PR and marketing experts Media Matters welcomed 19-year-old Martyn Tallon to their Lynch Wood offices as part of his prize for being named Most Creative Student at Peterborough Regional College this year.

The media student, whose flare for TV and film production helped secure him the title, spent time with Media Matters picking up tips and advice on how best to transfer his skills to the commercial world of media.

“Martyn is an exceptional talent. His tutors couldn’t speak highly enough of him and he has already secured his first piece of film work. It is a pleasure to meet someone with so much enthusiasm for what is a highly competitive industry,” said Dawn Strange, accounts director at Media Matters.

Martyn from Eye Green also won £50 of High Street vouchers, donated by Media Matters. A total of 60 students were recognised at the regional college awards where VIP guest and awards presenter was David Grant, vocal coach from Fame Academy.

Pic caption: Martyn Tallon (seated) and MM’s online marketing co-ordinator Roberto Rodriguez.

Aquí tenemos el adelanto en video del Compost Black Label nº 59 que firmará el productor y DJ finlandés afincado en Helsinki Roberto Rodríguez. Productor que lleva publicando con su nombre y varios alias desde 1997.
El maxi se pondrá a la venta el 30 de noviembre y por el momento no hay más información sobre el mismo.
Este tema se llama “About this love“. House vocal de mucha calidad, con la voz de Max C.
Lo mejor es que lo escuchéis:

+info: Myspace Roberto Rodríguez

A non-governmental organization that works on behalf of persecuted Christians notes “an increase in reported violations of religious liberty” since Raul Castro became head of the Communist state in February 2008. Christian Solidarity Worldwide cites the case of Roberto Rodriguez and his son Eric Gabriel Rodriguez, two Protestant pastors whose families have been subject to increasing intimidation and harassment. On August 17, Gilianys Meneses Rodriguez– the wife of Pastor Eric Gabriel Rodriguez– was summoned to court for “disturbing the public order” on the day she suffered a miscarriage. Religious practice in the island nation has suffered deeply since Fidel Castro assumed power since 1959.

link: Catholic Culture : News Briefs : NGO reports more religious-freedom violations under Raul Castro

Meanwhile Spanish socialists will visit Cuba on September:

The last Castro’s revolutionary purge has left the socialist party “with no one to talk to in the island“, so Socialist Secretary for International Relations, Valenciano, considers it’s “useful and necessary” to know the “new people in charge of the regime’s international relations“.

They always call Cuba “the regime”. We must ask what type of regime is Cuba, then. Of course, these guys will never tell you it’s a communist dictatorship. One of the worst in the world in fact.

Darlene Haynes, who was murdered for her eight-month-old fetus, from a family photo (Courtesy: ABC News)

Just what is it about this phenomenon of women killing women for their close-to-term fetuses? The shrinks had better be working on why something like this happens, and the sociologists had better start talking about how we stop it. Not only do pregnant moms have to worry about abusive boyfriends or husbands, but they now have to wonder about friends, acquaintances as well as total strangers.

One thing I’ve noticed is that murders like these seems to happen among lower-middle class women and poor women. I think it is an outgrowth of what I think is years of baby worship among Americans. Americans fixate on babies, but they don’t necesarily appreciate what motherhood means. They fixate on new life, sometimes without fully supporting and providing what the child will need to grow, to thrive, and be educated, clothed, and socialized. They all seem to say, later for all that, which is one of my quarrels with the right-to-life movement–and with Nadya Suleman.

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want to get responses saying that I hate children or something. I certainly do not hate infants, toddlers or older children. That is not the point. Neither am I putting down women and couples who know what it is to be mothers and parents. I fully support women and couples having wanted children…within reason and with common sense and resources. But it’s also true that many women do have babies as self-expression and to create meaning for themselves by using their bodies.

I think, though, some other women are watching this fecundity with more than a touch of jealousy and anger. The fact is that the attention a mother-to-be gets is not like the attention a mom pushing a carriage with a one- or two-year-old or running around town with a six- or a ten-year-old engenders each day. I think this is part of what triggers the jealousy. Nobody pays attention to them. Nobody appears to care about their lives as well. And what is worse, they don’t care about themselves.

These women want a baby, or they can’t have a baby, or they want a biracial baby, or a girl or a boy. They may already have two or three children themselves and suddenly, they want another. And they are murdering in order to get these babies. There is no color or culture which seems exempt from this behavior, but so far this crime is delineated by class. You don’t hear about upper- or middle-class women pulling this kind of thing.

