Pestilent Platitudes

Artistic Iran: Appreciating Introspective Attention to Individuality

2009-11-06T20:31:00.003-06:00

A mustachioed, muscle-bound figure cradles a machine gun in front of his blue, flaming pick-up, adorned with Iranian wrestling chaps and a Dolce & Gabanna belt buckle. In Iranian artist Siamak Filizadeh's portrayal of Rostam, a Herculean figure from tenth-century Persian literature, he recreates an ancient figure of Iranian culture with accoutrements that seem largely materialistic and Western. The result seems to be a tongue-in-cheek blend of modern and national identity, whose spirit thrives despite the dominance of religion since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. A slim, though Hulk Hogan-esque, figure, Zaal, adorned with a cannabis necklace and a softball-sized belt buckle proclaiming in bright red letters "TEXAS," accompanies Rostam in Filizadeh's Zaal arrives to help Rostam, Rostan 2 the Return, 2008.

Filizadeh is one of 21 Iranian artists included in an abridged version of the Chelsea Art Museum's (CAM) exhibition Iran Inside Out, which is showing at DePaul University Art Museum until November 22. The art focuses on the breadth of vibrant identities in Iran, half of whose people are under 30, in light of the threat of sanctions from the West, political discord following a disputed election, and economic mismanagement by the regime of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The results are dazzling, though meant to focus on the artists rather than purely themes of politics or oppression.

“Let’s not hijack the artwork,” says CAM curator Sam Bardaouil in Time Out Chicago. “[Iranian] artists are always burdened with all this history. This show is also about the artists as individuals.”

In the above shot of Iran Inside Out at DePaul, one sees Sara Rahbar's Did You See What Love Did to Us Once Again, Flag, 2008. The flag of the United States is draped correctly, superimposed with a embroidered golden outline of the Middle East. The words "Did you see what love did to us once again" are embroidered in Persian on the stripes, having come from the fourteenth-century poet, Hafez. Rahbar, a member of the diaspora fleeing the Iran-Iraq civil war, meant to portray her personal search for identity in melding pieces of Persian and American traditions. The exhibit notes explain, "conflicted emotions of love not only suggest her personal search for identity, but also the tortuous relationship between Iran and the United States."

In other works, the line between the West and Iran becomes further blurred and questioning of any perceived hostility. Arash Sedaghatkish's watercolors portray several hip-looking, attractive Tehran students dressed in jeans and puma shoes and backpacks, sometimes only distinguishing themselves from Midwesterners by a loosened hijab. In the CAM catalog, Sedaghatkish explains the desire to explore "the shift between familiarity and newness." Though the exploration portrayed could itself bend the rules of tradition and dress code.

To the right, Behdad Lahooti's A Cliche for Mass Media takes a stab at broken promises from Iran's government, highlighting domestic frustrations, through the use of a floor toilet. Flowing down the drain are slogans of government promises for "housing for youth," "economy," and "jobs." Lahooti's droll representation expresses the dissatisfaction of youth in relation to the Islamic Republic, which in my mind mirrors apathy in the United States toward the efficacy of its own republican government. In a snarky nod to common disillusionment with government, Lahooti identifies himself in the lower right-hand corner as a "sculptor for hire," giving his phone number and imploring the viewer to send him better ideas. I dare say that "tea baggers" in the U.S. could find common ground with Iranians in their dissatisfaction.

In a vein potentially more controversial with the west, Farhad Moshiri and Shirin Aliabadi collaborated to make Operation Supermarket, an exhibit first shown in Bidoun magazine and Counter Gallery in 2006. The emphasis was on making stereotypes in the media regarding the Middle East into commodities bought and sold in the name of some questionable idea of progress. To the left is the commonly portrayed idea of intifada struggles against the West, the shallow commodification of which allows those ghastly blood stains to be magically whisked away with the help of laundry detergent. I could see a similar work where a detergent called "Donald Rumsfeld" magically brings peace and democracy to Iraq with the simple application of U.S. troops. The works seem to mock the idea that consumerism, capitalism, and the ephemeral idea of progress can overcome years of injustice and strong emotion between the West and Iran.

In all, the artists in the wonderful exhibition at DePaul show the range and depth of emotion that is often lost in the pervasive message of Us v. Them when it comes to relations between the West and Iran, young and old Iranians, and progressives and clerics. The CAM's Iran Inside Out invites us to look at the complexity of our situation as a collection of individuals who have similar frustrations with our respective governments, moralities, and with each other.

The Chelsea Art Museum's Iran Inside Out will be showing until November 22 at DePaul University Art Museum. On November 12 at 7:30 pm, artist, Negin Sharifzadeh, will present a dance performance, Beyond the Sense of Breaking.

We celebrated Halloween with Batman!!

2009-11-01T17:07:00.004-06:00

My girlfriend and I, a little worn out from the week, were loathe to get in line to enter a packed bar to drink mediocre beer at non-mediocre prices. In a turn of whimsy, she dressed in a cute black outfit, grabbed a small Batman action figure that I got from a Cheerios box, grabbed my arm and ordered that chaos should ensue. Below is the result.....

Helping Haiti and Having Happiness

2009-10-25T21:27:00.009-05:00

Recently I've started going back to church. No, I'm not talking about worshiping some invisible guy in outer space who hates homosexuals and dictates that we give our money to sex fiends and the Republican party... Sorry, hope I didn't offend anyone...

The girlfriend and I have been going to the Unitarian church called Micah's Porch, located in Chicago's Wicker Park. We've been searching for answers about the meaning of life, what our role is in the world, the other good things that actually come from the "church experience": community, service, discussion of meaning, free food.

The things I like: we drink coffee instead of harping on about drinking some dude's blood, God is a personal and different concept depending on the person, lack of dogma dictating who is "saved" and going to hell, services are held in a theater instead of some weird churchy place, and a rock band plays decent non-Christian music.

I don't consider myself religious, Christian, or atheist. I see worth in Christian compassion, but also Buddhist philosophy, Taoist rationalism, and progressive Muslim thought, and other parts of various traditions.

I told the pastor that I didn't know if there is a God. He responded that people all have to find what is authentic to them, on a path that is compassionate and mindful of how individuals impact the world.

With that in mind, I've tried the service thing that everyone claims to want to do to better the world and make a positive impact, feed the children, save the whales, etc.

Two strangers from the Micah's and I (most of the "parishioners" are under 30) carpooled out to a nonprofit called Bright Hope yesterday. The two strangers quickly became my friends, both interested in questioning government, the arts, politics, philosophy in a way with which I could engage.

Upon getting to Hoffman Estates-based Bright Hope, the more left-leaning folks from Micah's (us 3) came into contact with suburbia, Illinois, with Republican Christians, a girl scout troop, and possibly the random Americorps volunteer trying to pay back college loans. Our collective goal: feed Haitian kids.

We assembled into a warehouse and in assembly-line fashion, packaged bags with measured amounts of protein, dehydrated veggies, soy, and rice, something the organizers deemed a "scientifically-divined" formula to give the right nutrients to kids who would have otherwise eaten dirt to stave off hunger pains.

I handled the rice at first, pouring it after the protein, veggies, soy into a spout that filled bags. The bags were measured, pulled taut, sealed, boxed, and organized to be sent to rural areas of Haiti. I shifted from rice to veggies, from veggies to soy in my attempts to stave off the tediousness of dumping food product in a spout to save lives in Haiti, making sure to make polite small talk with my more conservative and Christian co-workers The Micah's group, all three of us, broke off to invade the Republicans. (note: I am not really a Democrat, but I do enjoy making fun of Republicans, in good humor of course.)

Though the work was very mundane in itself, (repetitive factory work for 2 hours what many people would consider the ideal way to spend the afternoon) the spokesman/organizer at bright hope reminded us of our important work. And it did feel good to help in my small way to feed kids who would otherwise go hungry, make new friends, work with people with which I might not usually find much in agreement.
We were informed that the warehouse group of about 40ish volunteers produced 21,000 "meals," filling 98 boxes to be sent to Haiti, with the ultimate possibility of staving off hunger for 57 kids for a year. All in all, I felt that that was a Saturday better spent than sitting in front of the computer.

While riding back to Chi-town with my two new friends, we talked about other ways we could help out, common concerns with the economy/politics, listened to good music. The whole experience helped me fulfill a need that many in my generation may have - a feeling of connectedness to the world.

Cheesy, but true. I recommend any volunteering that you think could make an impact. Take a flask along if you need a pick-me-up.

Testicles, assholes, and the Nobel Prize

2009-10-11T11:38:00.002-05:00

Joe Scarborough can occasionally make a good point about the downfall of actual conservatism in the face of Republican dominance. Though his "discussion" on Obama winning the Nobel Prize devolved into a back and forth with Limbaugh over putting testicles into a vice and the White House calling him an asshole.

I'm glad that useful airtime is devoted to lips and assholes to handle the tough questions that are facing U.S. Citizens in light of a recession, two wars, health care conundrum, etc.

I for one thought the Nobel was premature. Obama has given some successful speeches to garner the attention, and some respect, from the world. There's the highest level talks with Iran regarding its nuclear program, Mendvedev is considering sanctions, Non-proliferation is again on the global radar. But Afghanistan and Palestine are drifting further from peace.

I also think, Big deal... Kissinger and Teddy Roosevelt also won Nobel Peace prizes.

Below is somewhat entertaining. Lips and assholes anyone?

Clintonesque

2008-08-28T00:04:00.003-05:00

Bill Clinton says Barack Obama is ready to be president.

I say to you: Barack Obama is ready to lead America and restore American leadership in the world,” Mr. Clinton said. “Barack Obama is ready to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. Barack Obama is ready to be president of the United States.”

Good for him... I tuned out after the fourth time he repeated the aforementioned platitude. He did sort of qualify his support on the fact that Biden is the running mate.

Not that I'm in complete disagreement, but I didn't share the wholehearted enthusiasm of the thousands of Denver fruit cakes waving plastic flags and wearing bling red, white, and blue top hats a la Uncle Sam.

At this point, the son of a Kenyan and a Kansan who grew up in Hawaii and Indonesia certainly presents a better alternative to John Wayne McCain. McCain claims to not know much about the economy, makes jokes about killing Iranians, and cheers on the smell of freedom at a gas-guzzling, Harley Hog show.

Obama actually wants to talk to other nations, you know, like that which the second termers in the Bush Administration have actually made flaccid policy attempts (U.S. representation in European talks with Iran, working with former Sunni insurgents in Iraq.)

Right now, more "moderate" Bushies like Dr. Rice, Jimmy Baker, and Bob Gates make McCain look like Dr. Strangelove.

As a former community organizer with Chicago's poor, ethics-bill champion, and diplomacy before violence candidate, Obama should easily portray himself as a more "I feel your pain" candidate.

Change sells out

2008-07-10T01:32:00.009-05:00

Barack Obama and a majority of democrats voted yes on extending wiretap powers of the federal government. This in a ongoing debate about preserving privacy of individuals and getting those pesky Al Qaeda-types who use cell phones to call their contacts in Canada, Florida, and Tacoma, Washington.

In a quote that sounds a bit like Yosemite Sam meets Tony the Tiger, Republicans allay our fears by explaining that some new safeguards are in place to insure no prying on citizens who don't deserve it.

There is nothing to fear in the bill, said Senator Christopher S. Bond, the Missouri Republican who was a lead negotiator, in the NYTimes “unless you have Al Qaeda on your speed dial.”

Yeah, for all those pesky militants that carry Al Qaeda in their cell phone address books...

Back to Obama...

The campaign of "Change" (whatever the hell that means) is smelling like a sound-bite ridden, not-too-offensive pile of goat dung. The man who made brilliant speeches about the need to deal with racial bias, the need to preserve civil liberties, proper judgment to keep out of unnecessary wars.... Now is talking about "moderating" his Iraqi pullout timetable, giving states more leverage in limiting reproductive choice, and voting to spread the backward policies of impinging on civil liberties in the name of "getting the badguys."

A big point of contention was the issue of retroactive immunity for telecom companies who helped government spy on us. Obama had earlier said that he'd vote against immunity, even filibuster, before deciding to "moderate his position." (Is there something moderate about government powers to spy on citizens?)

Democrats are sure doing a heckuva job trying to portray themselves as the party of change. What with voting to extend the war funding, and this latest policy blowjob to a president that's unpopular and policies that are seen as failing.

A CNN poll late June puts the percentage of Americans opposing the Iraq War at 68 percent. 64 percent want to see most troops removed from the war in the first couple months in the next administration.

Bush now has a whopping 24% approval rating. Congress is got 21% of Americans happy with them.

Why can't the democrats(Feingold and friends are excepted), and Obama in particular, get some balls and legislate change instead just putting out nice PR rhetoric about "valuing everyone's perspective," even if its counterproductive? Say, bringing the troops home, using the millions per day spent over there to foster private and public investment in green technologies, education, health care etc?

Why do I give tax money to these people?

I love how we're "dealing" with the poor economy. Printing off more dollars for people to spend in the form of tax breaks. Yes, when the people are angry, lets give them money that doesn't exist to make them happy. Cutting interest rates so that people can borrow more...

The Audacity of Acquiescence...

Sad Days

2008-07-08T01:28:00.007-05:00

My beloved Isthmus, Madison's alt-weekly, is considering lay offs that are spreading across the newspaper industry, reports the Capital Times, who itself had to cut staff and quit printing paper editions of the daily.

This as advertisers prefer to go to lower cost venues instead of pumping money into a paper that not only uncovers police brutality and government corruption, but does it with personality. The great thing I like is that editors there don't pretend to be objective and rehash quotes/old story lines. In this way the paper addresses a more specific audience.

Much more valuable to advertisers than just a general info rag for the "average American."

I've been thinking for a long time that Isthmus should collect a minor subscription fee instead of being soley funded by ad dollars. Such a fee could be negligible, but still help fund substantive gaps.

For example, instead of being free, how about charging $0.05 per copy? A lot of readers would likely pay a nickel for Isthmus.

If Isthmus charged five cents with its current circulation of 61,000, that's $3050 extra each week. Enough to pay for more reporters (and freelancers). Even if circulation dropped to 45,000 due to the price, that's an extra $2,250...

...jeez I'm happy I joined the journalism industry...

Thedailypage/Isthmus will find a way to get its message out despite changes/a poor economy. If not just because it's a Madison institution.

Operation Iraqi Oil

2008-07-03T00:07:00.003-05:00

It's official, Bush cronies have swapped oil deals for international cred, despite the Iraqi government, according to a Congressional panel. Bush's friendly friends at Hunt Oil contracted under the semiautonomous government of Kurdistan (a region in Iraq's north); this without the consent of Iraq's central government in Baghdad.

In the NYTimes:

The company, Hunt Oil of Dallas, signed the deal with Kurdistan’s semiautonomous government last September. Its chief executive, Ray L. Hunt, a close political ally of President Bush, briefed an advisory board to Mr. Bush on his contacts with Kurdish officials before the deal was signed.

In an e-mail message released by the Congressional committee, a State Department official in Washington, briefed by a colleague about the impending deal with the Kurdistan Regional Government, wrote: “Many thanks for the heads up; getting an American company to sign a deal with the K.R.G. will make big news back here. Please keep us posted.”

...The encouragement by State Department officials did not end with the signing of the contract on Sept. 8, the documents suggest. Five days later, a State Department official in the southern city of Basra wrote to Ms. Phillips, “I read and heard about with interest your deal with the regional Kurdish government.”

“I don’t know if you are aware of another opportunity,” the official wrote, mentioning an enormous port project and a natural gas project in the south. After a few more lines, the official concluded, “This seems like it would be a good opportunity for Hunt.”

Glad we went to Iraq to build democracy and help our brothers and sisters in the Iraq government, by allowing that central government to be undercut by private American interests allied with the president.

This also may pose a problem as Shia, Sunni, and Kurdish Iraqis have tensions between them. A thorny issue is reception of revenue of rich oil deposits in the northern city of Kirkuk.

Islamic Bretheren in the Pakistani Mountains (or) Bringing Hope to the Village.

2008-06-30T16:06:00.010-05:00

After losing himself in the Karakoram mountain range amid an effort scale K2 in 1992, Greg Mortenson found his purpose in a mountain village cut off from the world, to bring education to Pakistanis and Afghans who've been neglected by nature and their government. This is the premise of Three Cups of Tea, a book that I've just completed. After a series of British dystopian novels, it was a welcome celebration of humanity in an otherwise harsh part of the world.

The first school was built in a village of Korphe, where boys and girls had practiced math lessons in freezing dirt between weekly visits from an unpaid teacher. Mortenson was so taken by the kindness of the village, he saw the opportunity that was lost as kids had no alternative to the fundamentalist Islamic Madrassas, funded by Saudi petrol dollars.

After donations from a French scientist, Jean Horni, Mortenson set on his path through the Central Asia Institute to build schools and provide non-fundamentalist education to the children of Korphe, and eventually to other villages in northern Pakistan and Afghanistan.

"I don't want to teach Pakistan's children to think like Americans," says Mortenson on page 209. "I just want them to have a balanced, nonextremist education."

With such tact to listen to the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan, to create opportunity through their lenses and viewpoints, Mortenson was able to appeal to actual tenets of Islam, of giving to the community and caring for the poor. Something militant Islam seems to neglect in pursuit of political gains.

