motors & Chrysler, The Obama Administration, Obama Comrades, Uppity Woman, Voter Fraud, Voting & Voting Rights and the stimulus tax package. Wow two supposed “new black panthers” could have such a wild field of influence.

In its article on this, the bigot drools, “Golly, I am just SO surprised, aren’t you? I just never expected that Obama’s Justice Department would let these three men who were engaging in extreme voter intimidation off!! Ahem. Who am I kidding? Of course I did. I’m just surprised it didn’t happen sooner…”

http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/05/30/what-an-acorn-spokesman-lied-and-justice-not-served/

It is interesting to note how many more there repeat the term “golly”. Of course not used in any racist context. No of course not. Nothing really surprises me about a blog run by an Ex CIA Agent who has posters that have threatened to assassinate the President and invented a “Whitey Tape” to try and undermine an election.

Of course almost all of the other PUMA sites have now come out with same mantra. One such example, stating that the reason the case was dropped was racism

http://freemenow.wordpress.com/2009/05/31/racism-pure-and-simple/

Faux News of course sets about pouring petrol on their cross with this article

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/elections/2009/05/29/charges-black-panthers-dropped-obama/

The headline itself is quite telling. Of course this is the same Fox News that has previously said that the President should not get involved with Prosecutions. The Of comments on this story are unsurprisingly racist.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/elections/2009/05/29/charges-black-panthers-dropped-obama/comments/

This story owes nothing to the New Panthers. Watch how dirty racists will twist this story into yet another attack on Acorn. How the stories of “voter intimidation” and “caucus intimidation” will rear their head again. However listen carefully to their own video – the Election Clerk makes clear to the Police that these “Panthers” were NOT intimidating voters.

There was no case to answer; there could have been no prosecution. The DOJ acted properly when deciding a case that had been referred to them, according to Faux themselves in the last few days of the Bush administration.

Bigot scum claiming race bias are doing it for one reason only. Dirty bigots already have one political death on their hand, their Rethug colleagues have the blood of an illegal war on theirs, how many more do they want?

jun626’s buddy, vanderbilly:

Lunes is the second album by the Texas psychedelic duo Headdress. Written in the desert but recorded during an endless New York City winter, the album is a dark meditation on Americana. Guitarist Caleb Coy and organist Ethan Cook sculpt a cold, expansive sound made ripe for these turbulent times. It’s the blues shaped by the avant-compositions of La Monte Young and Dylan Carlson. It’s drone rooted deep in the American tradition.

Headdress formed in 2006. Part-heshers, part-American nomads. They self-released their first album Turquoise as a limited CDR and traveled the country, sleeping in cars and dwelling in caves but eventually ending up in New York City. The vinyl only label Mexican Summer reissued the album in September 2008 coinciding with a US tour with Dungen. They entered the studio to record their follow-up soon after.

The LP version of Lunes is limited to 1000 copies and includes a coupon for a mp3 download. Out June 9th on No Quarter.

[download] The Lost White Brother

-kevin-

For all those attacked for being too old, too young, too fat, too skinny, too perfect, too ugly, too stupid, too clever, for being the wrong race.

That song goes out to the stupid racists that left the Democratic Party because it nominated a black candidate, to the Religious right of the Republican Party, to the BNP, to StormFront, to No Quarter, to Fred Phelps and all those that hate.

For all those who have or have been bullied. To those that enjoy laughing at themTo those who oppose them. A song to make your day.

PS – Love You Too.

Marble sized hail are beating down upon the ground, coating the world in a thin glistening veil. Each pellet glistening in the shards of light streaking across the horizon. The whipping winds whistling through the branches blowing off the peddles of the flowering trees and melding their pink and white softeness with the harsh ice stones bouncing on the concrete. Storms have a juxtaposing beauty that can become very calming when internalized as a dance of lights in the heavens.

Tonight’s listening list encompasses both the aura of the evening and the anticipation of the week’s events and a way to step back and just enjoy life for what both what it is, and can be in all it’s undulation.

Battle Circus “Love in a Fallout Shelter” from Half-Light Symphony the E.P
Antimatter “Dreams” from Lights Out
Blackfield “Open Mind” from Blackfield
Radiohead “Karma Police” from OK Computer
Muse “Starlight” from Black Holes and Revelations
VAST “I Don’t Have Anything” from Music for People
Katatonia “the Future of Speech” from Last Fair Deal Gone Down
A Perfect Circle “Gravity” from Thirteenth Step
Pink Floyd “Us and Them” from Dark Side of the Moon
Porcupine Tree “Lazarus” from Deadwing
the Gathering “Souvenirs” from Souvenirs
Led Zeppelin “No Quarter” from Houses of the Holy
Oceansize “No Tomorrow” from Everyone into Position
The End “The Never Ever Aftermath” from Elementary

All My Stars Aligned

 It’s been an exciting week for me, thanks to the arrival of music from two of my all-time favourite artists. To start with, there was the release of Welcome to England, the first video/single from the soon to be released Abnormally Attracted To Sin, by Tori Amos. Watching that video for the first time, I have no fear or shame in admitting that I got a little teary-eyed. Tori is an artist whose work resonates with me on such a deep level that every time I hear something new, it’s a gift. The album is slated for release May 19 – I’m not entirely sure if that’s world-wide, but I certainly hope so! The deluxe version of the album features a DVD that contains a series of “visualettes”, companion pieces to each song. I hope the two will be released simultaneously, I’m not too keen on the idea of waiting that extra time to hear the full album…

This will tide me over in the mean time, though.

Second event this week was the arrival of my copy of Salival, by Tool. I missed out on this the first time around, but for the past six months I have been actively searching for a good copy (CD/DVD version), at a price I would pay, and at a time I was able to pay it.  All things considered, six months is not too long a wait for all those things to happen at once, and even at twice the time, it would still have been more the worth the wait. I made a point of not listening to any of the songs before I had a physical copy, so everything on the disc was something new to me. In a word, it’s phenomenal. Live versions of Third Eye and Pushit are testament to the band having no equal when it comes to the intracacies of the songs they write, yet still remaining organic – open to re-interpretation; whereas covers of Led Zeppelin’s No Quarter and Peach’s You Lied are made entirely their own. It’s a shame this was such a limited release, as it’s definitely a must-have for any Tool fan.

For those who don’ have it, and don’t mind knowing what they’re missing out on, here is the brilliant cover of No Quarter.

S4E

Most of what I show you here are snippets of a trip down the specialty coffee rabbit hole, or at least what I’ve seen.  A few posts have discussed how I have and would like to continue to contribute.  Certainly finding and sourcing coffees for home roasters has been and will continue to be a huge part of my journey.  I love the hunt, and the service of sharing the journey with others.

There’s more to this journey than my self-discovery, and sharing what I learn.  Here is a vision of No Quarter Coffee.

At No Quarter Coffee, three questions drive us.  How do our efforts improve the outcomes of coffee farmers, suppliers, roasters and their customers?  How can we connect the home- and small commercial roaster to the farmer, and ultimately connect the coffee consumer to the farmer?  How do we create new opportunities and journey new avenues in specialty coffee–without a defined map or explicit directions?

We believe that connections trump transactions, outcomes trump income, and people trump product.  We value creativity more highly than productivity.  Don’t get us wrong–we value incredible coffee–but we place greater value with the people that produce, roast and share the coffee than with the coffee alone.

Anything in any way beautiful derives its beauty from itself and asks nothing beyond itself. Praise is no part of it, for nothing is made worse or better by praise.

–Marcus Aurelius

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