These women plan these atrocities thinking that they can get away with it. They don’t. And each one thinks that they can.

Nine times out of ten, the infants die after being cut out of the womb, defeating the whole sordid purpose. The expectant mothers die, butchered brutally and horribly. I’m shaking my head as I write this, thinking how can a woman could visit this kind of thing on another woman or another human being–it’s something out of Nazi experimentation. How can anyone not hear screams of someone being done away with? Now it comes out that suspect Julie Corey lived in the same building as Darlene Haynes. If it is true that the infant found with Corey is Darlene Haynes’ newborn daughter, then this is only the second child I have heard of to have survived such an ordeal.

According to the Boston Herald, Darlene Haynes had had a hard life. An intellectual zero with an IQ of 70, Haynes was ready to bring a fourth daughter and child into the world:

[H]er family claimed she was born with fetal alcohol syndrome and suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and an attachment disorder. The report also states that the state Department of Mental Retardation was involved in her care.

Her uncle, Karl Whitney, told Gordon that Haynes was raised by her paternal grandmother, Joanne Haynes, because her birth mother was abusive, the report said.

Haynes, who attended the Developmental Learning Center in West Boylston, had her first child, Jasmen, 5, when she was 18. Her daughter Lillian Rose, 3, was born in March 2006. The father of the children is unknown, and Joanne Haynes was granted custody, probate court records show. Haynes shared legal custody of the youngest, Kristine, with [ex-boyfriend Roberto] Rodriguez, but the dad had physical custody, according to a Nov. 17, 2008, judgment.

Darlene Haynes functioned at the level of a 12- or 13-year-old. As with many developmentally disabled people, she was described as being very trusting and open. Yet Haynes was not that insensible about herself and her surroundings. She had shared with a relative a growing suspicion that her movements were being watched.

A restraining order against Roberto Rodriguez was issued recently, because he was accused of domestic violence during Darlene’s pregnancy. He is the father of Haynes’ daughter Kristine, 1, and the as-yet-unnamed newborn. In TV news reports, he was shown swearing vengeance against “the monster.” Naturally one would suspect the boyfriend with the domestic violence paper trail, but this time, it wasn’t the case.

Like I said, I don’t get it all, and I had a minor in psychology, but I certainly get that this phenomenon among women seems to be growing, or perhaps the mainstream media is becoming more cognizant of it and milking it for ratings. Like with drug addicts, the right people need to intervene, right now.

By Calvin Palmer

Police in Massachusetts are searching for a missing female fetus ripped from the womb of an eight months pregnant woman in the belief that the baby could have survived.

The body of Darlene Haynes, 23, was found on Monday by her landlord, William Thomas. A foul smell led him to a bedroom where he discovered her body wrapped in bedding in a closet.

Police said Haynes had been dead for several days and had not been in contact with family or friends since Thursday.

The exact cause of death has not been determined but Detective Capt  Edward J. McGinn Jr said the autopsy indicated Haynes suffered head injuries.

Worcester police Sgt. Kerry Hazelhurst said officers hunting for the fetus — whether alive or dead  –are visiting hospitals and urging the public to come forward if they are suspicious of anyone who has appeared with a baby within the last few days.

“We were told the fetus is viable,” Hazelhurst said, “but it would need immediate medical care to survive.”

Haynes also had a one-year-old daughter who is safe with relatives.

The father of that child, 24-yeaqr-old Roberto Rodriguez, has been interviewed by police.

Haynes had a restraining order against Rodriguez who was charged with hitting Haynes in 2008 in a case that was continued without a finding.

Rodriguez had been in a relationship with Haynes for several years but had moved out of the apartment a month ago.

[Based on reports by the Associated Press and the Boston Herald.]

Earlier today we showed you Carmen Electra at the Nigel Barker and The Humane Society of the United States “A Sealed Fate?” Photography Exhibition at the Zune LA Gallery in Beverly Hills, California in the amazing Robert Rodriguez sequin mini dress with black satin waistband.

Here at LIVE! On Sunset, we paired this amazing dress with the Crispin & Basilio cropped aviator leather jacket, $610 Velvet Angel Envy pumps in black $250, and a vintage Judith Leiber bag.