Mortenson did face his threats, fatwas by political, fundamentalist Islamic and Taliban leaders. But one of the more heartening parts of the story, aside from a girl from Korphe eventually becoming a doctor and asserting herself in a patriarchal society, is the support Mortenson received from conservative and moderate Islamic leaders.

"There are certain Europeans who come to Pakistan determined to tear Islam down," says Syed Abbas (page 191), a conservative shia leader influential in Iran and Pakistan. "And I was worried, at first, that Dr. Greg was one of them. But I looked into his heart that day at the petrol pump and saw him for what he is -an infidel, but a noble man nonetheless, who dedicates his life to the education of children. I decided on the spot to help him in any way I could."

Syad Abbas would later help to persuade Shia leaders to condemn fatwas against Mortenson, and defend him as a better follower of Islamic tenets of charity than clerics bent on halting the schools.

Such help wasn't a rarity as Mortenson engaged more moderate leaders. After 9/11, Islamic leaders protected Mortenson from harmful actions of fundamentalist militant Islam. This even as Americans were threatening Mortenson and his family with death for "helping those Muslims." Moderate individuals in the region blamed the tragedy of 9/11 and the ensuing war in Afgahistan on lack of education and the head-butting of President Bush and Bin Laden.

"Osama is not a product of Pakistan," says Brigadier General Gashir Baz, on page 310. "... you can never fight and win against someone who can shoot at you once and then run off and hide while you have to remain eternally on guard. You have to attack the source of your enemy's strength. In America's case, that's not Osama or Saddam or anyone else. The enemy is Ignorance."

After reading, similarities between small-town America and small-town Pakistan appear. The belief that if outsiders respected the lifestyle of these groups, and tried to work within that framework, whether it be Evangelist Christianity or Shia Islam, then progressive relationships could create opportunity for understanding.

In America, Evangelists are working with liberals, despite their differences, to lobby for proper stewardship of the environment. In Pakistan, an American can work towards empowering woman in a reinterpretation of Islamic tenets of charity and goodwill.

With the Afghan war increasingly more dangerous, and military leaders still mentioning the "picking off" of Al Queda leaders as the real gains in the "War on Terror," I can only hope that policy makers will gradually see that ideological conflict is better fought with books than guns.

"Before I met you Greg, I had no idea what education was," says Jahan, the first educated woman of Korphe, and granddaughter of Mortenson's mentor and Korphe nurmadhar, Haji Ali. "But now I think it is like water. It is important for everything in life."

Instead of being the humble wife, subject to strict limits on her economic future, Jahan is studying medicine and hopes on building and managing a hospital to help children of her village to find their own way. It's a great story. Even better, it's true.

Act like you give a shit and people will like you

2008-06-28T00:12:00.002-05:00

Onion once again delivers the fake news in such a real way that it's more real than the real news, or something to that effect.

Puerto Rico, Iraq, and the ability to see gray

2008-06-25T23:25:00.009-05:00

My latest chitowndailynews.org article highlights the work of 14 students Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School, who curated an exhibition looking at Puerto Rico's past through the eyes of others.

Amidst a week of celebration in Humboldt Park on Puerto Rican heritage the week of June 9, I found the students work to be the best show of pride. (My street was turned into a parking lot, otherwise, for a carnival in the park next door)

17th century documents show Europeans dealing in the slave trade, 19th-20th century photos/books show Puerto Ricans in a disparaging light (needing to be developed by those industrious Yanks and Spaniards), academics from the same period spoke of the burgeoning independence movement after the Spanish American War.

I don't think the article does justice to the efforts of the students; I never was able to get a hold of any of them. But their work was impressive...See info here.

Also, the University of Chicago Oriental Institute is running an exhibition on the looting of Iraq's past until December, which I wrote about here in a column for New City alt-Weekly.

Coalition forces are documented as not stopping tbe looting the elements of Iraqi history, and ultimately civilization writ large. This as New Conservatives talked about building a democratic society. There's some irony.

In the news, Big oil companies are now "negotiating" no-bid oil contracts in Iraq, one sees the real reason we went to war... The results of these negotiations will be known Monday.

I digress...

The University of Chicago exhibition is worthwhile for a cold/rainy day. Or someday when you don't feel like going outside and want to be cynical, yet informed. Cynicism and knowledge are far from mutually exclusive. For more about location, etc., click here.

Today's weather, however, is beautiful. And I'm not feeling like reveling in my cynicism. Perhaps tomorrow.

Talking to Nazis

2008-05-15T11:40:00.005-05:00

US figurehead W. Bush told Israeli parliament that talking to himself is like appeasing the Nazis.

I'm not kidding, it was reported in the New York Times after all.

His exact words:

"Some seem to believe that we should negotiate with the terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along,” Mr. Bush said. “We have heard this foolish delusion before. As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: “Lord, if I could only have talked to Hitler, all this might have been avoided.” We have an obligation to call this what it is — the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history.”

Radicals, like the Bush administration, won't admit when they're wrong, no matter how many times a civil discussion is attempted. They advocated torture, a war for oil, compromise national security by outing operatives who disagree with them. Not to mention hiring, and sheltering, vigilante groups (Blackwater) that kill civilians abroad and hiring crony businesses (Haliburton, Kellog Brown & Root) that give poor, yet overpriced, services US troops.

Of course, Bush was really talking about attempts to engage and negotiate with Hamas and Hezbollah, how that's a bad thing. Because listening to those with whom one disagrees is a bad thing, even though listening isn't accepting. Instead, radicalism should be met with one-sided argument that claims a very simple worldview for the benefit of one group of people (radicalism).

...it's just too easy...

Clinton - Hi, I'm a soundbite away from winning this mofo

2008-04-12T23:35:00.005-05:00

While the Obamanator is holding a big enough delegate lead in the Dem race for our next president, his latest "Gaffe" leaves me reminded that politics is veering to what it's always been, a collection of sound bites and empty promises.

So, what did the Harvard-educated, black, former community organizer do this time?

Said that Midwestern voters may be insulated and afraid and possibly putting false blame on bogiemen! ***Gasps with shock!***

Here goes the Tribune's account of what Obama said in response to why he might not be hitting it off with Joe six-pack:

"It's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations (with losing manufacturing jobs, etc).''

Now, I see this as part of a nuanced discussion on why different perspectives lead to alternate realities (I believe Obama had referred to this as " different lenses" through which people see the world). Working or unemployed Midwestern folks do by and large blame problems on free-trade policies and Mexicans. And us Midwesterners like our guns.

Not that that's necessarily wrong. It's a free country, and you can pin problems on any bogeyman you want: Muslims, Immigrants, Jews, Right-Wing nuts, Left-Wing nuts, Bush and Cheney, the Kennedy family. Let's just be conscious of who we are naming as our "Devil," and whether it's fair to do so or try to find solutions.

Clinton's response is a the best part of this whole debacle. She names the devil, those elitist liberals, of which she is not. And talks about how she TOTALLY identifies with you.

Clinton is the most in touch after all. Her grandfather worked in a factory and everything. I mean, her and Bill pulled in couple million since 2000, living on franks and beans as Hillary donned her best Ebonics accent.

Also, she likes guns:

“You know, my dad took me out behind the cottage that my grandfather built on a little lake called Lake Winola outside of Scranton and taught me how to shoot when I was a little girl,” she said.

Just don't be Gov. Richardson to the Clinton household. Bill Clinton nearly chewed his head off for not being a grateful puppy dog. I mean, Richardson has a lot of his political career owed to the Clintons, and they watched the Super Bowl and everything.

Don't worry, cries of blame and desperation will help McCain in November, then we can look forward to new wars, not really knowing much about the economy...

Is this the best we can come up with?

Busee Bee

2008-04-12T23:16:00.005-05:00

For all you loyal "fans" out there, sorry that it's been a while since I've got the blogger 2000 up and running. I've a good excuse in that in the past two months I've lost a love one, started a new day job selling books, had my house broken into and laptop stolen, and I've been trying to keep up my writing at New City in Chicago.

Don't panic. I'm good. But renter's insurance is slightly overrated.

I was very happy with the latest art show at the Around the Coyote gallery around the 1900 West Block of North Ave in Wicker Park, doing an extended profile in it here at Chicago's "street-smart" alt-weekly.

Haseeb Ahmed presents several works of Palestinian cartoonist Naji al-Ali, 20 years after al-Ali's death. Al-Ali's work is featured as a symbol of resistance for the Israel-Palestine conflict, with works making fun of political figures of all stripes while acknowledging the oppressed - their personae similar to any group of common folks trying to survive.

It reminds me every day that the world is infinitely larger than our individual perspective can completely comprehend.

Garden Fresh brings you Distopia and Banality in Shiny Packages

2008-02-21T18:20:00.004-06:00

Garden Fresh art gallery, in the west loop, features to pleasantly sardonic artists 'till March 1.

As reviewed by yours truly:

Holly Holmes gives graphical commentary on the dissolution of a idealized versions of our world thanks to the forces of humanity. Nuclear cooling towers, skyscrapers, and beer bottles break idyllic scenes of a school of fish, a country sunset, and glacial wildlife. The childish-like painting in some works seem to make a statement about the human impact on the world. Is pollution a bastardization of our childlike idealism? Are we taking something for granted through short-sighted disregard for environment? Or was the artist just having fun?

A forest of chopped trees and striped green clouds awaits...

Mike Lash plays with pop culture references, juxtapositioning, and boobies to comment on little lies that parents tell their children and the dumbing up of human experience. His textual-based prints and paintings are worth seeing simply for being on one hand, banal, on the other hand, happily schizophrenic.

At the exhibit, Lash kindly shared merlot and rye whiskey to keep the gears spinning. Can't promise you the same luck...

Can't I take a shower?

2008-02-21T11:46:00.003-06:00

Tribune columnist John Kass lathered up city hall Wednesday to see if he could use Bennett Johnson's shower. Johnson, the Chicago Budget Director, recently installed a shower in his office with possible use of public money.

Kass's stunt (with video!) is a hilarious look at wasteful spending in Chicago, while rising sales and property taxes creep up on the city's residents before the pending recession.

Carrying his towel and Irish Spring soap, Kass asks things like,
"Can't I take a shower?" It's being funded with taxpayer money after all.
"Where's Bennett, I'd like to talk to him?"
"How many people can fit in the shower"
Are there warming lights to stay warm when you get out?

Johnson's spokeswoman, Wendy Abrams, responded to nearly all of Kass's requests, "That's a fair question. I can't answer that right now, but I will give you an answer by the end of the day."

Pleasantly stalling...

Mayor Daley's administration, meanwhile, claims Johnson is footing the >$5000 bill for the shower, as stated in the Tribune.

Emminent domain, development, and you

2008-02-21T11:12:00.002-06:00

Chicago city council is considering promoting a controversial TIF district in the North Lawndale area, reports chitowndailynews.org.

Residents organized under the Lawndale Alliance are wary of a TIF district because of the fear that any new city-financed development will displace residents and not deal with the root causes of high crime/poverty/unemployment in the area.

Lawndale Alliance founder Joe Ann Bradley's request that assurances be made to residents regarding eminent domain, etc. sounds nice. But city assurances seem more like political protection for Daley and his allies than any sort of active protection.

As far as the TIF plans so far...

Preliminary city budget estimates for the TIF include $2.5 million for job training; $10 million for property assembly and site preparation; $35 million for rehabilitation of buildings and construction of affordable housing; and $30 million for public works improvements, such as streets, utilities and parking

With the third largest amount of crime reported for city neighborhoods, Lawndale needs to change. That residents are organizing gives some hope that change will not come just in the form of new condos and shopping centers.

Gung Hay Fat Choy, Sun Nien Fai Lok

2008-02-10T22:12:00.000-06:00

"Wishing you prosperity and Happy New Year."

Thousands came out to Wentworth Avenue today in sub-zero temperatures to ring in the New Lunar Year 4706. An organizer of the celebration estimated that about 20,000 come to the annual Chinatown event.

The dragon was pretty cool, along with my frostbitten hands.

"The Year of the Rat" restarts the 12-year cycle the Chinese Zodiac calendar. Those born in the "Year of the Rat" are said to be "charming, passionate, charismatic, practical and hardworking. They are said to be endowed with great leadership skills and to be the most highly organized, meticulous, and systematic of the twelve signs. They are said to be intelligent and cunning, highly ambitious and strong-willed people who are keen and unapologetic promoters of their own agendas, which are often said to include money and power."

My girlfriend, Caroline, took the following video; so you can get the highlights of Chicago Chinatown right in your warm, comfy armchair, or on your office computer as the case may be.

So Gung Hay Fat Choy, and drink some Tsing Tao!

Photos:

The Cap Times reinvents itself

2008-02-08T12:46:00.000-06:00

Madison's progressive afternoon daily will never be the same. The Cap Times announced yesterday that it would cease six-day production of its afternoon print edition, following a trend of demises for afternoon dailies across the country. The paper will primarily have an online presence starting in April, with two weekly tabloid versions inside its competitor the State Journal. Though seemingly grim news, the change isn't necessarily a bad thing.

"Many people think that in order to be powerful, a journalist has to reach a huge audience," said Ellen Hume, Research Director of the Center for Future Civic Media, in a speech at West Bohemia University. "No, in order to be powerful, a journalist has to reach the audience that can make a difference to an issue. It can be one person."

Formerly as an intern and contributor, and always as a reader of the Cap Times, I see the the paper filling a needed watchdog role. With Madison's popular progressive readership, the paper has featured such stories as an expose on the doctor abuse within the prison system, the hidden costs behind charity fund raisers, unsavory lobbying of the state cable bill, and more. It's hard to think that silencing such a voice would be acceptable to readers.

Despite a low paper circulation hovering around 17,000, the State Journal's needed subsidies, and high number of staff, the Cap Times could be economically viable as an online product.

From my own experience, online readership of the Cap Times is hardly waning. As an intern, I read responses to my articles (hate mail and otherwise) from NY, UK, CA...A story jointly written by city editor Chris Murphy and I on one of Sen. Feingold's listen sessions caught tens of thousands of hits online within a couple of days.

The news organization has also shown some innovation last spring in revamping its style. Tighter columns on its Web site allowing for more easy online reading, page format seems much less cluttered, and a quick reader response feature gives a nod to bloggers. John Nichols gave live-blogging a go during municipal elections last spring and the staff is toying with video editorials.

Among other things that could be useful are a hyperlink sharing features for blogging and social networking sites (Facebook, Digg, Blogger, Newsvine tabs) and permalinks for stories. As if Shauna didn't have enough to do...

The main competitor for the Cap Times will be thedailypage.com, for which I've also written. Both present a more progressive viewpoint, not afraid to bring fire to a debate on local politics or fallacies in the justice system. But thedailypage.com is strictly local, featuring more arts and entertainment than news. Cap Times could show broader reach into state politics.

Breaking news could be where Cap Times will hold it's niche. Prior agreements with the State Journal have allowed it to seize on breaking news of the day. Whether this agreement changes?? Also, with no paper product, the local news shouldn't be subject to a noon deadline anymore.

The toughest part of the changeover at Cap Times will be staff cuts. Online publishing decreases the need for as many staff, but a short-staffed editorial department could hinder content.

Such is the nature of the old guard of newspapers unless there is consolidation across media, something that the progressive paper won't do. Here in Chicago, there's cuts at the Sun-Times (also due to stupid business decisions) and Sam Zell's purchase of Tribune Co. is allowing a media empire to stay competitive (possibly to the detriment of the %#@&ing news).

With all the economic bogymen in today's news world, Cap Times still has a leg to stand on. And it should keep on fighting.

F&$@ your covering important issues

2008-02-05T16:20:00.000-06:00

Sara Fajardo, an Orlando Sentinel photographer, received an F-bomb for asking about journalism's obligation to inform communities about social issues and political detritus. Tribune Co.'s new Chief Executive Sam Zell delivered the F-bomb in what would have been an otherwise interesting exchange on the state of the news.

Here's the exchange.

"What readers want are puppy dogs," Fajardo said, alluding to soft feature stories. "We also need to inform the community."

"I'm sorry," Zell responded. "But you're giving me the classic, what I would call, journalistic arrogance by deciding that puppies don't count. I don't know anything about puppies. What I'm interested in is how can we generate additional interest in our products and additional revenue so we can make our product better and better and hopefully we get to the point where our revenue is so significant that we can do puppies and Iraq. Fuck you."

UW alumnus and Chicago Tribune columnist, Phil Rosenthal, pointed out how Zell's response raises questions about his ability to respect the Tribune Co.'s new value on questioning authority. If journalists are going to ask him his views on creating awareness as well as revenue. Will they always be told to fuck off?

The audience applauded Zell's response, as he was bringing up a good point. Journalists may have to cater to public whim, reporting on fluff events that the public wants, in order to bring in enough revenue to do investigative pieces, cover social/political problems.

But the point was lost when he acted like a belligerent drunk.

Perhaps a better thought that could have come out of this is that journalists must consider how they report rather than on what. Newspapers cover fluff, but is that what the public really wants?

Perhaps newspapers should consider writing with a more lively tone. Objectivity is a good thing, but perhaps it stifles analysis and can lead to the mind-numbing "he said, she said" story. I don't mean leaving some points of view out, but stories sometimes don't distinguish between which perspective holds more water given evidence.