I didn’t think so, but apparently, 31 year-old Roberto Rodriguez was a middle school library staffer and girls soccer coach, who was just arrested for having a sexual relationship with a female student. He is being held in the Denver County Jail on a $100,000 bond.

Roberto Rodriguez worked as a para professional and was a girls soccer coach at Lake Middle School, said Lynn Kimbrough with the Denver District Attorney’s Office.

School administrators learned of the relationship and called police to report it. Rodriguez was arrested on March 11 on charges of sexual assault on a child and sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust.

I’m not saying the school should have seen it coming, but…
The school should have seen it coming.

Six Miami-Dade County residents have been indicted in connection with an alleged $10 million Medicare fraud scheme operated out of Midway Medical, a Miami clinic that purported to specialize in treating HIV/AIDS patients, Acting Assistant Attorney General Rita M. Glavin of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta of the Southern District of Florida announced.

Carmen Lourdes del Cueto, M.D., 65, Roberto Rodriguez, M.D., 54, Carlos Garrido, M.D., 69, Gonzalo Nodarse, 38, Alexis Carrazana, 41, and Alexis Dagnesses, 44, were all indicted by a grand jury in Miami on February 12, 2009, for conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Del Cueto, Rodriguez, Garrido and Nodarse were also charged with conspiracy to launder health care fraud proceeds, as well as three counts each of substantive money laundering. The indictment seeks the forfeiture of assets from all named defendants.

According to the indictment, the three physicians, del Cueto, Rodriguez and Garrido, were part-owners of Midway Medical. Midway Medical purported to be an infusion clinic that specialized in providing infusions and injections to HIV-positive patients. The indictment alleges that the physicians ordered medically unnecessary infusions and injections, and falsify medical records to make it appear that the HIV services were necessary. The indictment also alleges that many of the infusions or injections were never actually provided.

The indictment also alleges that medical assistants Nodarse and Carrazana assisted the physicians in falsifying the medical records to make it appear that the services were needed. As part of the scheme, Dagnesses is alleged to have manipulated HIV-positive blood samples in order to obtain laboratory reports indicating that the patients had illnesses that they in fact did not have.

Del Cueto, Rodriguez, Garrido and Nodarse are further charged with distributing the proceeds of the fraud through a series of financial transactions involving more that $10,000 in tainted funds.

The indictment alleges that the physicians at Midway Medical billed more than $10 million to the Medicare program for services that were medically unnecessary and not actually provided between September 2002 and June 2005. During that time frame, Medicare paid more than $4.8 million on those fraudulent claims submitted by Midway Medical. If convicted on all charges, Del Cueto, Rodriguez, Garrido and Nodarse each face maximum prison sentences of 50 years. Carrazana and Dagnesses face 10 year maximum terms in prison.

An indictment is merely a charge and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney John K. Neal and Deputy Chief Kirk Ogrosky of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. The case was investigated by the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. The case was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, supervised by the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and U.S. Attorney Acosta of the Southern District of Florida. Since strike force operations began in March of 2007, 107 cases with 196 defendants have been indicted. Collectively, these defendants fraudulently billed the Medicare program for more than $600 million.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

Technical comments about this website can be e-mailed to the Webmaster. PLEASE NOTE: The United States Attorney’s Office does not respond to non-technical inquiries made to this website. If you wish to make a request for information, you may contact our office at 305-961-9001, or you may send a written inquiry to the United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Florida, 99 NE 4th Street, Miami, Fl. 33132.

Księga bez tytuł

Księga bez tytułu

Autor : Anonim

Tytuł oryginału: The Book with No Name

Data Wydania: 2007

Wydawnictwo: Świat Książki , Styczeń 2009

Liczba stron: 445

Tłumaczenie: Nemo

Dla osób czytających po angielsku, książka jest dostepna na Google Books w formacie PDF

Takiej kampanii promującej książkę, dawno nie widziałam. Jeszcze przed oficjalną datą polskiego wydania, dostałam maila, w którym przekonywano mnie do nabycia owego niezwykłego dzieła – niewykłego, bo bez tytułu i bez autora. Co więcej, pomysł kampanii oparto na starej, wypróbowanej metodzie intrygowania i równocześnie mało wyszukanego droczenia się z potencjalnym czytelnikiem, zachęcając do kupna hasłem: „Pod żadnym pozorem nie czytaj Księgi Bez Tytułu”. Według notki samego autora, każdy kto przeczyta tą ksiązkę, umrze. Z racji powyższego, dla wielu, powieść ta, może się wydać idealnym prezentem dla teściowej, ex kochanka(-i) czy komornika, ale niestety musze ostudzić zapędy co po niektórych -  przeczytałam właśnie owo dzieło i nadal funkcjonuję. Wprawdzie złapało mnie przeziebienie, ale to powszechne o tej porze roku, więc się nie liczy. No, chyba że, to nie jest zwykła infekcja, tylko początek jakiejś egzotycznej, śmiertelnej choroby – wtedy zwrócę autorowi honor.

Wydawca zapewnił, iż „W tej oryginalnej, już legendarnej książce, Tarantino spotyka się z Stephenem Kingiem…”. Co do legendarności i Kinga mogłabym zdecydowanie polemizować, ale książka jest rzeczywiście dość oryginalna, a humor i styl Tarantino wylewa się wręcz z każdej kolejnej strony. Czego tu nie mamy! Morze krwi i kolokwialnie zwanych „flaków”, zwroty akcji, specyficzne poczucie humoru, dziwaczne postaci i bardzo niewybredny język. Anonimowy autor nieźle się napocił by przeniść nas w brudny, lepki i często nonsensowny świat, dając nam maksimum zabawy za minimum wysiłku. Minimum, gdyż książkę czyta się tak łatwo i szybko, że świst przewracanych stronic, dorównuje jedynie w szybkości świstowi latących ustawicznie nad głowami głównych bohaterów kul.

Zaczyna się „od trzęsienia ziemi”. Do najochydniejszej speluny, jaką możemy sobie wyobrazić (aż cud, że ktoś tam w ogóle bywa), gdzie barman Sanczez ma niepokojący zwyczaj, częstowania klientów najprawdziwszymi szczynami, przybywa największy zabijaka na całym świecie, zwany Bourbon Kid. Po emocjonującej konwersacji z śmierdzącymi oprychami, wybija cała klientelę baru (tutaj kłania się nam „Desperado”, nomen omen napisany i wyreżyserowany przez Roberta Rodriguez’a, dobrego kumpla Tarantino), a następnie dokonuje rzezi w miasteczku. Mija pięć lat. Do tej samej mieściny, o dźwięcznej nazwie Santa Mondega (które ma raczej więcej wspólnego ze słowem „Satan” niż „Santa”), przybywa wysoko postawiony, policjant z wydziału do spraw nadprzyrodzonych (i gdyby nie fakt, że jest czarnoskóry, moglibyśmy pomyśleć, że to Fox Mulder). Zaczyna prowadzić śledztwo w sprawie tajemniczej serii morderstw, współpracując z kontrowersyjnym, opętanym myślą o schwytaniu Bourbon Kid’a porucznikiem Somers. Równocześnie do Santa Mondega przyjeżdżają dwaj młodzi mnisi (sprawiający wrażenie, jakby dopiero co ktoś ich odłączył od Matriksa), którzy poszukują skradzionego z ich klasztoru, magicznego kamienia „Oko Księżyca”. Ich naiwność i prosta, ostro kontrastuje z przymiotami reszty „plejady gwiazd” jaką prezentuje nam autor -  mamy tu cały kalejdoskop dziwaków, w tym płatnego zabójcę w przebraniu Elvis’a, wybudzoną z pięcioletniej śpiączki kobietę z amnezją, pogrmocę wampirów z metalową dłonią a’la Terminator, kompletnie pozbawioną nadprzyrodzonych talentów, ale za to bardzo spostrzegawczą Wróżkę i demonicznego szefa mafii El Santio (a to tylko część galerii osobliwości, jakiej możemy uświadczyć w „Księdze”). Drogi każdego z nich krzyżują się w ten lub inny sposób z „Okiem Księżyca” (co często kończy się zgoenm i to w bardzo krwawych okolicznościach), a wszystko to odbywa się na tle zbliżającego się właśnie Zaćmienia Słońca, które nie wiedzieć czemu, w Santa Mondega przytrafia się równo co pięć lat.