Perhaps the solution for newspapers is interactive online media. Hyperlinks, videos, and blogs/forums allow the reader to see an event or issue first hand, and comment on it instead of just reading and believing. I know many alternative weeklies, e-magazines, small progressive newspapers, and professional blogs who've done this well...

Recently fired L.A. Times editor Jim O'Shea commented on the state of mass journalism much more eloquently as he made his way out of the door:

"The current system relies too heavily on voodoo economics and not enough on the creativity and resourcefulness of journalists," he said, Too often "we've been dismissed as budgetary adolescents who can't be trusted to conserve our resources."

However, O'Shea also wrote how Zell is a smart businessman who would likely come around to see his point of view...

Interactive Democracy from a Newspaper, No Way!

2008-02-04T11:35:00.000-06:00

As a relatively recent resident here in Chi-town, I'm frustrated by the amount I don't know about local politics. That's where the Chicago Tribune comes in to enlighten my civic duty.

Atop it's home page, the Tribune provides a nifty Voter Guide where I can find out who I'm voting for, their Web pages, and some information.

All I have to do in punch in my address and off to the democracy train! Basically the info provided on candidates is little more than sound bites...and for some candidates, the only supplemental information is who the tribune endorsed...

Newspapers, for better or worse, have always played a role in elections, sometimes vital and informative, sometimes propagandist. From the Revolution's print workshop to the 19th century party press, to yellow and watchdog journalism of the 20th.

Due to political parties' growing lack of resonance, the media has took on a new role as the filter for candidates, their reputations, their ideas. Where would we be without the horserace, Billary, Obama's snub?, Mitt's "conservatism," islamofascism, Brit Hume and Mickey Mouse?

For those of us in Chicago, check out the superfun live-action way to get your voting on. "Learn" from the Trib, print your choices off and take your guide to the polls Feb. 5. Just take the endorsements and information, or lack thereof, with a grain of salt.

For more info on voting, candidates, instructions, etc., check out the Chicago Board of Elections Commissioners. Find out where to vote here or call (312) 269-7900.

P.S. I miss the Isthmus-published League of Women Voters guides in Madison.

City Planning, Windfall for Developers.

2008-01-26T11:38:00.000-06:00

The Tribune provided an illuminating snapshot of zoning in Chicago versus other larger cities. Basically, developer wants to buy property to make extravagant condos + donations to aldermanic race = BIG condo on your front lawn.

The new, 8,200-square-foot mansion is by far the biggest house on the 1800 block of North Wood Street, leaving Fred Ehle's four-bedroom home next door in its shadow.

"I don't mind gentrification and development—I live in Bucktown—but it has gone out of control," Ehle said. "It's crazy. It's so obviously different than what the neighborhood was and still is."

Zoning rules had prohibited such a behemoth from going up on the block. But that was before the developer got a break from then-Ald. Ted Matlak (32nd). Two weeks after the developer applied for a lucrative "upzoning" so he could build a much bigger house, one of the developer's companies gave the alderman a $2,000 campaign contribution.

The real zoning code in Chicago is unwritten, but developers know it well: Changes in zoning go hand in hand with contributions to aldermanic campaigns.

Perhaps the phenomena of campaign coffers for zoning lenience is obvious to any Chicago politico, neighborhood activist, or longtime resident. But for fear of stating the obvious, papers often clam up when real corruption takes place. But I'm glad the Trib lied it out here.

It's a city where the council rubber stamps aldermen's wishes—rejecting just 15 requested zoning changes in a decade—and where almost half the zoning changes were concentrated in 10 of the city's 50 wards that are exploding with growth.
...City officials in the Zoning and Planning Departments review proposals and issue recommendations before aldermen vote. That review involves determining if new construction would be an "intrusion" to the neighborhood.

But aldermen pay little heed. City staff objected to about 40 percent of the zoning changes that the council approved over the last three years, city records show.

Ald. William J.P. Banks (36th), chairman of the City Council Zoning Committee, said the reality in the neighborhoods—as represented by the aldermen—is far more important than what city staff think about a zoning change application. He said the tradition of aldermanic prerogative in zoning is as strong as ever, but that he advises council members to run projects by their constituents first.

I have to say that I'm not surprised, but the "pay-to-lay" way of development is different from what I'm accustomed.

In Madison they passed an ordinance last year to restrict development that goes against the character of neighborhoods, creating "historic districts." Madison Ald. Tim Gruber faced strong opposition, nearly losing his District 11 seat because of neighbor disapproval of four-story condos, calling it too "high-rise" for them.

Granted, Madison is not your typical town when it comes to city governance either.

Back in Chicago, the "exposure" of developers paying alderman to build condos lends cred to the Humboldt Park No Se Vende! movement in my own neighborhood.

At the housing summit in November, residents demonstrated against the influx of "yuppies," condos, rising housing costs. Organizers for the Participator Democracy project related to me how resident's didn't necessarily have a problem with development, but they are being excluded from the fruits of development by being priced out of their neighborhoods, which severs the social ties that help the community fight crime and thrive economically.

One perk of gentrification is a tendency for lower crime in a geographic neighborhood. It's much easier for a city to move in new condos than to deal with underlying social dilemmas.

Presidential Politics - Who needs Media Matters when you have Jon Stewart

2008-01-25T11:13:00.000-06:00

As we're in two wars and threatening another, facing a larger gap between rich and poor, recession, and unaffordable health care, the campaign is reaching a new schoolyardish vibe.

Kucinich is being kicked out of the debate, and thus the race. Edwards is being sidelined. Ron Paul is branded a crazy survivalist. McCain is being called unelectable by the party faithful because he is against torture. Bill Clinton is spouting off about the fantasy that is the Obama campaign and Bill's enjoying the fight between Barak and Hillary, while his Hillary is making Obama guilty by association for receiving donations from a federally indicted slumlord. Obama, for his part, allegedly has campaign staffers hassling Clinton supporters.

The campaign, governance is really not about policy, but the horse race.

Home-spun Mercenaries could kill free of penalty, thanks to U.S.-installed Democracy

2008-01-24T23:13:00.000-06:00

I almost feel bad as a journalist when I don't have to even dig anymore to find our government being criminally stupid. I mean, Bush and co. are implicated on the front page of the New York Times.

With its international mandate in Iraq set to expire in 11 months, the Bush administration will insist that the government in Baghdad give the United States broad authority to conduct combat operations and guarantee civilian contractors specific legal protections from Iraqi law, according to administration and military officials.

...negotiations with the Iraqis, expected to begin next month, would also determine whether the American authority to conduct combat operations in the future would be unilateral, as it is now, or whether it would require consultation with the Iraqis or even Iraqi approval

Hey, remember when Dubya said he didn't want to make Irag in our own image, but allow them to decide for themselves? Well, now we're ratcheting up some legislation that would bypass your own country's military authority, as well as allowing the likes of private mercenary, Blackwater, to shoot at crowds of Iraqis and have legal immunity. Prime Minister (how quaint) Maliki will probably not be happy with that one.

Speaking of how we're spreading the rule of democracy in Iraq, lets consider how well Iraqis are being represented in their newfound republic. Three quarters of Iraqis would feel safer with U.S. and other foreign troops out, according to State Department polls. 65 percent of those Iraqis want us out immediately.

But just goes to show you how wonderful our democracies here and there are going. Bush and Co. say they have to make decisions that are often unpopular with the rest of the country. He knows best after all. And you can't trust those liberals at the State Department to skew public opinion to mirror their own ideologies...

...but seriously folks, I thought this was a republic, not a patriarchal system...

Iraqis likely are going to put up a tough fight over more U.S. military involvement, and freebies to Blackwater...

“These are going to be tough negotiations,” said one senior Bush administration official preparing for negotiations with the Iraqis. “They’re not supplicants.”

I say all this with all due respect to the U.S. troops over there who are working their asses off to help Iraqis with reconstruction. I read news of U.S. troops over there taking the place of the Shiite-led government in helping various ethnic Iraqis rebuild their businesses and utilities. I'm proud to say one of my close relatives is hoping to do good in Iraq.

However, I don't think the underlying tension between groups in Iraq is anything that can be "fixed" by us, even with the best intentions and efforts. Look at how it's gone so far...

MCA, Maps, and Metamorphoses

2008-01-17T14:29:00.000-06:00

"Mapping the Self," now featured at the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art is an interesting, if not always beautiful look at how artists conceptualize cultural and political themes through the use of geography and space. It was impossible to include all the works in my review, given the plenitude of artistic displays. So if you are going to visit, take a good 1.5-2 hours at least. Also, if you are constrained by budgets, check it out on a Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., when it is sponsored by our friends at Target.

You could also try pretending that you write reviews for a local alt-weekly. But they may check IDs....

One of the pieces that I didn't have the space to review was a one connecting relationships with the Great Wall of China. The Yugoslavian artist (I forgot the name, so go see the exhibit) and her partner started walking at opposite points on the wall toward each other. At the place that they met, which is featured in a photograph, they chose to end their relationship.

The poignant metaphor was that geographic and large external phenomena often determine people's fates more than anything within human control.

It was probably the most beautiful breakup that I'd ever witnessed...

Birthplace of Hip-Hop, under siege

2008-01-15T15:14:00.000-06:00

DJ Kool Herc, father of hip hop, aka Clive Campbell popped up in the news today because real estate mogul, Mark Karasick, wants to buy the apartment complex where Herc started it all.

In the summer of 1973, Herc built a hi-fi sound system and threw the first Hip Hop dance party. Having heard him speak over the summer to UW-Madison's First Wave Spoken Word Learning Community, he explained that the event was about bringing people of many musical tastes together in a progressive celebration.

"Don't smoke pot in here. You got a problem with someone, take it outside."

.

Nowadays, residents and benefactors of the working class birthplace, 1520 Sedgwick Avenue are suspicious. What does a guy who has made real estate deals with Donald Trump want with a working-class apartment complex? Will he come in and gentrify it? raise the rents? change the character?

US Sen. Chuck Shumer, D-NY, joins the Urban Homesteading Assistance Board in a plea to buy the property with the help of city funds.

The movement reminds me of Humboldt Park's revulsion of gentrification over here in Chicago, "Humboldt Park No Se Vende!"

Art Shows

2008-01-06T15:08:00.000-06:00

Among a myriad of other activities, I write reviews on art exhibitions for New City Chicago alt-weekly. This show by Susan Kraut was uplifting, slightly impressionistic, and I recommend anyone in the Chicago area to drop by when they are feeling contemplative or need and inebriating pick-me up. Images of Italy are imprinted with warm and cold moody colors that more show the emotional state of the artist and statements about life than a realistic portrayal.

Taking them in just kind of makes you feel good.

Funding the CTA, an olympic opportunity that'll probably get flushed.

2008-01-06T13:42:00.000-06:00

As the Chicago Transit Authority continues to wrangle over a debt-induced fare increase and round of detrimental service cuts, Mayor Daley is going to meet with President Bush to talk Olympics possibilities for 2016.
Here's the Tribune with more:

The meeting comes at the request of White House officials, who said Bush wants to be briefed on plans to hold the 2016 Games, a City Hall source said. The White House also wants to know what it can do to help the city's bid, the source said.

Daley says the city needs a new rapid-transit line west of the downtown area. He mentioned Saturday the federal government typically provides support for host cities with transportation, public safety and security.

Daley has been fixated, for awhile now, on a rapid transit service from O'Hare to Downtown for a while now, to help visiting business folks get there and spend money, make money.

That sounds like a good idea and all. But just fixing up the CTA blue Line is expected to cut the trip to 45 minutes, which is great considering Chicago's traffic typically making the current trip almost an hour by train, closer to one hour 15 min in rush hour traffic.

And wouldn't improving the bus system, ultra slow red line, barely existing yellow and purple lines, be a priority if you wanted to cycle people around the Olympics for cheap? Not to mention, keeping the system affordable and rideable for our daily commuters?

If anything is a strong deterrent for the Olympic bid, it's the crumbling mass transit system and bungling of Illinois government. Global visitor are much more attuned to hoping on the train, bus than U.S. folks.

Democracy in America, Skewered

2008-01-06T02:25:00.000-06:00

Well, I can safely say that I've taken a look at the candidates following the Iowa Caucus and think that all the front-runners are putzes. However I do precurser this diatribe by saying that I think Obama is the least putzy.

Obama emerged with a wide lead over Clinton and Edwards, jump starting the brand new overarching theme that America wants Change! Really? You think? While Edwards has been spouting off talking points with his po' boy accent, he called Clinton part of the big status quo.

Meanwhile, in a debate about an issue that is driving American citizens nuts with worry, if not driving them into a second mortgage with jacked interest rates, let's talk about health care.... Video courtesy of crooksandliars.com.

Clinton attacks Obama for not mandating health care for adults because that "wouldn't make the system universal," (Obama is flipflopping). Whereas Clinton points out that Obama requires children to be covered, thus making it a two class system where children are covered and adults aren't.

Obama shoots back that he doesn't think people are opting out of health care because of a freewill decision, but because they can't afford to have a doctor give them a pill for $300. Let's focus on the high costs, but perhaps a mandate would further distance the public?

Obama maybe has a point. And a mandate for children's coverage makes sense given their complete lack of money, and no choice in the matter. Hillary tries in vain to point out the loophole in this logic: so adults have a choice but kids don't, so that's why it should be mandatory for kids? I thought you said choice wasn't the issue.

Admist the circle of logical struggle, Obama, as the brand spanking new "frontrunner," extends the peaceful message of not distorting records but rather discussing differences in policy perspectives.

The following is fake dialogue meant to satirize the situation.

Obama: "Let's not fight, Hillary. Let's chat about our differences and enjoy the white powder. Remember how one of your staffers attacked me on my "blow problem," Obama jabs.

And Edwards chimes in as his perpetual running mate self, backing up Obama agaist their newfound, common foe.

Edwards: "Hillary, you're just bitching because you're losing; I like Barak."

Hillary: "At least I'm not a stupid campaign slogan," retorts Hillary.

At this point in the campaign, all the stereotypes are coming out.

Obama is the promising new voice and frontrunner, spouting off much hot air. And hopeful hot air is still hot air. Edwards is cozying up to his future running mate. Still injecting the anti-corporate, yay working class feeling into the campaign.
Hillary is the wonkish shrew, casting off her pleasant facade and thus having her good points lost in the middle of a popularity contest.

And now lets get to the Republicans. Another live-action debate about an issue where US citizens are dying: War on Terror!

Ron Paul, another candidate that I admire/think is interesting, explains that perhaps fundamentalists abroad are angry with the US because we've interfered with their country, installing military bases, doling out weapons and protecting our resources by telling them how wonderful Jeffersonian democracy can be. See the future Taliban in the 1980s, or "Freedom Fighters," as Reagan liked to say.

Romney, who has more personalities with different positions than Sybil, says that Paul "just doesn't understand jihad." This coming from a guy that fights for gay rights, then says he's against them, fights for gun control, then boasts of his love for hunting-having shot a bird once or twice. I'm to think that this asshole understands Jihad?

I don't even want to get into Mayor 9/11's perspective. Most of his responses involve, "Hey, remember 9/11?" But here he says this "hardcore Islamist revulsion towards the states has nothing to do with our foreign policy (contrary to the 9/11 commission, mind you), but they're just bad people who need to be shown moderation.

Paul tries to explain the US policy-foreign revulsion link again: What if China came over with the best intentions and installed military bases here to change the backwardness of our society. We'd be pissed, right?

Romney, the Mormon love child shouts back with a stupid chuckle, "Your just feeding into their propaganda." Guiliani 9/11 chortles in approval for good measure.

"I've read their propaganda," said Romney with John Kerry-esque self-aggrandizement

Guiliani, Romney, Goebbels: The "Islamofascists" are against our freedom...

All in all, an iota of truth in all their perspectives. Fundamentalist Islam doesn't look too kindly on Western values, and perhaps they need to change. But is interference from a culture with which their at odds going to help? I'm inclined to say that a Muslim Martin Luther would be more productive than an Uncle Sam, but Martin Luther really doesn't have a concern about oil and national security.

I digress...Maybe these presidential candidates should have a similar conversation instead of attacking each others' patriotism or affinity for hunting...

Hey kids, speaking of propaganda. Check out the similarities in these photos between Romney and Mormon founder Joseph Smith.

On top of all the political chicanery, Bill O'Reilly accosted an Obama staffer! Wow, I need a cigarette. Shit! I can't smoke either in this democracy. Glad that we exported it to Iraq...

Sign of Modernity killed

2007-12-27T13:39:00.000-06:00

Former Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto was killed this morning, being shot in the chest before a suicide bombing. Already, international leaders are sounding renewed support against "the terrorists," calling for maintenance of democracy, and "holding those responsible for justice."

US presidential candidates have put out their press releases, relaying their firm stance against terrorist bombings and support for democracy...I like democracy too.

And right-wing nutjob blowhards are already placing bets on the culpability of various Islamist groups/leftist conspirators.

No doubt, this will shake things up before January elections. So-called moderate candidates were already leery about running.

"Experts" name the most likely culprit to be Islamic militants, which wouldn't be surprising given Bhutto's rhetoric supporting the War on Terror and modernity before elections. With riots starting around the country and renewed calls by opposition to boycott the elections, who else would benefit as much?

President Bush restated his support for the Pakistani democratic process, blaming extremists. But could insensitivity of US policy be partly to blame?

Installment of a western-friendly puppet like Musharraf was a way to jab at already angry militant factions. And what about U.S. Pentagon arming of tribal groups against Al Qaeda? Maybe arming an angry group so that they'll serve US interests, even though they have no reason to want to do so besides economics, wasn't the best idea?

All in all, violent forms of Islam and western encroachment makes such travesties less shocking.

English Escape

2007-12-12T11:38:00.001-06:00

For the past week, I've been visiting Friend's in the UK, at the London Chinatown, a Leamington Spa wedding, and with a Slovakian and German in Nottingham. Aside from the slight jet lag and realization that I am back in the real world, things went splendidly.

Among some things that I appreciate in UK was their attitude toward transportation and vacation.

After being accustomed to a shaky, ill-maintained CTA, the silent, smooth London Tube was a treat. On the other hand, quibbles about a three dollar fare to ride the CTA strike me funny when a one-way ticket on the tube from zone 1 to 4, (similar to a ride from O'Hare to Clark/Lake downtown) costs 4 pounds, that's ~$8.25 here in the US.

Our friends there gawked when we told them the U.S. average yearly vacation, if your lucky, is two weeks. New Doctors in the UK get about six weeks; the average is four.

And Scotch is much cheaper...

Among the interesting sights:

In the lounge area of London's Paddington Rail Station, tourists are greeted with YO Sushi, a live-action, sushi-preparing spectacle.

I was rather skeptical about the quality, as I've not yet experienced raw, dead fish rolling around me on a conveyor belt. But it was surprisingly fresh and pleasantly spiced.

Magical Brewery Tour - Not wanting to waste valuable money on stuffy museums where I can be quiet and look at things the British stole from their conquests, I decided instead to see a rare cask brewery (Cask=not adding CO2) and drink complimentary beer whilst eating chips (freedom fries for those of us in the US).

My lovely girlfriend and I

English Fireworks - wanted to try this setting on my camera, worked out nice.

I need sleep...

Iraqification

2007-12-03T10:44:00.000-06:00

Ok, I admit it. The Surge in Iraq has worked, to some extent. Violence is down and news reports say markets are opening up, Iraqis are trying to rebuild their towns and refugees are starting to consider moving back.

I was always against any prolonged engagement in which the U.S. tried to "democratize" Iraqis. Not only because of the impractical costs in lives and money, but frankly, the whole assertion that the rest of the world needs to be like the U.S. is distancing us from...the rest of the world. You know who else tried to pacify other nations to help their own security? The Romans, and their empire was about twice as long as ours.

Anyhow, stuck with the current situation, the best outcome (and one that I assume is the aim of our government, but I'm not sure) would be that the Islamic and ethnic sects within Iraq reconcile and form a working government. After reading about Sunnis wanting to ask U.S. soldiers to help reconstruction rather than their own Shiite-dominated government, I'm thinking that keeping our troops over there is still not the answer.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki acknowledges the lack of governance, blaming it on Saddam's years of autocratic rule. John Soundbite McCain said there are no Thomas Jeffersons left in Iraq, whereas Bush said all the Nelson Mandelas are dead.

To some extent, they're right. But maybe the Islamic world needs a Martin Luther more than an Uncle Sam with a M-16? The enlightenment, the reformation, and rationality took a long time for the West to develop, and the fruits of these ideological developments haven't entirely blossomed yet. With executive branches not allowing due process, torturing, extraordinary renditioning, and committing treasonous acts, such as outing CIA agents, maybe the West is not the best example?

In Iraq's long-term Interests, the Iraqi government has to reconcile and function. And the Bush Admin. seems to be doing little to promote that. Bush has said, "it's their country." Yes, but it's our troops. Why not offer a stick to go with that carrot of seemingly less violence? Why not set a timetable for withdrawal that says, "Hey, we appologize for invading your country under false pretenses. We can only help out so long. You have to figure out something for the long-term."

Instead, Bush is making photos ops and horribly mispronouncing the names of the leaders of Israel and the West Bank. That deal may not hold much promise either.

And another time-frame continually reverberates in the news. 2008, 2008, 2008. Olmert and Abbas are set to figure out a two-state solution at the end of 2008, Maliki says things will get better in Iraq after he declares a "War on Corruption" 2008, Pakistan is set to have elections in 2008, and after 2008, we'll have another president.

The disruption in Iraq will last much longer than 2008. But in the meantime, can we get a way to stop throwing lives of loved ones over to a conflict that one military cannot solve? It takes a village.

Newspaper located in Chicago losing subscribers, due to poorly written articles allege some readers, said sources at America loves news, a nonproft.

2007-11-30T12:12:00.001-06:00

Some idiots drove around the U of C last week and ended up shooting a Doctoral recipient who had planned on returning to help his native Senegal.

Prosecutors charged the second suspect in the homicide case. Today's lead in the Tribune read:

The second teenager charged in a string of violent robberies around the University of Chicago campus last week admitted in a videotaped confession to police to taking part in the crime spree, prosecutors alleged in court records made public Thursday.

Yuk...to the story and to the horribly-written lead... Is this even English? The lead of the story is supposed to draw the reader in, to make the reader want to read the rest of the story, not contradict everything that used to be beautiful about the English language.

How about this instead?

A second teenager confessed his involvement in a series of violent robberies on the University of Chicago campus last week, said prosecutors in publicly-released court records.

There. You get the gist of the story in a streamlined format with all the legally required info left in. Get to the mundane details later.

Another big thing in the Chicagoland news is a former Bolingbrooke police sergeant who is a suspect in the disappearance of his wife. Media coverage has included a personal view by People magazine and a heart-to-heart with Matt Lauer.

President Chuck Norris

2007-11-19T16:14:00.000-06:00

I have to say, Mike Huckabee's new ad is brilliant. That the red-state everyman Chuck Norris names Huckabee to be the best at protecting conservative values, the border, and 2nd amendment rights is savvy, given Huckabee's propensity to portray himself as the man's man, working class, ordinary guy. Plus, even liberals can appreciate the "Chuck Norris Tackled Rabid Wolves for Excercise" jokes.

Of course, I don't agree with much of Huckabee's platform. The talk of Islamofacism, Straight Marriage Amendment, and "consumer-based" health care is oversimplified. Increasing military budgets and army deployments, US v Them mentality, is not going to change hearts and minds in disagreements with the Islamic world. Regaining diplomatic credo abroad means closing Guantanamo Bay and stopping torture. Creationism is not a solid theory for our existence. And government oughta stay out of the bedroom where those involved can legally consent.

The next ad should feature Chuck Norris fighting hand-to-hand with the evolutionary monkey, both flinging poo at each other.

Pentagon Meddling in Native Politics OR Here we go Again.

2007-11-18T19:45:00.000-06:00

U.S. pentagon officials are considering beefing up funding and recruitment for "tribal" paramilitary forces in Pakistan to fight against Al Qaeda and Taliban fighters, reports the New York Times.

If adopted, the proposal would join elements of a shift in strategy that would also be likely to expand the presence of American military trainers in Pakistan, directly finance a separate tribal paramilitary force that until now has proved largely ineffective and pay militias that agree to fight Al Qaeda and foreign extremists, officials said. The United States now has only about 50 troops in Pakistan, a Pentagon spokesman said, a force that could grow by dozens under the new approach.

The new proposal is modeled in part on a similar effort by American forces in Anbar Province in Iraq that has been hailed as a great success in fighting foreign insurgents there. But it raises the question of whether such partnerships can be forged without a significant American military presence on the ground in Pakistan. And it is unclear whether enough support can be found among the tribes.

Isn't this how Al Qaeda came to prominence in the first place?

Some nuts at the Pentagon thought they could fund Afghan groups to fight the USSR in 1979, and didn't consider the lasting effects of meddling in a culture that they didn't understand. And a pro-west puppet leader fell from control as a more angry elements came to power.

Deja vu?

Charitable Cops Care about Chicago

2007-11-17T14:52:00.000-06:00

Chicago police officers clashed with former pro-basketball players on the court this morning, getting slain in the process. Well, sort of...

The nine officers and group of pros were playing at Fosco Park for "Give Something Back," a food drive to feed needy families this Thanksgiving. About 100 people showed up, each bringing three non-perishable foodstuffs for admission. Proceeds were donated to Antioch Missionary Baptist Church.

"This is our fifth time hosting this benefit," said Chicago police officer Eddie Chapman, who organized the event. "It's about helping out the community."

Former NBA players, and Chicago natives, Rickey Green Mitchel J.J. Anderson, Mickey Johnson, and Tim Hardaway were some of those featured on the pro-team. Also on the team was Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan, who played pro-basketball in Australia.

The show was entertaining, with many of the pros having a blast slamming the backboards, and confusing the cops with behind-the-back passes and fake-outs. Around half-time, the scored was around 50-23, pros. But toward the end, I think the cops got a break. The pros let them have a few free passes to down some lay-ups.

It ended not being too brutal for the cops, but a table full of food was the real goal. Everyone seemed to be having a good time.

Here's some shots:

The Chicago Police Department All-Stars

The Former Professionals chanting "1, 2, 3, Charity!"

Officer Eddie Chapman puts up a free-throw.

The results...

Pakistan, the War on Terror, and the ever crumbling existentialist nightmare

2007-11-10T16:03:00.000-06:00

French philosopher, journalist, and writer, Albert Camus somewhat distinguished himself from existentialists of his time, particularly Sartre, by leaning towards a sense of meaning of global events. Humanity had a choice to act.

His interpretation of the myth of Sisyphus, that Sisyphus's eternal pushing of the stone up the mountain despite being set back by gravity and the will of God, explained that the worth of Sisyphus efforts are that he tried at all.

To try is to be relevant

Having assisted the French resistance in World War II and agonized over the schism between France and Algeria in the 1950s, this perspective perhaps kept Camus going.

But here and now, the utter absurdity of the U.S. War on Terror in light of events in Pakistan, bears little meaning that I can find.

Musharraf has clamped down on all opposition to retain control of the country, Islamists and democratic activists being dispersed.

Opposition leader, former PM Benazir Bhutto's ability to rally democratic reforms has been truncated as she is watched after enduring house arrest.

Pakistani Chief Justice Chaudry has had his power revoked in the fear that the judiciary was considering action against the continued "presidency" of Musharraf.

And almost all U.S. media outlets, including "president" Bush, have reasserted that Musharraf is our big buddy in combating terrorism. But still, White House spokesmodel Dana Perino has chided the anti-democratic movements in Musharraf.

She's said things along the lines of, "The Bush Administration would never advocate clamping down on dissent in the name of combating terror, spreading democracy."

Hmmm. Ari Fleischer, had warned in the aftermath of 9-11 that people had to "watch what they say," when,,,dissenting. The CIA has used more-than-questionable "interrogation tactics" against "enemy combatants." The Administration waged war with a nation that had nothing to do with the attacks. And peaceful war protesters have been detained, ad nauseum... All in the name of freedom, security, and democracy.

...But let's get back to Pakistan...

Musharraf, our "greatest ally in the War on Terror," is only feeding fuel to the terrorism fire by cracking down on people who don't want him in power. Democracy usually means popular support and not cracking down on opposition.

Popular support of Bhutto and Chaudry only show the public desire to challenge Musharraf. But the movement is being given more evidence that popular dissent is being trumped by a despot desperately holding on to power.

Does anyone still think that terrorism can be dissipated through bombs and clampdowns? Seems antithetical, don't you think? Absurd?

Even the Chicago Tribune seems to agree with the fact that Musharraf may not be the best spokesperson for democracy and modernity.

What is the meaning of all this ado? Is action, that stands opposite reason or circumstance, worthwhile?

Camus must be perplexed...

I "heart" Irony

2007-11-05T22:19:00.000-06:00

I really think post cards are usually the most useless piece of mail besides "Free AOL" disks or Geiko car insurance offers.

Some jerk wants you to know that they had a lovely time on a beach as you froze your ass off working at a soul-sucking job in Neenah, Wis.

Then you get cards that basically make fun of themselves, and the whole idea of there being this far-off relaxing utopia. Particularly if they are postcards from Wisconsin, Indiana, Minnesota, or Detroit.

Awhile back, this card from a good friend made my day:

I had sent him one from Indiana saying that my girlfriend and I had driven through the state and eaten things.

Get me affordable housing!

2007-11-05T10:50:00.001-06:00

It's been awhile...

Here's a little piece I wrote for chitowndailynews.org on Humboldt protests regarding lack of affordable housing.

"Yuppie, yuppie, why you lie? Why you try and gentrify?!" was one of the more interesting chants I left out. As well as "Boricua si! Yuppie No!"

Given the fact that foreclosures in the area for residents of color is on the quick rise, as noted by a corresponding Tribune article, I can understand the anger.

Matthew Rodriguez told me that the community wanted to simply be a part of any new development than be pushed to the wayside.

In redevelopment of a neighborhood, shouldn't the existing civic and social networks be maintained?

"Peace," lost in translation...

2007-10-28T13:13:00.000-05:00

Mostly everyone claimed to want peace at the anti-war march yesterday in downtown Chicago. The only difference was varying perspectives about the conflict. Just take a look, putting aside the "facts."

"It's getting better over there," said Ron Verback, one of the 50 or so counter-demonstrators at the event. "We've got to make this country safe. We've got to help those people over there."

Verback, who served as reconnaissance in the Army in Iraq two years ago, says his unit saw a decrease in bombings and more open markets as signs of progress. "Just take Fallujah," he said. "We've taken control and secured that part of the country."

Amidst the waving American flags and some trucker hats bearing U.S. military insignia, a woman raised a poster saying, "I'm proud of my son, Peace through victory!"

Across a cordon of police, clad in flack-jackets and armed with Glocks, the anti-war crowd chanted, "Suppport our troops; Bring them home," and hoisting signs saying things from "Fuck this empire, No blood for oil." to the relatively innocuous: "God bless our troops, God damn President Bush."

"We should support our troops by helping them succeed," countered Verback.

Many other issues were presented as well, such as immigration, presidential politics, health care, education, and the environment. Many of the activists proselytized as they eagerly recommended books they've read that "explain everything."

Among the more questionable elements...

Pro-occupation counter-protesters cried "Coward!" and "Traitor!" when anti-war Iraq veterans passed by the wall of police.

I was going to talk more with the counter-protesters, but a police officer stopped me and told me to go around. "Why can't I pass through?" I asked. His response was simple, authoritarian. "Because that's what I was told to say."

I decided not to press my luck; the Chicago police have come over considerable fire for using "excessive force."

Among the anti-war crowd, some hippie-type folk seem to have been there more to have a good time. With ratty hair, hemp jewelry, and tie-dye clothes, they brought instruments as they performed street theater, wrestling a pretend President Bush. Laughing and singing, "Ole, ole, ole, ole!"

On the flip-side, I really enjoyed the Raging Grannies, a group of elderly ladies singing "Get out of this mess; no more, no war!"

Several other ladies from southern Wisconsin said that three buses came from Madison, Wis. I told them that I went to UW-Madison and they go very excited, telling me with pride about their hometowns of Dodgeville and Mount Horeb. They assured me that Chicago was very nice too.

Several congress members and local government folks were there as well, including Michigan rep. John Conyers and Chicago-area Illinois rep. Luis Gutierrez.

Gutierrez quoted Gen. Omar Bradley's rebuke: "This is the wrong war, at the wrong place, at the wrong time, and with the wrong enemy"

"America is a great country," said Gutierriez. "But it is not doing great things."

It seemed everyone wanted America to do great things, but couldn't agree on how to get there. Ron Paul supporters were intertwined with those of Dennis Kucinich, and socialists were decrying government altogether.

Counter-protesters and Iraq veterans against the war called each other short-sighted as they both claimed to want peace. But apparently no understanding was bridged.

Instead, a series of campaign slogans mixed with the common stories of veterans and their concerned families.

While on your way to becoming a hell raiser...

2007-10-26T12:15:00.000-05:00

Before becoming a zombie, naughty nurse, or pimp in prep for Halloween, consider joining a group of sane people (at least on one subject) in rallying against the Iraq War.

Chicago will host a large demonstration this Saturday beginning at Union Park at 1:30 p.m. and finishing off at Federal plaza at 4:00 p.m.

Oct. 27th Mobilization Chicago has not only organized local alders to advocate an end to the Iraq War, but has pulled in veterans, anti-war groups, and politicos from Michigan and Wisconsin.

They are slated to speak in support of the radical idea of providing health-care and education funds instead of paying for a bomb-for-peace campaign that has dragged on for the past four years.

Gasp! The audacity...

See Oct. 27th's web site for more details. Here's a map of the procession.

Axis of Stupidity

2007-10-26T11:24:00.000-05:00

As former Iranian president Khatami was urging Iranians to say, "Death to Terrorists!" in the post-9/11 scene, President Bush was aiming, with the force of neoconservatives and their Democrat apologists, to recreate the Islamic world in America's Image.

This layout of events is pointed out by PBS Frontline's special, which can be viewed here. For the short and sweet version, see Crooks and Liars.

All of this as Bush currently warns against World War III, and nutjobs are beating the war drums.