Jeżeli czytając „Księgę”, co jakiś czas będziecie mieli ochote wykrzyknąć „Ależ ja skądś to znam!”, to wasza reakcja będzie zupełnie normalna. Bez wątpienia, książka ta to zlepek klisz i kalek z masy różnych filmów i publikacji, ale jako, że jest w zamyśle pastiszem, staje się to jej zaletą a nie wadą. Mamy też tutaj, mnóstwo mniej lub bardziej subtelnych odwołań do popkultury – czasem jednak autor irytuje czytelnika, wyjaśniając mu „jak głupiemu” sens pewnych sformułowań i pozbawiając go zabawy odkrywania ich ukrytego sensu. „Księga” jest również przerysowana w treści, ale to także zabieg planowany – gdyby ktoś na serio starał się upchać w jednej powieści wilkołaki, wampiry, wróżki, seryjnych morderców, teorie konspiracji, rewolwerowców, policję, zaćmienie słońca, tajemną księgę i magiczny kamień, a na koniec polałby to masą krwi i wnętrzności, to zapewne wywołałby tylko uśmiech politowania na twarzy czytelnika. Absurdalne połączenia, takie jak np. umieszczenie w miasteczku z „najwyższym wskaźnikiem morderstw w cywilizowanym świecie”, najgorszej speluny pod Słońcem, podłego motelu, a równocześnie trzypiętrowej, nowoczesnej biblioteki i gigantycznego muzeum z okazami z całego świata, normalnie nie zdałoby egzaminu. Tutaj jednak, wszystko gra. Tak ma po prostu być.

Myślę, że już wkrótce „Księga” będzie sfilmowana. To pozycja, która jest wręcz wymarzona do adaptacji filmowej. Zresztą, jest nawet napisana ze specyficzną manierą, tak, że czytając ją, mamy przed oczami klatki z filmu. Opisów jest niewiele, słownictwo raczej przeciętne, styl płynny acz niewyszukany. Dynamika oparta jest na dialogach i ciągłych zwrotach akcji. Zupełnie bym sie nie zdziwiła, gdyby książka miała być tylko i wyłącznie sposbem na wypromowanie scenariusza, który ktoś, gdzieś właśnie realizuje w studiu filmowym. Wszakże nie znamy jej autora – jest to rozwiązanie bardzo wygodne, gdyż nie możemy nawet zweryfikować żadnej informacji u źródła. A za „Anonimem” może kryć się każdy – od Tarantino, do zbzikowanego nastoletniego fana horrorów i spagetti westernów, który „Księgę” napisał w nudne, lepkie wakacje.

Pozycja obowiązkowa dla fanów Tarantino i Rodrigez’a. Także dla tych, którzy uwielbiają pastisze, żonglerkę konwencjami i zabawę z gatunkiem. Osoby szukające w literaturze ciepła, wzruszeń lub ksiązki, która daje impuls do głębszych przemysleń, powinny sobie odpuścić. Ja daję „Księdze” 5 – głównie dlatego, że wciągneła mnie jak mało która pozycja i dostarczyła mi prostej rozrywki na najwyższym poziomie.

Que significa Black Label amiguitos ….

Etiqueta negra! Dirá nuestro lector más avispado , efectivamente no se que como se me había escapado este discazo . El sello Compost demuestra poderio con remezclas de dos jefes : Frank   “Quebuenoeres” Roger y Roberto Rodriguez (no confundir con el tan en otros  afamado Dj Madrileño de igual nombre).

Disco completito , con vocales jugosas y muy pero que muy aprovechable. Enjoy it!

1. ‘See The Light’ Feat Siri Svegler (Franck Roger’s Real-Vox Mix)
2. ‘See The Light’ (Franck Roger’s Earthrumental Mix)
3. ‘Love Happens’ Feat Toyin Taylor (Roberto Rodriguez Remix)
4. ‘Old Score’

ESCUCHAR

Merry Christmas everyone! Sorry I haven’t posted recently. I was really busy with my family and stuff like that. But I got a lot of clothes that I’m excited to wear and a new camera that hopefully I’ll be able to use to post pictures of items that I own instead of just stuff online. I went shopping with my sister the other day and we came across some amazing sales. I got some really great stuff at Barney’s for basically half off of the usual price. So, here are some of my favorite sales right now. Stock up! Do something for the recession: did you know that it is better to buy about the same about you were before, maybe a little less. Don’t buy too much but don’t buy too little! If you think about it, it makes sense. If you are buying food, you are keeping the farmers in their jobs. So, anyways, go out and buy a little something. I’m not trying to make this sound like I’m finding an excuse to go shopping. But just try to do a little something for those who have close to nothing left. Here are my suggestions. Enjoy!