Back in 2001...

U.S. operations in Afghanistan were aided by Iran, but U.S. 'intelligence' thought hardliners in Iran were hiding Al Queda operatives.

So instead of discussing, negotiating in confidence, the assertion that Iran was working with Al Queda, Bush brazenly insulted all Iranians with his "Axis of Evil." With cowboy gusto and the applause of supporters, Bush hurt any progress made.

Granted, there are Iranian hardliners who consider any action against the U.S. justified, but lumping them in with the fragile reformist element only made the hardliners more justified amongst the Iranian population.

The gun-slinging cowboy has much in common with the Islamic tribalist that shoots in the air.

Radiohead, In Rainbows

2007-10-19T11:35:00.000-05:00

So I caved in to the hype and purchased Radiohead's new album set to my own price. Kind of like Priceline, except less William Shatner, more "Indie."

I paid 2.50 pounds as I liked Radiohead's new concept, saying FU to the record companies and directly linking fans and artists. See for yourself.

I really thought the pinnacle of Radiohead's career was OK Computer. That was when radio successfully blended both avant-garde expressionism and catchy pop, even if they competely denied most of the speculation on double entendres made by the artsy, Indie crowd.

Pablo Honey was almost like an album by a normal alt-rock band, a catchy though intelligent album. Then Radiohead delved into the more experimental on the Bends, with computer-generated distortion lining the angst of my favorite song on the album, "Iron Lung." Still, frat boys could listen to it...

In Rainbows is more like the last three albums in the sense that the melodies are more contemplative background music that makes the listener feel a sense of depth while in a morose funk. Which really isn't a bad thing, most thinkers nowadays are often in a morose funk.

Though I agree with some critics that this album is a harkening to more classical sound of OK Computer, significantly more accessible than Kid A.

The first song, "15 Step," is buttressed by Thom York's typical high-pitched vocals, with a catchy, almost Afro-beat drum, and arpeggio-laden guitar. Blended together, it provides, at least for me, a rather comforting feeling in the midst of the chaos of modern life. Which seems to have been the current of many of Radiohead's earlier works.

"Bodysnatchers" includes some of the rockability of the Bends, yes Radiohead has rockability. Foreboding fear of the future mixed with what-the-fuck attitude with lively, heavily distorted guitar riffs.

Overall, I could see people easily paying full price for In Rainbows, and still say that they've spent money wisely on a good album. Especially if listeners were more fans of the earlier Radiohead of the 90s.

At least you have to respect the experiment.

Humboldt makes me proud

2007-10-19T11:14:00.001-05:00

Here's an article on the Humboldt march this evening against violence and for stricter gun laws, by yours truly.

Citizens in action to make positive change...

Dr. Strange Bush

2007-10-17T17:07:00.000-05:00

Or how I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb...

Bush's press conference today about Russia, Iran and his love with Putin wowed me when I read this in the New York Times:

“If Iran had a nuclear weapon, it’d be a dangerous threat to world peace,” Mr. Bush said. “So I told people that if you’re interested in avoiding World War III, it seems like you ought to be interested in preventing them from having the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon.”

After reading, I immediately had to find an image more fitting than the usual, Nero-emulating smirk. Courtesy of Fergie's Tech Blog, one can see Bush riding the Bomb, cowboy hat in hand.

Bush still alleges that a diplomatic solution is preferred, but should I hold my breath?

Talk of World War III comes one day after Bush's best buddy, Vladdy Putin, met with Iran's Ahmadinejad to denounce any military strikes.

True to prior behavior, Bush is clinging to a false sense of hope, or at least he wants America to do so: "(Bush) said he believed that Russia still wanted to stop Iran from developing such weapons."

In the midst of all this tomfoolery, saying World War III could happen, denying Putin's obvious courtship of Iran, empty overtures to diplomacy, I ask myself: Does it really matter what this guy says anymore? Even if he turns hints of war into outright threats, does he have the power to make it happen?

Dan Froomkin at the WaPo (reg. req.) seems to think not, noting that Bush's approval rating hovered around 24 percent in the latest Zogby poll.

With President Bush having to insist that, "I am relevant," it would seem that the reporter had already answered his own question. The relevance of any leader seems to be minute when said leader has to remind how he actually is an important guy to whom people oughtta listen.

But Bush did have a point...

He referenced his veto of a bipartisan supported expansion of children's health care as an example of his relevance. Bush holds an uncanny ability to be able to screw things up, through negligence or obliviousness, despite the opposition of experts and large swaths of people.

Just look at the (overall) idiots running for the GOP nomination, save Ron Paul. They clamor over who's tougher on Iran, who wants to expand Guantanamo More, who most likes the television series "24," who hates killing babies the most, and who gets the most one-on-one time with God.

Whose to say a World War III couldn't happen? Irrelevance, incompetence?

Nah...

El Barrio Humboldt Park No Se Vende

2007-10-09T15:56:00.000-05:00

A community rising against gentrification and leaders disavowing violence show some of the positive motions happening here in Humboldt park, notes community newsletter La Voz del Paseo Boricua.

Some hints of a bustling civil society, public spheres in action:

October 19-20th, religious leaders will organize with Ald. Billy Ocasio to march on Humboldt park and hold an overnight candlelight vigil against gun violence in the neighborhood. The demonstration is dubbed EX 20:13, in reference to the bible verse where God gave the commandment, Do Not Kill.

"The greatest threat to our lives isn't terrorism or radicalism in the Middle East or some far away land; it's the church's failure to take a firm stance against violence here..." says Rev. Wilfredo de Jesus in La Voz.

Hundreds of demonstrators are predicted to be on tap, urging greater gun-control laws and faith conviction to change cultures of violence. It's refreshing to see moral outrage made into good public policy, even though Chuck Heston (Moses) would disapprove.

November 3, Humboldt Park Empowerment Partnership’s Housing Team will host the first affordable housing summit with various community groups. Residents have complained that rising rents and property taxes along with pressure from developers are prompting longtime residents to clear the way for gentrification.

It's similar to the debate in Madison, where residents are complaining about city-funded condo development in Allied Drive. Sure, owner-occupied housing allows residents to put a larger stake in their communities than a often transient rental market. But moving poorer populations doesn't make sense in the long-run if you want to transform a neighborhood for the better.

Getting Back to Humboldt... If the city wants to ameliorate the quality of life in an area, try replacing the ubiquitous Dunkin' Doughnuts, liquor stores and Cash Stores with colleges and financial planning centers.

Mayor Daley's addiction to TIF-funded condos leaves longtime residents in the same rut, only relocated somewhere else.

Riding the Irony Train

2007-10-04T20:28:00.000-05:00

I've just started freelancing for New City, where I'll be writing reviews and other copy for their art section.

Above is a review of a photography exhibit, ostensibly about nature, that is adorning the rusty, industrial halls of a Chicago el train station. Columbia College students did the photography.

The writing was more a reflection of artistic writing that I did for a liberal studies class in undergrad than anything I've done at the J-school. Meh...

Second City Secrecy - Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?

2007-10-03T12:14:00.000-05:00

One of the world's oldest modern police forces may be worse than the criminals...

Chicago police are accused of beating the confessions out of suspects and use of excessive force. Not to mention special operations officer, Jerome Finnigan, who allegedly planned a murder hit on a fellow officer.

But who are these officers? Wouldn't the public benefit from knowing who is corrupt, of whom to be afraid when police "respond" to misdemeanor theft?

City hall makes no bones about keeping the names of such officers secret, crossing out several names on an Office of Professional Standards complaint list to Ald. Toni Preckwinkle.

The city seems to think that the July order by U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow to release the list doesn't preclude keeping some of the names secret.

However, the decision was intent on making the list publicly available.

This secrecy amidst Mayor Richard Daley's announced "reforms" to make the OPS more "transparent."

The public has a right to know how their tax dollars are being spent, especially if it might be used to pay the salary of thugs.

Pork, the farm bill, and Idaho's favorite son.

2007-09-27T12:02:00.000-05:00

Political commentary at its finest ties loose ends together to make a mockery of the entire system.

As noted by Taegan Goddard's Political Wire, the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine takes an otherwise seemingly boring issue and bluntly, comically says what's wrong with it.

The committee's attack on the Farm Bill - which renewed government subsidies to farmers even while demand, and prices, for agricultural products rise - also pokes fun of the entire Congressional atmosphere. Why should the a bunch of corrupt nimrods be allowed to line their own pocketbooks and pass problematic public policy?

For the YouTube kids:

Engagement with a "known enemy."

2007-09-26T14:23:00.000-05:00

The bustle surrounding Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad obliterated the opportunity to engage in a tentative partnership in the Middle East and potential for a degree of stability in the region.

Protesters of Ahmadinejad's audience at Columbia University and attempted visit to Ground Zero laid out a litany of reasons why the Iranian head of state had no reason to be here. Among them...

- Ahmadinejad is the head of a "terrorist state," igniting instability with his regime's support of Shia militant group, Hezbollah.
- Such collaboration with terrorists makes Ahmadinejad an ill-suited figure to pay respects to the victims of 9/11.
- Ahmadinejad's presence here is a national security risk.
- The U.S. should not allow a forum for Ahmadinejad's hate speech.

The third reason makes sense. Ahmadinejad, himself, not being the security risk. But the fact that Americans, by and large, hate him leaves Ahmadinejad open to assassination attemps, angry mobs and injury, which would be for Iran a de facto act of war.

Regular readers of this blog (wherever they are) know I'm the opposite of an Ahmadinejad sympathizer. But as Columbia University Lee Bollinger said in his bungled introduction, nations have to engage their adversaries.

President Bush actually surprised me in his statement that Ahmadinejad should be allowed to speak to show that America is an open society that embraces free speech. Wow, if only he felt that way all the time...

But Bush should have met with Ahmadinejad to discuss ways forward in the current conflict and Iraq.

Though it is true that Iran's regime largely supports Hezbollah, its Shia leadership's unfriendliness with Sunni Al Queda could be a large asset. Consider Iran's previous jailing and deportation en mass of Al Qaeda operatives. Remember that in regards to 9/11, Iran openly condemned the Al Queda hijackers.

The lost opportunity was noted by New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd.

New York’s hot blast of nastiness, jingoism and xenophobia toward its guest, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, only served to pump him up for his domestic audience. Iranians felt that their president had tied everyone in knots, including the “Zionist Jews,” as Iranian state television said.

While Bush condemned Ahmadinejad's thuggery through journalists, why not have had a one-on-one debate about Iranian government's penchant for locking up dissidents, homosexuals, and Iranian-Americans?

Congress is looking for reconciliation in Iraq between Shia, Sunni, Kurdish groups to coincide with a troop pullout. Wouldn't bargaining with the leader of a large, influential, neighboring, predominantly Shia nation be an asset? Access to nuclear energy could be a bargaining chip.

Dowd was perhaps overly optimistic in comparing Reagan's courting of Gorbachev to bring down the "Evil Empire" to the potential of Bush's engagement of Ahmadinejad to dissolve the "Axis of Evil." Gorbachev is decidedly more reasonable than Ahmadinejad and even becoming an influential, respected thinker on the world stage.

But more could and should have come out of Ahmadinejad's visit than an enriched anti-U.S. sentiment in Iran and a heavy show of disapproval here of Iran's regime. Bitch-slapping feels good, but diplomacy helps solve problems.

Back in Iraq, Sunni militants are threatening and carrying out a renewed wave of suicide bombings and other terrorism in a perverse celebration of the holy month of Ramadan...

Shia Iraqi President and Bush met today, saying the "The task before us is gigantic."

No kidding...

Wisconsin's next president?

2007-09-19T13:49:00.000-05:00

Strategic Vision's new poll puts pugnacious pug-nose Rudy Giuliani and old hand Hillary Clinton as the top running 2008 presidential candidates among Wisconsin voters.

Giuliani picks up 28 percent of 800 polled, staying relatively close to the 25.3 percent favorability noted in August by UW-Madison political scientist Charles Franklin on his blog . Close behind, notes Strategic Vision, is actor, politician, lawyer, lobbyist Fred Thompson at 24 percent, with Madman McCain and Repulsive Romney becoming ever more irrelevant.

What pleased me was that Rep. Ron Paul, who actually is a conservative, is hovering near Squawk-box Mike Huckabee, beating the approval Paul received in many national polls. Paul's small-government, anti-imperialist, fiscal conservatism likely appeals to the Wisconsin's progressive past. Bob La Follette was a Republican. Is Libertarianism the new Progressivism?

H-Bomb Hillary, meanwhile, is double the preference to her nearest rival, New-Blood Barak, at 44 and 22 percent, respectively. The choice makes sense; on qualities most important for the next pres, Wisconsin Democrats chose experience over charisma.

John Edwards, despite his good looks and overtures to farmers, is polling 11 percent. Apparently an endorsement by Wisconsin Democratic Chair Joe Wineke didn't pay dividends.

Among other findings:

70 percent of Wisconsinites think President Bush is a tool, with 74 percent saying he's doing a bad job on Iraq.

65 percent of those polled want to get the hell out of Iraq in six months...Can't blame them.

Three responses, no answer.

2007-09-13T23:23:00.000-05:00

Bush layed out three responses to Patraeus's report on what the future of the U.S. is in Iraq, but was short on answers about our mission there, says a New York Times news analysis. Granted, his responses aren't necessarily mutually exclusive.

Of Bush's responses

- Due to successes in the surge, U.S. can very gradually return to pre-surge levels.
- Iraqi leaders can be sure that the U.S. is in there as long as the job, whatever is is, requires. However, (slap on the wrist) Iraqi government needs to do more.
- Insurgents and conspirators (Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, Iranian mullahs, whoever else?) against the U.S. occupation can expect U.S. forces to maintain a long-term presence to fight against them.

.
In the speech, Bush said this to the Iraqis, of particular relevance to the Sunni ally killed today:

"As you do, have confidence that America does not abandon our friends, and we will not abandon you."

To the U.S. Bush said:

"Americans want our country to be safe and our troops to begin coming home from Iraq. Yet, those of us who believe success in Iraq is essential to our security and those who believe we should bring our troops home have been at odds."

"Now, because of the measure of success we are seeing in Iraq, we can begin seeing troops come home. The way forward I have described tonight makes it possible, for the first time in years, for people who have been on opposite sides of this difficult debate to come together."

On the message to Americans, were the desire for success in Iraq and the desire to keep a minimum sacrifice in American lives mutually exclusive?

I see value in a stable Iraq, but the U.S. troops ought not, and cannot, be the main drivers of that effort, giving up thousands of lives and billions of dollars.

For all Bush talks about changing the way forces respond to meet the objectives, ostensibly to nurture stability in Iraq and enable Iraqi forces to maintain security, little has been said about the strategy for Iraq to achieve a needed political solution.

Maybe bring in some outside help. Say NATO, the UN??

Another question is, does U.S. presence aid in that political solution when a majority of Iraqis, including militant nut jobs, want us to leave?

The News analysis pointed out a possible answer to political progress and the potential to withdraw, or lack thereof.

Mr. Bush’s underlying message was that Iraq would operate on its own clock — and that Americans should not expect to have leverage over its decisions.

“Guess what, this is Iraq,” one senior administration official told reporters on Thursday afternoon as they pressed him on whether Mr. Bush had abandoned hope of bringing about change in the time frames he had discussed in January.

Guess what, our armed forces, wives, husbands, brothers, sisters, cousins are over there. Why the hell are we leaving their fate in the hands of Iraqis, who have little common perspective on what political progress looks like? Should we even expect progress from the war-weary Iraqis? Should the troops have to?

Reader Reconsiders Routine

2007-09-13T11:23:00.000-05:00

Alt-weekly, the Chicago Reader will reformat, notes Phil Rosenthal at the Chicago Tribune.

Prefacing a buyout by Florida-based Creative Loafing, the Reader will change to a tabloid format from its now quarter fold. The paper is also looking to cut delivery staff that distributes its 135,000 copies weekly and print at the presses of Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

Printing at the Journal Sentinel press is noted to allow more colors for publication, but Chicago's alt-weekly will have to come out on Wednesdays rather than Thursdays. This is probably because the Milwaukee press has to print out a different popular alt-weekly for Thursday, Madison, Wis.'s Isthmus.

The Reader's format changes are good and should pay dividends in the long run considering that the paper can adequately be delivered. The tabloid format makes paper's easier to read, being opened like a magazine rather than a newspaper. The Reader likely gets most of their readers during daily commutes.

The Tribune Co.'s Redeye (a crappy -6-day- paper put out to appeal to the "twenty-something crowd" that basically condenses longer stories from the Tribune and has a more liberal editorial bent) is in tabloid, and is widely read on the way to work. I gather because its easy to read in tight quarters, and it's free and better than picking your nose.

So, kudos to the Reader.

Clearing The Ashes

2007-09-12T14:51:00.000-05:00

The Chicago Transit Authority accepted a short-term $24 million bail-out from Gov. Blagojevich.

This pending approval by the Regional Transport Authority on Friday.

CTA's repeated full-page ads in the Tribune lay out the drastic cuts in public transport that would have taken place Sept. 16th; however, the "doomsday" cuts may take place in November if the transit authority doesn't figure out something long-term.

The proposed changes:

- 600 CTA employees will be laid off.
- Fares will increase 50 cents to one dollar per ride.
- 39 bus routes will be cut.
- Go directly to Jail. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200.

Falling short $110 million dollars last year, the CTA is in dire need of funds. The legislature was not able to get enough votes to pass a $0.0025 sales tax increase to make the CTA solvent in the long-term.

Blagojevich didn't support such a tax because of it's cost to working class folks. You know, the million or so people who would have to pony up an extra 50 cents per ride to get to work every day.

Instead, the Gov. wants to close tax loopholes used by large corporations in order to ensure the CTA's long-term viability. We'll see if he can do that by November 4. hmmm...

Israeli Defense Policy: A more nuanced approach?

2007-09-12T11:33:00.000-05:00

Rogue rockets from the Gaza strip injured dozens of Israeli soldiers yesterday morning, reports the BBC. But retaliation is considered unlikely.

"Despite the pressure on (Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert) to order a broad offensive against militants in Gaza, his leeway for military action is restricted by accelerated diplomatic efforts to resume negotiations with the Palestinians," notes the Chicago Tribune.

Likud officials, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, have urged a strong ground attack in retaliation. It is exactly what Defense wants to do after those responsible for the rockets, Islamic Jihad, are dancing in the streets and claiming "a victory for God."

But Israel wouldn't win the "public relations" war. Let's consider another conflict.

Olmert has undoubtedly learned things from last year's incursion in Lebanon, after which he openly stated a desire to reconsider the way Israel responds to terrorism.

In Lebanon last year, Hezbollah members kidnapped Israeli soldiers and shot off rockets toward border towns, kicking off a month-long battle that killed hundreds and displaced thousands. Israel received international condemnation, save for the U.S., for bombings that affected Lebanese civilians.

Israel, of course, won the military battle, but Hezbollah gained a twisted victory among Lebanese by making themselves martyrs and promising rebuilding resources to the broader population. Lebanese government officials have felt Hezbollah's heat for most of this year, while Olmert has struggled with weak approval ratings.

What does that have to do with today's Israeli response?

While Islamic Jihad claims a victory and distributes candy in the streets in Gaza, Olmert likely considers military retaliation as a further strengthening of the militant group's hand. Rallies and candy can taste as sweet as victory, but a military strike by Israel would only be bitter.

Israeli defense officials have to consider the repercussions of a military strike on efforts toward peace.

Also, Islamic Jihad can claim a small victory by embracing a nihilist "let's pick a fight" ideology. But can the militant group provide anything else to the broader Gaza population other than hatred and revenge? Say, basic services and economic future?

Likely not.

The incompetence inherent in militant groups would be exacerbated by the cutting off of resources by Israel. This is to be considered next week, reports the Tribune.

Less rockets, more sweating, seems to be the strategy.

What is interesting is that Washington could be learning about the value of persuasion over force. Potentially.

The State Department denounced the Palestinian rocket attack but urged Israel to show restraint. "We would only counsel -- in this case Israel which has suffered injuries and losses as a result of attacks -- to take into consideration the effects of what they might do in self-defense on the overall political process," said spokesman Sean McCormack in the Tribune.

Use of force could be dampening any success of political processes? Washington war hawks, are you listening?

CRAIG'SLOST

2007-08-31T01:47:00.000-05:00

Countdown's Keith Olbermann illustrates the events that led to the end of the career of Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho. Courtesy of Crooks and Liars and MSNBC.

See it now.

Or...

Gays want monogamous relationships. Congressmen want anonymous sex in the bathroom.

2007-08-31T01:26:00.000-05:00

Gay marriage bans were deemed unconstitutional under equal protection and due process clauses, says an Iowa judge in Polk County. Nutjobs in the county vow an appeal and Republicans in the legislature are going nuts about family values. You know, like Sen Larry Craig, R-Idaho, who likes to have sex with strangers in bathrooms. And Colorado Evangelical Minister Ted Haggard, who trades sex with male prostitutes for meth.

Seriously. Extremist "Christian" right folks are losing the moral "high-ground." The more they call homosexuality a version of perversity, the more eerie men with mustaches come out of the woodwork.

What's going to be the right's reasoning this time for banning monogamous unions?

Dan Savage talks best about the state of crooked congress members having sex in bathrooms, then blaming it on black men...

Artistic Chicago

2007-08-26T20:16:00.000-05:00

A family dressed in Medieval garb followed Queen of Salsa Anyes Daskal into the amphitheater at Chicago's Senior Citizen's Park. After I listened to the African highlife and Cuban-infused sounds of the Occidental Brothers Dance Band International, a French women's voice serenaded my ears as she passed me. "C'est ca!."

These sights and sound were part of the Bucktown Arts Fest on the near northwest side of Chicago. The annual festival was celebrated with gusto as 189 individual tables featured sculptors, painters, photographers and potters. Since it's original conception in 1984, Bucktown Fine Arts has used it to launch and sustain the careers of artists on the local scene.

The medieval-clad family was Bucktown's only remaining theater group, Trapdoor Theater, performing their play, "The Statue that Doesn't Lie." Trapdoor Theater has been bringing the microcosm of the stage to the community of Bucktown for 14 years, the same number of years it's been playing at the fest, noted artistic director Beata Pilch. "When we had money troubles, Bucktown Fine Arts has helped bail us out," Pilch noted.
Among other things, the group sends actors to theaters in Europe, to bring home lessons to cultivate local talent as they put on the classics, independent theater and the avant-garde.

Of a tour of the various tangible art: (Click on the picture for better viewing.)

Gabe Lanza paints the evil robots in "Another One Gone Wrong."

Amy Huisinga paints acrylic and accentuates beauty in the Chicago landscape in her rendition of "Lake Street Bridge."

And some pottery by Glenn Woods...

The festival also featured nonprofits; seen here is Sweety, one of the greyhounds taken in by Greyhounds's Only, Inc., an animal rescue agency.

Sweety was carrying a jacket asking for donations. She's a bit shy at first, though became rather curious at that strange box with the clicking noises.

The festival's Sunday evening ended with the groovy, artistic prog rock of The Diminisher. Shown here, they play "Dreaming in Asheville," mixing the sounds of Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" and the vocals of Andrew Bird in a haunted, sinister Gothic splendor.

They ended with the title track on their latest album, "Imaginary Volcano." The lead singer sang out, "You can't ignore the meanings of your dreams."

Impeach advisory in Madison, no way!

2007-08-17T15:55:00.000-05:00

The Dane County Board became the second county board in the U.S. to endorse the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney, reports The Capital Times.

I'm skeptical on the amount of value these symbolic resolutions have, although they do give official credence to the illegality of our government and have made Tammy Baldwin -surprise surprise!- take an affirmative stand on the issue.

But what I find twice as hard to swallow are the arguments purported by those who oppose it altogether.

"In my opinion, you are being used to create free advertising for the anti-war left," said Bill Richardson, of Say No to Cut and Run.

Though Richardson's argument is true that the Board wasn't created to opine on Foreign Policy, he seems to think that impeachment is a partisan issue favored by fringe elements on the left.

A Gallup Poll June 6-8 found that 36% of Americans think that starting impeachment proceedings against Bush is "justifiable." Hardly a small minority.

And since when has wanting a government actions free of torture and wiretaps on citizens been a liberal/conservative issue?

Also, a community comment by "Jason" said this:

what a waste of time and money...'symbolic' vote? Jesus H...Democrats sure love spending other peoples money for NO reason at all..

Since when did voting on a resolution, which by the way doesn't spend a cent, become a waste of taxpayer money? Do you like to throw around the idea that Democrats wastefully spend money, even when it has nothing to do with the story in question?

It reminds me of when President Bush blamed high health care costs on government waste during the 2004 election. With Republicans controlling congress and the executive, who's making the waste?

Showing the Softer Side of Syria

2007-08-16T23:10:00.000-05:00

Syrian Blogger Ammar Abdulhamid was exiled for saying on his blog that President Bashar Assad is a thug, as noted by my post in early June.

But Imad Moustapha is showing a more diplomatic view of the country, notes the Associated Press.

That would make sense. Moustapha must represent Syria as the ambassador to the U.S. as Cheney and his evil team of robots is linking Syria with Iran in a showdown in Iraq.

Moustapha's blog is mostly about his interests, his family, and living life. His vacations look like those of any well-to-do U.S. family, but only in the coastal region of Syria.

His post on changing the diapers of his newborn baby and introducing her to the sounds of Mozart make Moustapha appear much more gentle than tough-talking swashbucklers in Washington.

He speaks effortlessly on the brilliance of Syria's businesswomen as ambassadors to the world and speaks fondly of his university professor wife, Rafif, who holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science.

"I have a very, very difficult post and you need an outlet, a way of escape," Moustapha told the AP of the blog. He said he tries to steer clear of politics on the forum.

The human depth certainly challenges assumptions of the Arab world, even if there is a possibility that it is written by a "ghost blogger." U.S. foreign policy ought to take a look at who it considers an enemy, and instead seek for the underlying layers of humanity.

Even Cheney-bot has his wife and kid.

Turd Blossom resigns

2007-08-13T13:08:00.000-05:00

Karl Rove finally gave into reality and resigned. Citing the desire to spend more time with family, the White House unsurprisingly didn't mention the pressure Rove faced over a subpoena regarding U.S. Attorney firings, allegations over the CIA leak, wiretap influence etc. etc.

Kelly O'Donnell on MSNBC called it a "big deal," calling it a "sign of the changing of the end of the Administration."

Mainly because Chief of Staff Josh Bolton said anyone in the Administration who stays after Labor Day, has gotta stay until Jan. 2009.

Rove joins an increasing number of staff to leave, including Harriet Miers, Don Rumsfeld, Deputy National Security Adviser J.D. Crouch...

Many claim to want more time with family. But with public dismay on incompetence, and the legal heat from subpoenas, it would make more sense to resign and receive a hero's goodbye from the president than to face the heat of being held accountable.

Calamitous Tunnel Accounting

2007-08-11T13:23:00.000-05:00

Smoke and the smell of burnt metal filled the Chicago blue line subway at the Division stop Friday afternoon. Not only that, but the operator stopped 15 minutes before moving toward the Chicago stop and inching further toward the loop.

I felt sorry for the train that was behind us, having to wait in the metal coffin, doors closed, until the cars moved on.

All this as the state legislature is deciding against any increased funding to the Chicago Transit Authority in next year's budget. Talk, meanwhile, of increased $2.50-$3.00 fares in the near future has some residents rejecting the CTA altogether, choosing to pay $3.50 per gallon in gas and $15 per hour for parking downtown.

Doesn't seem to make much sense to me, either way.

New York City Transit continues to charge $2.00 per ride, though living in New York requires a %24.29 increase in income to maintain the same standard of living as in Chicago, according to bankrate.com.

CTA President Ron Huberman is pleased that the legislature didn't approve the $100 million needed to balance the Transit Authority budget, preferring to hold off for a more long-term solution, reports the Chicago Tribune. This puts him in a rather precarious position as the legislature doesn't appear to be interested in long-term CTA funding, much less creating a needed state budget without $200 million in pork spending.

All this as Gov. Rod Blagojevich threatens to veto any increase on sales tax to pay for CTA renovations, and Mayor Daley earlier this year didn't support a toll for automobiles driving to the Chicago loop.

Also in the Tribune today was London mayor Ken Livingstone, who plans a daily $50 tax for bringing SUVs downtown London. That's up from a congestion zone tax of $16 for cars between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Livingstone refers to the SUV's as "Chelsea Tractors" and their drivers as "complete idiots."

Of course, traveling in their version of the subway can range from $12-24, depending on the trip.

Suddenly, paying up to $2.50 in Chicago doesn't seem that bad... But we can do better if New York can. Paying more to ride through toxic fumes doesn't seem appealing, either.

Journalism continues to open or cheapen, depending on your view.

2007-08-09T17:57:00.000-05:00

Google News added a feature that allows sources in the news to comment about the aggregated stories in which they are found, reports the Chicago Tribune.

What this means is that the official news story can take a different shape, receiving a steaming enema of accountability.

After this story appeared in the India Times regarding kids' preference for food in McDonald's packaging rather than the same food in brand X, McDonald's spokesman Walt Ricker, who was quoted in the article gave this pestilent platitude:

"McDonald's brand has earned the trust of customers for more than fifty years. The strength of any brand depends upon its performance, every single day, and if customers decide for themselves that a brand can't be trusted then they take their business elsewhere."

Although the article went after McDonald's alleged contribution to growing obesity among U.S. kids, Ricker could respond. Whether you thought he was spewing bull or giving a good defense may determine how democratic you find this.

In my view, it's good. You can hear another side of the story or at least be amused by bland, patronizing rhetoric.

Media purists (anti-blog), however, may frown. Speaking of, a Tech Dirt posting a while back gave an interesting perspective that news agencies like Agence France Press should embrace greater traffic than whine about copywrite infringement. (Do you hear the giant volcano threatening to eat up that Brontosaurus?)

Little mammals beneath the rocks are deciding to blend with the new media, to constructively take on challenges to the original format. Many newspapers are allowing open comments at the end of stories, including blogs and forums that give easy access to the reader. News stories and organizations are including references to Facebook, Friendster and MySpace.

Such is the growing trend, notes Ragan Communications' August PR Round-up Report.

"Just because newspapers are shrinking, doesn't mean journalism will shrink," says newsman Jeff Jarvis in the Report.

Maybe just climb up a different tree?

Do You Like Having Nice Conversations?

2007-08-09T14:14:00.000-05:00

Two New Zealanders strut into New York City in hopes of starting their Indie-folk career. Blending into their new home proves somewhat quirky as they deal with infatuation with American women and internal strife.

Such is the set-up of Flight of the Conchords, a fun look into Gen Y sensibility, or lack thereof.

My sis sent me this absolutely wonderful video. Seen here are Brit McKenzie and Jemaine Clement (glasses), attempting to hit on some filles a la cafe...

Chicago!

2007-08-08T00:41:00.000-05:00

Kids run around, dancing and playing tag in the street as a flood of water from the fire hydrant breaks the scorching 90 degrees.

That was one of the first sights I saw as I started to move into my apartment. A block west of my 100 year old flat is a tennis court and bike trails spanning the acres of Chicago's Humboldt Park.

Thus far I've enjoyed the neighborhood. And on the job front I had a good interview with Ragan Communications for a Web-savvy reporter position. Folks there seem nice, and I could write on how employees use technology and social networking to communicate.

Not that I'm counting my chickens...

On top of that I saw the White Sox lose to the Cleveland Indians. My first trip to U.S. Cellular stadium was fun-filled, and the views were great:

Here's the Sox's only score of the evening by rookie Jerry Owens

A last promenade around Madison, for awhile...

2007-08-01T18:17:00.000-05:00

After being in Madison, Wis. since the Clinton presidency, I've finally decided to head out and make the move to a far away, exotic city of...Chicago.

I'll miss this town, but won't be too far away from the familiarities of the Midwest. I'll be just west of Wicker Park and east of Humboldt Park. Yeah, in 2 days I'll be a FIB.

Looking Back when I started my undergrad here in 2000:

- Tuition per semester was $1,700, as opposed to nearly $3,000 today
- People whined that Clinton was too conservative. Well, that hasn't changed in Madison.
- The U.S. was not embroiled in a war.
- Al Gore was boring.
- Cafe Assisi was the popular coffee institution located above what is now the Reebok store. I miss that cafe.
- Students learned our grades via a computer-generated voice over the phone. She got pissed when C's were earned.
- I could still smoke a cigarette in dive bars.
- The world trade center was still standing.
- The U.S. had a budget surplus.
- Swing dancing was the hip thing to do, and people listened to ska.

Much has changed. In a way, Madison seems more yuppyish, and I've definitely become more libertarian. (I toyed with socialism while a freshman; it was a phase, along with philosophy classes...).

Today, in the midst of packing my things, I biked around to check out a few of my favorite things. Among them:

Memorial Union (duh)

Henry Vilas Zoo creatures

I have a fascination with the tortoise...

The Orpheum, and its decent bar

Isthmus and thedailypage.com - Having fun both reading and writing for it. Become friends on facebook!

Picnic Point

Maduro

Sunsets at James Madison Park and Lake Mendota

Not pictured: Cafe Momo, Escape Java Joint and the Capital Times.

All my best, Madison.

Bush Eats Babies in the Name of Freedom

2007-07-28T20:22:00.000-05:00

This is the headline I expect to see any day now. After seeing this story about Bush wanting to ease restrictions on wiretaps, I don't think he cares anymore.

A friend sent me this a while ago.

Feel like an a%%hole...

2007-07-27T01:05:00.000-05:00

Another beleaguered White House spokesman has to come up and accuse congress of wasting time as the Bush Administration continues to get buried in its own scandals.

Not only are former legal council Harriet Miers and chief of staff John Bolton being cited for contempt of congress due to the refusal to testify on the firing of federal attorneys. But Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is being contradicted by the FBI director Robert Mueller.

The Washington Post reports that contrary to Gonzo's testimony that no division on the NSA wiretaps existed in the Administration, Mueller said they discussed the matter and he himself had reservations on warrantless wiretaps.

Gonzo's underling Susan Goodman wasn't even there to join her boss in collective amnesia.