Intermix- Intermix is having a great sale. This Stella McCartney dress was going for $1,295 and is now $509.

Urban Outfitters- Urban’s sale is on a limited amount of stuff, but most of it is pretty good. I especially like this Charlotte Ronson Bolero. It was at first $281 and is now $199.99.
 

Piperlime- Piperlime shoe store is having a really good sale. I would never be able to wear these boots because my legs are so annoyingly short, but these over the knee boots started at $750 and are now on sale for $369.99.
 

Saks- Saks is having an amazing sale. I love a lot of the Saks designers so this sale is heaven to me. Here is a Diane von Furstenberg dress (Before: $365 Now: $219) and also a Robert Rodriguez one (Before: $539 Now: $215).

Barney’s CO-OP- This always has great deals. Here is a great Diane von Furstenberg dress (Before: $465 Now: $279) and top (Before: $245 Now: $149).

Shopbop- Shopbop is having an amazing sale. These following items are great deals! The dress by Foley + Corinna was at first $440 and is now $132. The other dress started at $550 and is now $385.

Ever since I discovered Intermix one time walking down the street a few years ago, I couldn’t help but become obsessed. It carries some of my favorite designers such as Diane von Furstenberg, Roberto Rodriguez, Elizabeth and James, but especially Herve Leger. This brand is one of my favorites. The bandage dresses and skirts are amazing and I feel are flattering on any figure. Many celebrities love the comfortable, stylish dresses. Here are a few of the Herve Leger dresses from intermixonline.com.

This was originally posted by Brenda Norell at http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

Roberto Rodriguez: Why Bush Will Walk

COLUMN OF THE AMERICAS
DEC 16, 2008
AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM: JUSTICE WE CAN BELIEVE IN OR WHY BUSH WILL WALK
BY ROBERTO DR CINTLI RODRIGUEZ

The President ducked two shoes in Iraq recently, just as he will
inexplicably also be able to walk away from his office, without the
worry of ever having to duck Nancy Pelosi’s heels – without ever
having to face impeachment by a complicit Congress.

The mind-boggling reason she continues to give regarding why
“impeachment is off the table” is that she claims that Democrats are
not out for revenge. Somehow, she seems to be oblivious to her
Constitutional duties to defend the Constitution, rather than engage
in political calculus (regarding who will control Washington).

Given a different set of circumstances, president George W. Bush and
his War Cabinet would not only be impeached, but they would also
undoubtedly face war crime tribunals for promoting and authorizing an
illegal war and occupation against Iraq – a war that is responsible
for the deaths of tens of thousands of Iraqis and the displacement of
4-5 million others.

Chances are likely that Bush will also not have to duck the Obama
administration as all indications are that Obama will not show Bush
his soles. Instead, he will seek to “move forward” (Washington-speak
for ignoring the crimes of fellow politicians) and attempt to govern
from the middle. Governing from the middle is more Washington-speak
for ignoring the pursuit of justice.

Perhaps it will be up to history to deliver a verdict against a
president that has not simply run circles around the Constitution –
while ignoring international treaties and agreements – but that is
actually responsible for both, Iraqi and U.S. casualties, which number
in the tens of thousands.

Despite the glaring evidence that the president consistently lied to
Congress and the American public to be able to invade and occupy Iraq,
and despite the clear evidence of his approval of torture (claiming
that the Geneva Conventions of War were irrelevant) and illegal
spying, the question then is, what has been preventing his impeachment
and/or imprisonment?

It’s called American exceptionalism.

It’s the ability to look at the world, not the way it is or ought to
be, but rather, through U.S.-rose colored eyes.

Despite the obvious, U.S. politicos and government officials believe
that the United States has created the highest form of democracy – a
shining example to the rest of the world. Here, no one is above the
law. In fact, it is loudly proclaimed that “we are a nation of laws.”
We heard this most loudly when former president Bill Clinton lied to
Congress about his trysts with Monica Lewinsky.