And this on top of the testimony by former deputy AG Jim Comey that both he and then AG John Ashcroft were against continuing the wiretaps because of lack of legal grounds.

Psychoanalysis and nuance of the blatant disregard for law by Gonzo and friends is superfluous. Something rotten is in the soup.

So I'll just reference a song by Beck off of Mellow Gold that perfectly describes the situation. Warning, don't listen to this in a place where it's not appropriate.

The kids from the early 1990's may enjoy a listen. Just disregard the visuals...

Reality sinks in

2007-07-26T00:57:00.000-05:00

At first I was skeptical about the actual need to post the 911 calls of Ronald Brandon on thedailypage.com and at the Wisconsin State Journal.

Brandon had pointed a pellet gun provocatively at a police officer, only to be fatally shot in a motion of self-defense.

Does the public really need to hear this? To be frightened? To make something so private a part of the public sphere?

But the tapes drove home the udder tragedy that occurred at Camden Road. The seeming gentleness of Ron in his call to report himself. He sounded almost peaceful, like a good neighbor.

The pleas of his ex-wife, Susan Brandon, can help the reader/listener understand the lack of communication, and Susan's despair because of it.

Personally, I gained a sense of respect for what went on. Empathy and knowledge should trump comfort.

JESUS CAMP, mind control, and the uncanny power of self-loathing

2007-07-25T15:07:00.001-05:00

Palestinian camps are putting hand grenades in their kids' hands, so America has to train their kids to be part of the "God's Army." So says Pastor Becky Fischer at her Bible Summer camp, "Kid's on Fire"

"I wanna see young people who are as committed to the cause of Jesus Christ, as the young people are to the cause of Islam," Fischer says in the documentary "Jesus Camp." She explained that Christian kids should be just as ready as young Muslims to "lay down their lives" for their own creed, rationalizing that "we've got the better message."

Last night was the first time that I saw award-winning documentary. At times it wasn't easy to watch, as kids were being manipulated to hate anything un-Christian, but it really is a must see, a provocative look into a dysfunctional world.

I found the formula for manipulation to be somewhat familiar, as I was often fed the message that I was dirty, needed salvation from my own impurities as a K-12 student at Catholic Schools.

Step 1: Fischer welcomed the kids with a smiley face and caring persona to the camp,

Effect: Makes the kids feel at-ease, in a compassionate environment.

Step 2: Fischer alienated the kids, calling them evil. Example: She said that Harry Potter would have been "stoned to death" for being a warlock. She then implied that they brought unclean souls to the camp (swearing, doing bad just like the other kids), and washed their hands with...Nestle bottled water.

Effect: The children may be bored, ashamed, miserable but Fischer instills in them the idea that they are that way because they are "sinners." And eureka, she has a way to help them! And makes the salvation fun!

Step 3: The path is laid as kids are taught to hold their faith above all else, convulse with the spirit of the lord, and are told that half of the world is pure evil.

Effect: Kids can be alienated from the "sinners," everyone else. They conceptualize their duty to "save" everyone.

Step 4: Fischer and friends reaffirm that the kids are important, will be the future leaders, and need to go out and convert others, oppose homosexuality, abortion rights, support President Bush, the war in Iraq, the conversion of Muslims at all costs.

Results: Kids are wearing camouflage face paint while swinging sticks, praising the "Christian flag" and spreading the word to evil doers.

One kid even said that he got saved at age 5, because he was looking for more in life. (Though he probably didn't think his life was so worthless until people like Fischer told him so) And I can't forget the 10-year-old girl who said she only dances for the Lord, "not for the flesh."

See for yourself:

Fischer justified her actions, saying that kids cannot make choices -good or bad- (not much faith in kids...).

Repeatedly through the film, the "teachers" are praising the way that Christianity can influence kids, that their greatest asset is malleability. Not their creativity, innocence, or intelligence.

Fischer describes the enemy/Muslims as radicals who dogmatize their kids in a violent view of the world, and that it's her job to set them straight. And what are you doing to the kids, Fischer? Honoring their freedom of choice and presenting them with multiple viewpoints?

What's more is that even the evangelical heads are not without "sin"...

In many spots in the film, Fischer is seen primping herself, flaunting openly about how lovely she is. She also places a cardboard cutout of Bush for the kids to praise.

...The 7th deadly sin forbids excessive pride, and that first commandment forbidding the praise of idols before God...

And let's not forget our buddy Ted Haggard, who mad a cameo in the film bashing "the gay lifestyle." He was an adviser for Bush, by the way.

After the film and earlier this year, Haggard was caught with his own "sexual improprieties" and moral quandaries. Such as being caught with a male prostitute and using methamphetamines.

"...let he who is without sin cast the first stone..." -Jesus

But the sin is not homosexuality, or even meth use, but hypocrisy.

Good thing for Haggard, he became a heterosexual once again, and was saved from his gay tendencies. Maybe he feels this was all the result of a meth bender?

After observing all this hypocrisy, it occurs to me that the leaders of this radical, violent, politicized brand of Christianity are unable to deal with their own vices.

Like the children they exploit, perhaps they were once told that they were evil, made to feel dirty, and forced to embrace an ideology that seemed unnatural. The failure to work through sexual insecurities, addiction, violent tendencies (due to the disapproval in the social sphere of Church) had forced these currents to manifest themselves as problems later in life?

But self-loathing is nothing compared to how the extreme Christian right loathes their enemies, be they homosexuals, secularists, Muslims, or liberals.

There seems to be never-ending cycle of self-manipulation, that feeds itself with tax-free donations.

God might not have planned it better...

Eat The Kids!

2007-07-23T15:53:00.000-05:00

U.S. House Dems are crafting a response after the Bush Administration's threat to veto version of a Senate bill that would expand government health insurance for kids, reports The New York Times.

The push comes after President Bush rationalized keeping the State Children’s Health Insurance Program funded at $35 billion rather than $65 billion over 5 years because the administration opposes expanding the role of government where the private sector can offer solutions.

And he doesn't want to raise taxes by 61 cents a pack to fund health insurance for low-income kids whose parents make too much money to qualify for Medicare. Granted, the program is meant for households who can't afford private insurance either.

Another rationalization found in an AP story is that Bush doesn't want expansion of federal government. ????????????? see Iraq, No Child Left Behind, Dept. Homeland Security, CIA interrogations...

The Senate's, bi-partisan proposal is slated to expand coverage to 3.3 million kids. That could put a large dent in the $8.3 million without insurance. Considering Bush doesn't send the bill to the sinker.

Meanwhile the Administration is implying things like:
You know what those kids need? Private, tax-free savings accounts, so that they can pick and choose, spend wisely when they need those insulin shots, x-rays, and checkups. Got strep throat, well, make sure you save your money so that you can get the penicillin you need, rather than the penicillin you want, or hope to have.

Can't your parents make do with their allowance?

By the way, Bush recently got a colonoscopy payed by the U.S. taxpayers, they even removed a few polyps from his rich sphincter. Maybe Jane Public can do the same if she'd saved enough money instead of trying to use bloated government services.

Can't you accept personal responsibility? Jeeze...

Night of songs and friends

2007-07-21T23:18:00.000-05:00

The rich, raspy resonance like that of Janis Joplin accompanies the wit of Nancy Rost as patrons sip wine at the ZuZu Cafe Saturday evening.

"Shamu, I do feel like a fish out of water. Shamu, I feel for you, but what can we do," sings Rost as she performs her song sympathizing with the unnatural pressures on captive killer whales, getting the idea from airplanes painted like them.

"Communication should happen in murmurs, not all this high-pitched chatter. There are too many words, and not enough that matters. But you were in the biz so long, you know the damn show must go on."

The song was written as Rost participated in February Album Writing Month, FAWM, in which musicians write 14 songs in 28 days. Described as the love child of Tom Lehrer and Tom Waits (says KnowYourMusic.com), Rost has been thriving in the Madison music scene since getting connected with songwriters at near east side open mics.

Below, Rost preforms her song, "Exile on State Street" at her ZuZu gig Saturday.

Among other crisp experiments in imagination, the piano, and perception are "I fell into a giant brain" and "Beethoven's Howlingly Melodious New Bass Guitar 'n' Strangle Disco (III)." The former was partially inspired by her cat pressing the jazz key on her synthesizer, the latter is an example of new musical genre "strangle disco."

While Rost plays, the audience snickers with her as she laughs her way through (un)reality. But given the sick nature of reality, Rost provides the best medicine.

Rost's refreshing brand of irony and satire can stretch to the serious as well. Her song "Welcome to Boscobel" touches on the promises and plans gone wrong at the Supermax Correctional Facility built there.

"...the possible rattle of chains and the rumble of hundreds of hearts that pound, you can hear if you keep your ear to the ground," she sings in the song, which was included in an anthology of the Madison Songwriter's Guild.

Also on tap was Chicago-based songwriter Kitty Mortland, whose throaty serenade carries the influence of Liz Phair and Janis Joplin. Doing an inspired cover of "Bobby McGee," Mortland held the audience captive.

"Honey, you know that I love you... But you know that I can't be a single mom that's still in high school," sings Mortland in her song "Astoria Park," about the pressures of high school girls from boys, parents, peers and the insanity around her. The angst inherent in the song seems much like the punk-infused vocals of Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Both ladies give terrific performances that give the audience a look at the world, then subsequently help them laugh at it.

For more on Nancy Rost, click here.

For more on Kitty Mortland, click here.

Newspaper battle in Thunderdome

2007-07-21T11:26:00.000-05:00

It's been fun watching the back and forth between The Capital Times and Isthmus.

Isthmus news editor Bill Lueders has actually been taking a lot of jabs at the Cap Times, just recently Lueders poked at the later's columnist Doug Moe for not using "table scraps" of Lueder's Watchdog column on MG&E.

About two weeks ago, Lueders wrote about some crank who was worried about the availability of information on personal energy use, with anyone on the Internets being able to search for averages of individual households. Just click here to find out the energy use of the person that you stalk.

Lueders questioned why Moe and State Journal's Melanie Conklin didn't use this info to write columns on energy usage by prominent Madisonians.

Though I wonder why Lueders made a big deal out of Moe's non-use of his article. Is there some inter-paper feud that no one knows about? Perhaps the two papers are struggling for any topics on which to write as the slow, hot days of summer drown out any inspiration for actual news? Well, aside from the state budget debate and all the murders and missing persons.

These questions might be interesting fodder for a local media watchdog group or independent blogger...

By the way, Isthmus editor Marc Eisen averages $89 per month in gas use and $115 per month in electricity use. Whereas Dave Zweifel's home address wasn't publicly available.

My energy use is included in my rent. So you can't search me! But I do use fluorescent bulbs, as advocated by former Ald. Austin King

In addition to privacy issues of energy consumption, Cap Times and Isthmus editors have been arguing about the cost/benefits of Monona Terrace.

See Zweifel's view here.

And Lueders's view here.

And a follow up by Cap Times Hawkes intern, Kristin Czubkowski, where revelers extolled the virtues and slight drawbacks of the Terrace at it's ten year anniversary.

Kids with guns - Sweet Jesus!

2007-07-17T13:20:00.000-05:00

Madison has a gun problem. A fake gun problem.

The city council tonight (correction - in August) will discuss a ban on using facsimile guns "to alarm, intimidate, threaten or terrify another person."

Seems like common sense after the State Journal reports that police shot a man after he allegedly pointed a realistic-looking air gun at a an officer.

Listed as a possible "suicide by cop," DA Brian Blanchard has yet to decide whether the shooting requires any penalties toward the officers involved. Like the Montero-Diaz incident, some will want to sanction police for using self-defense.

Also, the possible city ordinance on fake guns comes on the heels of a story on TheDailyPage that several kids with fake UZIs, AK-47s and shotguns were found lurking around a church on Madison's far east side.

Apparently, the games were organized by a church member, and the pastor hasn't expressed concern about kids who "go out on the playground and play around."

The city ordinance is primarily sponsored by Ald. Judy Compton.

"I would advocate that we ban the facsimile guns altogether," Compton said in the State Journal. "What we need to do in the city is free our officers to be able to protect our residents from the threat."

I heartily agree, which seldom happens with Ms. Compton and I, but I also understand Ald. Brandon's concern: What will this accomplish?

Perhaps church-going gun-toters would pay more attention to an actual law, and the police will have another tool to prevent aggression by trench coat-clad teenagers. But there are deeper problems.

The state already bans the use of fake firearms to threaten, but some state lawmakers want to see a conceal and carry permission with real guns.

If Joe Blow, even with a sparkling lack of criminal record/mental illness, sees a vagrant with a fake gun, he might shoot said vagrant with the .38 special he would have in his jacket pocket.

Why do kids have realistic-looking fake guns in the first place? Can't they play with Nerf and squirt guns like when I was a kid?

Put an eye out...

Terrorists!

2007-07-12T00:15:00.000-05:00

Al-Qaida (the group responsible for 9/11, remember?) has built up it's capacity to pre 9/11 levels, reports the Associated Press. I have to say the timing of this "news" is rather interesting.

This, on the cusp of Scooter's commuted sentence, Bush's blocking subpoenas in regards to the attorney firing scandal, Republicans beginning to call for troop withdrawal, attacks on our health care system.

Don't forget lying into war, Bush's denying public health information, Gonzo's denial of problems with FBI wiretaps, Cheney's assertion that he's no longer in the executive branch, outing a CIA agent, Chertoff's foreknowledge of levy collapse during katrina...etc...etc...

Whenever this administration faces a crisis for their cronies, they wave the terrorism flag around. "we are the only ones that can keep you safe."

Contrary to Coultergeist's assertions that Afghanistan is going "swimmingly," 6 years of Bush Administration "governance" has failed us.

Giuliani reminds us that Republicans are the only ones that can keep U.S. safe... Heckuva job ya did.

Firefighters are calling Rudy out for exploiting his 9/11 image for politics and power.

Meanwhile, Turkey is militarizing its border in prep for the Iraqi meltdown, and Sunnis have mostly pulled out of the government altogether.

The list goes on and on...What the hell happened??

remember this?

Hot Gavel to Gavel action!

2007-07-09T12:31:00.000-05:00

Wisconsin Eye, our new state legislature C-Spanesque Web site, is set to go live Tuesday, reports David Callender at the The Capital Times.

Half of a million homes across Wisconsin can now see live Risser on Fitzgerald action. For those "lucky" enough to have cable, tune in to channel 163 for Time-Warner subscribers and channel 200 for Charter Digital in southern Wisconsin.

Internet junkies like me can get state law-making Webcasts at "the Eye's" Web site.

Watch live on cable as the legislature pushes through the Video Competition Act, which will take away consumer protections and public access.

Speaking of which...
Kristian Knutsen over at Isthmus/thedailypage.com has a nice piece on the bill. Our good friends at Blame Society Productions had their say.

Problems in the workplace

2007-07-06T19:21:00.001-05:00

The daily page carried my article about problems at the Hacienda.

A little expansion on the Capital Times article by Pat Schneider done earlier in the week.

Patriotism 2.0

2007-07-04T14:46:00.000-05:00

About 120 or so people have come together on Independence Day to assert their rights, and advocate the castration of a government executive that no longer represents them. In light of the commuted sentence of Scooter Libby, impeachment took center stage. Along with the blow-up doll of President Bushocchio, flopping in his flight suit.

"This is not a partisan issue, this is an empire issue," says Madison city council member, Marsha Rummel to the crowd gathered at the State Street corner of the Capital Square. "My job is to honor the constitution."

Loud applause accompanies both her and Dane County Supervisor Ashok Kumar's reminder that the city and county would soon vote on referendums on impeachment. Along with the emcee of the demonstration, Veteran's for Peace member Buzz Davis, they decry a laundry list of misdeeds committed by the Bush Administration.

"Torture, illegal wars, and illegal wire-taps," says Davis, "It's a mafia enterprise."

(Don't forget being less than straightforward about the outing of a CIA agent, obstructing justice in that trial and VP Dick Cheney's claim to be outside the executive)

The presentation centers around impeachment being a constitutional issue, rather than being driven by a Bush-bashing agenda. Presenters argue that the Executive had overstepped its power, denied the will of the people, and had ultimately out-stayed its welcome.

"As a soldier, I took an oath to fight all enemies foreign and domestic and uphold the constitution," says Davis, who served in the Vietnam era.

Though some protesters are a bit more ignited. Random shouting from a gentleman near the Veteran's Museum erupts about hating Bush, hitting back, something else incomprehensible. Groans drown out the stated fact that the Wisconsin State Journal, some local politicians think it's not Madison's place to ask for the impeachment of Bush.

"People ask, 'don't you have more important things to do?'" says Kumar. "I say there is nothing more important." All that money going to war could be used for education, health care, public housing.

Kumar called on people to pressure their representatives.

"People will not stand for tyranny," Kumar says. "We need to reclaim our republic."

John Nichols, associate editor of the Capital Times, says the impeachment rally this July 4 is part of a "movement of the future."

To politicians, Nichols says, "If you are a patriot, whether in Congress, on the county board, or on city council, vote for impeachment."

Otherwise, he suggests they are "subjects of King George."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My Thoughts:

Will impeachment clean the U.S.'s tainted government? That's unsure given the fact that government, by nature, is never as pure as the people want.

But impeachment is a way to hold leaders accountable, assuming that the jury itself isn't made up of crooks.