But there’s also a backside to this idea of American exceptionalism:
the United States can do no wrong, or in this case, the president and
his underlings can do no wrong. In this case, president Bush
authorizing a war that never should have been fought is pedaled not as
a crime against humanity, but rather, simply as a policy difference –
no matter the hundreds of thousands of casualties – no matter that
thousands of Americans have died and that tens of thousands have been
permanently disabled. In the eyes of the U.S. body-politic, that’s
less a crime – or no crime at all – because it led to the ouster of a
tyrant.

Yet, there’s even an exception to this idea; if a president or
politico does something immoral –something that offends
Western/Christian sensibilities – such as lying to Congress about
having sex, having an abortion or trying to extort money or political
favors in exchange for a Senate seat – that is considered unforgivable
and unpardonable. This is true, more so than starting a destructive
and catastrophic war under false pretenses.

Where does this logic and morality come from? Perhaps from the same
logic that says it is permissible to kill a thousand innocents to save
one sinner or the medieval idea that found it permissible to kill
thousands of non-Christians in the Americas, while seeing it as “a
great service to God.”

Reaching back to the Dark Ages may seem like stretch, yet, where else
can we find an answer that permits a president to war on a weak
nation, claiming that God told him to do it – and then Congress
inexplicably absconding from its Constitutional and moral duties and
obligations, not simply to protect the U.S. Constitution and the rule
of law, but to protect the world from a dangerous and delusional
president.

Yet, neither does Pelosi or Obama have the last word on this matter.
Thirty years after the fact, Chile’s dictator, Agusto Pinochet, and
the Argentine generals that waged a “dirty War” in their country,
found this out.

(c) Column of the Americas 2008

Rodriguez, a research associate at the University of Arizona, can be
reached at: XColumn@gmail.com

Column of the Americas – PO BOX 85476 – Tucson, AZ 85754

http://web.mac.com/columnoftheamericas/iWeb/Site/Welcome.html

Ottmar Liebert’s The Scent of Light, our August CD of the Month tops the Echoes Top 25 for August, but electronica and ambient music make a comeback after a few months off. They include Marconi Union who repeats their Top 5 performance with A Lost Connection, a download only release.  Joining them are Klaus Schulze and Lisa Gerrard’s Farscape, Darshan Ambient’s obviously ambient From Pale Hands to Weary Eyes and Sumner McKane’s What A Great Place to Be, are all electric/electronically based albums that debut in the Top Ten this month.   There are nine new entries this month in the Top 25.  Go to the Echoes Blog to read reviews and hear audio reviews of many of these recordings, including Marconi Union, Klaus Schulze & Lisa Gerrard, Biomusique, California Guitar Trio, Sacred Earth and David Pritchard.

ECHOES TOP 25 FOR AUGUST 2008

1.	Ottmar Liebert	The Scent of Light	Spiral Subwave Records Int’l	Read the Review!
2.	Jami Sieber	Unspoken: The Music of Only Breath	Out Front Music	CDBaby
3.	Marconi Union	A Lost Connection	MU Transmissions
4.	Don Peyote	Peyote Dreaming	Don Peyote Recordings/Interchill
5.	Gerry O’Beirne	The Bog Bodies and Other Stories	Self Released
6.	Joe Euro	Souvenir	Joe Euro Music	Buy From CDBaby
7.	Klaus Schulze & Lisa Gerrard	Farscape	SPV Recordings
8.	Darshan Ambient	From Pale Hands to Weary Eyes	Lotuspike
9.	Biomusique	The 10,000 Steps	Kosmic Music
10.	Sumner McKane	What A Great Place to Be	Don’t Hit Your Sister Records
11.	California Guitar Trio	Echoes	Inner Knot
12	Kevin Bartlett	Glow in the Dark	Aural Gratification
13.	Sacred Earth	Wind of the East	Red Feather Music
14.	Rodrigo Rodriguez	Beyond the Times	KZN Records
15.	V/A	Perceived Distances	Dataobscura
16.	Steve Roach	Empetus	Projekt
17.	Ronn McFarlane	Indigo Road	Dorian
18.	Hans-Jaochim Roedelius & Tim Story	Inlandish	High Wire Records
19.	David Cullen	Guitar Travels	Solid Air
20.	David Arkenstone	Echoes of Light and Shadow	Gemini Sun Records
21.	David Pritchard	Vertical Eden	Morphic Resonance Music
22.	Niyaz	Nine Heavens	Six Degrees
23.	Joan Jeanrenaud	Strange Toys	Talking House Records
24.	Forastiere	Why Not?	Candyrat Records
25.	Fernwood	Almeria	Self Released

Ottmar Liebert’sThe Scent of Light was the Echoes CD of the Month for August 2008

Published on Monday, August 11, 2008 by The Capital Times (Wisconsin)

Questions Journalists Never Ask

by Roberto Rodriguez

Having recently returned from a national journalism conference, I was reminded how most national mainstream journalists nowadays fail to ask the most basic of questions of powerful corporate executives or government officials. This is especially true in regard to issues of war and peace, where many journalists and commentators seemingly continue to act as government stenographers at best, and cheerleaders at worst.

Since 9/11 of 2001, many journalists have begun to fear that being watchdogs of freedom will brand them as disloyal and anti-American. Here are some questions you will most likely not hear in the next few months from mainstream journalists.

Questions for President Bush:
If everything you warned about regarding Iraq was demonstrably false, why should you — or anyone who has supported your policies — be believed about anything regarding Iran or anything else for that matter?

If the United States is the only nation ever to use nuclear weapons in wartime against civilian populations, where does this nation get its moral authority on this issue?

On Iraq, you defer to “the commanders on the ground” to make decisions regarding war and peace. Under the U.S. Constitution, have you not surrendered your role as commander in chief?

Why have you deliberately equated “supporting the troops” with supporting your war policies — a practice that has encouraged the questioning of the loyalty and patriotism of those that have questioned your policies?

Conventional wisdom holds that “the surge” has worked and has thus vindicated you. How many Iraqis and American soldiers died during this “surge” and has your idea of “progress” made the war legal?

Questions for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi:
By taking impeachment hearings “off the table,” did you not unilaterally disarm Congress in your effort to end the Iraq war and to hold the president accountable for starting an illegal, immoral and unnecessary war?

What has Congress done to ensure that the president cannot wage yet another illegal war before his term is out?

Questions for John McCain:
You voted to prohibit U.S. military personnel from utilizing torture (”enhanced interrogation techniques”), yet you sided with the president to exempt the CIA from this prohibition. Doesn’t this loophole render the prohibition meaningless?

In response to heat from your own party, you have backed away from your own legislation calling for comprehensive immigration reform. You now state that it will come only after the border is “secure.” What is the definition of “secure” and does it involve a timeline? Is your change of position on the issue an example of “straight shooting”?

All your experience did not help you in making the decision to support the president on illegally invading and occupying Iraq. You now support an open-ended deployment in a volatile environment, depending on conditions on the ground. How much are you prepared to spend — in dollars and lives?

Questions for Barack Obama:
One of your steadfast positions in the primaries was your opposition to granting immunity to telecommunications companies that cooperated with the White House in spying on Americans without warrants. Why have you now changed positions?

The president and vice president have amassed unprecedented executive power. Will you reverse this, including ceasing the practice of signing statements that thwart the intent of Congress?

You appear to believe that the war in Afghanistan is a “just war.” How long are you prepared to stay there? How much money and how many lives are you prepared to lose?

Questions for CNN’s Lou Dobbs and other anti-immigrants:
You are always quick to point out that you have nothing against legal immigrants. However, on “the street,” this disdain (and the accompanying hate crimes) is focused on brown people. How do you, and the people you have stirred up, distinguish between “legal” and “illegal” immigrants without resorting to racial profiling?

Every evening, you tie the notion of broken borders and illegal immigration to the future of this nation. Do you honestly believe that your nightly obsession is contributing to a more perfect union?

Question for the mainstream media:
You in fact do ask the tough questions — not of the strong and powerful, but of those who question the strong and powerful. When can we expect to see a return to the journalism that is preoccupied with protecting freedoms as opposed to the bottom line?

Roberto Rodriguez, who formerly lived in Madison and now lives in Tucson, offers a Latino/indigenous perspective of the Americas.

© 2008 Capital Newspapers

El artista orotavense Roberto Rodríguez, más conocido por Ro. Ro. expone en el Casino del hotel Mencey de la capital tinerfeña  con su obra titulada Planeta Pingüino hasta el 30 de julio.

Sus obras de pintura, graffiti, mural, diseño y escultura se reúnen en el proyecto The Private Zone en el que trabaja hace años.

Ro. Ro. Planeta Pingüino  Hasta el 30 de julio Casino del hotel Mencey Tenerife