Of my favorite protest sign slogans:

"It's the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority."
- Benjamin Franklin

"Impeachment: not just for blow jobs."
- Random protester dude

Creating little Hannities

2007-07-03T19:50:00.000-05:00

Going along with the theme of creating their own reality, "conservatives" (likely neo-con ideologues who pose as conservatives) have created their own Wikipedia.

Conervapedia is the "conservative" response to the "liberal" bias taking control of the popular, consensus-edited Wikipedia.

Or so says the founder Andy Schlafly in the Toronto Star.

"Wikipedia has been taken over by liberally biased editors," Schlafly declares. "It's mobocracy."

"if anyone tries to put in facts that are friendly to Christianity or American history, those facts are likely to be diluted or censored by the mob."

Of course, he might say that that quote itself was chosen by the liberal Star to make him look like a moron.

Among things that differentiate the two online encyclopedias are the formation of dates.

Wikipedia uses C.E. B.C.E. to distinguish the periods around Christ's life on the Gregorian Calendar, whereas Conservapedia makes a point to use A.D. and B.C.
You know, since Christ is a universal truth and all.

I've wondered the about the real truth that Wikipedia has been hiding from me all this time, which upon reading Conservapedia, is a revelation.

Among other things that I "learned:"

1. "There's no doubt, of course, that Fox News is closer to mainstream America than CBS, ABC, NBC or CNN. But, after all, that was its founding mission."

2. Among those who call themselves liberal, support is common for "taxpayer-funded abortion," "censorship of prayer in the classroom," "income redistribution," and "opposition to a strong American foreign policy."

Many times when subjects would seem to curry to the right, positions were either left vague or suggested.

For example, I expected the site to crucify Same-sex marriage as factually an abomination. But the passage qualifies the abomination with "Social conservatives regard it as immoral." This is hardly a debatable fact. But Conservapedia does right away talk about how James Dobson considers same-sex "marriage" a counterfeit because marriage is exclusively between a man and a women.

The main reason I read Wikipedia in the first place is for entertainment, and second, to get links to articles that can verify some positions.

Conservapedia will definitely prove better at the entertaining function, and if I need links to conservative viewpoints, it provides a virtual smörgåsbord.

Got Web?

2007-07-02T13:16:00.000-05:00

Want to not only know what's going on in presidential campaigns, but be able to form in-depth opinions?

Don't watch O'Reily, Blitzer, or Couric...

Read content on nytimes.com, washingtonpost.com and chicagotribune.com. Or so says a recently released study at UW-Madison.

UW-Mad doctoral candidate (and fellow whiskey drinker) Kajsa Dalrymple and journalism professor Dietram Scheufele teamed up in sifting and through data from the 2004 American National Election Study.

They found

"the Internet had positive and significant effects on all measures of knowledge, even after controlling for other media use. More importantly, however, online newspapers were the only medium that had significant effects on integrated knowledge - the ability of readers to "connect the dots" by combining bits and pieces of knowledge into a meaningful understanding of politics"

My favorite words released from the study were this: "We did not find significant links between television news use and factual knowledge."

Really? Such things as Neil Cavuto comparing Tiger Woods and Paris Hilton didn't tip you off?

Seems like common sense, but the UW-Madison study uses scientific/statistic analysis to make a more clear judgement. If we always just used common sense, then our understanding of the world might depend upon O'Reilly common sense or John Stewart common sense.

One thought I did have about the study is: Was there any control for socioeconomic factors?

Those who read the newspapers, Internet news, say other studies tend to a) have more time (maybe have to work less to pay the bills) and b) have more institutional education. Would these factors make more of a difference in how facts are retained, or not retained?

I would think so, but the study still seems to make a strong argument of association. And it makes me feel better about my chosen field.

The Idiot's guide to News

2007-06-30T02:29:00.000-05:00

When the greasy, misogynist pundits prefer circuses, beer over real information, Rome gets dumber...

As pointed out by Michigan Professor Juan Cole's blog, MSNBC news anchor Mika Brzezinski is shown fighting with fellow "journalist" Joe Scarborough on the lead story.

The choice is between Republicans turning against Bush on Iraq and Paris Hilton's release from jail.

Let's see... a global political issue that affects the future of U.S. standing in the world and Middle Eastern disruption...or a story about some spoiled, drunken, coked-out tart who can't keep her pants on let alone stay out of jail for being an asshole.

It's too bad stupidity rests with the "deciders," like Joe Scarborough, who don't know a story of importance from their asshole.

Keep on being real, Mika.

Glenview. Hi, we're in Glenview

2007-06-29T00:32:00.000-05:00

I got an interview with the Sun-Times News Group for a Web job in this city, Glenview, IL.

After the interview, I wandered around Chicagoland.

With the help of a very kind homeless lady with excellent customer service (note to CTA: she's looking for a job and is a knowledgeable, friendly face), I used one of Chicago's many Metras to head to the northern village (25 minutes).

I really do see the draw of using commuter train. They pollute little and are on time, which is a far cry from the bus hook-up that made me a tad late this morning.

Commuter rail is a must have here in Madison, especially with daily commutes inward from Milwaukee, Sun Prairie, and Middleton.
On trolley's, I'm not entirely sold...

Anywho, here are some happy sights of Glenview for the kids...

Coulter takes it to the next level - From nonsense to complete nonsense

2007-06-27T12:26:00.000-05:00

I do have qualms with some of the fund-raising through 501(c)4's, and use of said funds by the Edwards presidential campaign.

But Ann Coulter had taken it to the nonsensical level, personal attacks such as implying that John Edwards is gay, and that the Edwards couple uses their son's death to raise funds. And don't forget when she said that when she would talk about John Edwards in the future, she'd wish he'd been in a terrorist assassination plot.

Then Elizabeth Edwards took her to task, politely asking her to stop...

Coulter initially denies ever making a personal attack. What?
And then Coulter doesn't distinguish between the sort of attack she made and the sort of criticisms that I have, other policy criticisms.

"She's asking me to stop writing..." says Coulter. What? That wasn't the case.

Of course, it should come as little surprise that she puts things in a black and white paradigm, and that Coulter uses criticism of her actions to go off on some tangent, which has nothing to do with the discussion.

ARGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!! COMPLETE NONSENSE

We should all be aware of the amount of vitriol that we send to partisan opponents.

On the left, Al Franken and Michael Moore are prone to hark on President Bush's problem with alcoholism, or the hijinks of his daughters.

There's enough real criticism of Bush's foreign policy, attacks on civil liberties, No Child Left Behind, cronyism...

The CIA cares about you

2007-06-27T01:44:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm glad the CIA finally fessed up to war crimes and spying on anti-war "dissidents." As the New York Times reported, that was decades ago. Wire-taps and toppling foreign governments is all over now, so I can finally be at ease...

The silent revolution

2007-06-26T14:41:00.000-05:00

Shirin Ebadi, a bulldoser of Autocrats.
(courtesy of the Associated Press).

Nobel laureate and Iranian human rights lawyer, Shirin Ebadi is railing against Iran's judiciary for giving more lenience to criminals than political dissidents, reports the BBC.

The story at the beginning of this year was on how U.S.-Iranian journalist Parnaz Azima was illegally detained while returning to Iran to visit her mother.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's thugs charged the Radio Farda journalist of "spreading propaganda" on Western airwaves. Azima has since had her passport revoked and had bail set at $500,000.

Ebadi, who has been barred from seeing clients, says Azima's bail is 50 times larger than a confessed rapist. She denounced the situation in a letter to head judge Ayatollah Hashemi Shahroudi.

Ebadi presents signs that a democratic movement of free speech and individual liberty is alive in Iran.

Her letter is a big deal given the state crackdown. The New York Times reports that Ahmadinejad has sent letters to news editors across Iran warning them not to talk about certain topics, professors were warned about going abroad, and some students have been "disappeared" to prisons.

All the while, Iran's economy is allegedly in a rut as the government hardliners focus on dubious issues. They castigate former moderate President Mohammad Khatami for breaking religious law by shaking an unknown woman's hand. Students are silenced in the interests of national security. !!

Saber rattling by the U.S. administration, hawks and stupid democrats like Lieberman, are only giving Ahmadinejad more of a reason to clamp down.

You know, dumb things like McCain's "Ba Ba Ba, Bomb Iram," are far from the needed soft diplomacy that would recognize dissidents, enact change.

Ebadi has the best retort: "winning an election does not confer the right to rule without respect for human rights."

Divorce court

2007-06-26T12:52:00.000-05:00

For most people in Madison, cars as more of a pain than a convenience. This seems to be a growing contention among mid-size and large U.S. cities. But I believe Madison had the first human-automobile divorce proceedings in the Midwest.

The first divorce was at the Orpheum theater, where ride-sharing program Community Car was on tap to register new customers.

"'Own less and live more,' is the Community Car motto," says newly divorced Brent Sainsbury to thedailypage.

New Isthmus intern James T. Travis (and fellow UW J-schooler) got more of the details.

Here's some photos of the new divorcees.

And an article by Bill Novak at The Capital Times.

Hip Hop Jesus

2007-06-25T19:30:00.000-05:00

This is a little late...

But Saturday brought some Christian spoken word, with a multi-ethnic audience clapping along. I have to say that I'm skeptical when I hear people preaching about Jesus on Library Mall.

You can run into people denouncing gay marriage and abortion while holding up pictures of dead fetuses. Usually some drunken fratboys, coupled with a few philosophy majors, are fighting back.

And don't get me started on the baptist accordion quartet. They looked like nice enough gents, smiling and performing Christ-infused polka. That is, until they passed me a illustrated pamphlet on how unbelievers are all doomed to hell.

I digress...

The Saturday hip-hop evangelists were actually refreshing, speaking about such things as faith helping people out of poverty and despair.

"We're not talking about religion, we're talking about love," rapped the emcee as b-boys danced and the crowd clapped. Now that's a message I can respect.

Plus, I got a laugh out of their low-riding wheels.

As the metal band Ministry said, "Jesus built my hotrod."

I like this guy

2007-06-23T20:13:00.000-05:00

Ron Paul

It's usual that so-called fringe candidates have so much to say. Such as the idea that using force to meddle in others affairs may have some blow-back. Maybe the policy of the CIA taking out democratically-elected governments (Chile, Iran) has made other countries more likely to be pissed at the West, embrace a fundamentalist ideology?

The cusp...The CIA itself is doing a mea culpa over 30 years of spying on dissidents, taking out leaders, funding insurgents. Though the problem is, the CIA is saying, "that was then, we're better now." Really?

Also Ron Paul has this crazy idea that democracy should be spread by example instead of bombs. What is even more crazy is that Republicans are bashing him, though when you think of the insane amounts of dollars spent on defense, and the damage of war on markets, are hawk Republicans being conservative?

And that government ought to stay out of the bedrooms and private lives of gay couples. It's like he makes a distinction between public good and private belief...

I may not agree with Paul on privatizing all government entities. E.g. available, quality health care isn't necessarily a profit-making venture for privatization. And his stance on choice and government environmental protection (although, where has that gone?).

But I hope this guy has a high place in the next administration, instead of the comedy relief/puppets running now at the head of both parties.

The clip below is good, except Bill Maher's stupid talk about how everyone loved Clinton and JFK.

The whole legitimacy thing

2007-06-23T11:18:00.001-05:00

Afgahn presdient Hamid Karzai criticizes lack of coordination between Coalition and NATO forces for the number of civilians killed in the last week by bombings.

Karzai's only, very reasonable, request is that the forces let his government know before any military strike. It is the Afghani's country after all.

As the Bush administration is considering a quicker close to Guantanamo in light of loss of U.S. standing in the world, the loss of Afghan and Iraqi civilians also contributes to the West's credibility gap.

Few leaders do have legitimacy to Afghanis, considering that they are fighting against the Taliban, while they continue to be bombed by outsiders who are supposed to "help" them in that fight.

The result is that "reactionary" forces seem more appealing. If civilians continue to be bombed, the West has helped create another enemy for itself.

Much like after Reagan's use of the Taliban to fight against the Soviets, the vacuum left as the West pulled out created an optimum recruiting environment for al Queda.

History repeats itself.

World Leaders 1.2

2007-06-23T01:01:00.000-05:00

Here John Stewart talks about those running for the U.S.'s highest office.

Remember, these people are making life and death decisions for us all...

Live-Blogging Educational Beats

2007-06-22T20:32:00.000-05:00

A crowd of about 250 gather in the Wisconsin Historical Society Auditorium as an incoming freshman at UW-Madison and first poet takes the stage.

"God decides who is saved or not, so leave it up to him," he says of the gay-marriage rights debate. "People never get to share in matrimony because they are anatomically similar...You say you speak for God, but God never talked about ignorance."

The crowd gazes as the poet denounces hypocrisy, misogyny and bigotry. Applause erupts as he ends: "You don’t have to accept (gay-marriage rights), just respect it."

The poet is one of 15 in the First Wave Spoken word and Urban Arts learning community. The program, to start in the fall, is a UW-Madison community for bright youth to use hip-hop in education.

This Friday night meeting brings together the new school with the old school as four MC's initiate the next generation, talking of the history of hip hop and where it has come.

From Left: Baba Israel, K-Swift, Queen God-Is and Jamaican native DJ Kool Herc, the father of hip-hop.

"I didn’t think Hip Hop would get this far." says D.J. Kool Herc. "Now it's a tool to reach kids."

But before hip-hop was a movement, Herc says the musical influence started with his father, who infused in him a cornucopia of music to train the ear: Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, James Brown.

Herc built monster sound systems, using records as his tools. Starting from block parties in the 1970s, he says the goal was to bring people together.
"Don't smoke pot in here. You got a problem with someone, take it outside."

And so started the hip-hop movement, and an interactive culture that would evolve into a form of teaching.

"This is a dream come true," says Baba Israel, an international touring artist. Hip-hop "is a powerful way to engage young people, but also to open up teachers..."

When he was in school, Baba Israel notes how poetry and the urban arts were not encouraged, how he had to do poetry, rhymes on the side.

"It made me think about race, history, racial injustice," he says. "I wasn’t getting it from teachers, I got it from the music. Kids who sat silent in the back of the room, are now at the front of the class."

Hip-Hop artist and educator K-Swift added that he was one of those kids who secretly used urban art to learn. At age 12, he says he wrote rhymes, got interested in literature, and even used rhymes, mnemonics to learn chemistry and biology.

"It's about expanding your mind through the art," K-Swift says. He's happy that institutions like UW are taking not of this potential. "There's nothing as extensive and comprehensive as what's going on here."

That some teachers ignore the ability of hip-hop to be a tool, tending to ignore the identities of students, is a travesty to hip-hop artist and producer Queen God-Is.

"You can’t teach kids with your back to them," she says.

God-Is explains that students already have poetry, physics, biology within their everyday experience, and it's up to teachers to bring it out in a way that kids understand.

The four panelists agreed that the divisions among music, be it hip-hop, rock, metal, jazz, were infinitely less important than musics common story-telling character. In that way, music that speaks to individuals can be used to unite, and ultimately, to enact positive change.

"If it is music that’s good for people, I’ll play it," says Herc. "Listen to music that makes you want to do something for your future."

The First Wavers all clapped before more of their spoken word performances implied that the future would be bright.

A last performance by a member of the First Wave program for select incoming UW-Madison freshmen.

For more information on Youth Speaks Wisconsin and the First Wave learning community, see UW-Madison's Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives Web site.

See a related post.

Frankenstein and you

2007-06-22T10:50:00.001-05:00

Frankenstein (aka Phil Hands) at the Wisconsin State Journal stormed the state capitol today in hopes of persuading movement in the state legislature to ban the so-called "Frankenstein veto."

Not only is it informative via testimony, that Doyle has gradually changed his mind on yanking the veto as it has allowed him amass power over the years and that it's unfair to yank it when the Doyle term is up, but the editorial is damn hilarious.

Imagine a green-headed monster going up the stairs to talk to state Sen. Fred Risser, nodding his head with statements on government reform.

There is a second meaning, however, intentioned or not. The editorial points out state politics for what it is, theatrics.

It's great that the paper is bringing political cartoons to life, kudos to the State Journal and Phil!

To see this fine piece of work, click here.

For more on the Frankenstein veto, and a perspective on why the ban needs tweaking, check out this Capital Times column.

Work this

2007-06-21T23:31:00.000-05:00

John Edwards's campaign is alleged to be all about helping the working class, raking in millions from unions. But with tax-exempt orgs and $400 haircuts (using campaign money), is he really authentic?

The New York Times reports that Edwards used much funding from a charitable organization for travels, campaign materials, staff, information from advisers...

The Center for Promise and Opportunity is an IRS 501(c)4 organization. That is, it's primary focus is mandated by law to serve some public interest, though it can engage in some political advocacy. The revenue from donations is tax-exempt for the org, thought the donors who supply said revenues cannot claim any tax exemptions on their gifts.

This is different from a 501(c)3 org, which is restricted from any political campaigning, but both the donor and the organization enjoy tax exemptions. Such things as churches, synagogues, service orgs like Goodwill.

But the fact that most of the donations funded campaigning has raised eyebrows on the limits that Edwards pushes the IRS tax code.

He also has to worry about a credibility gap. The man who inspires working class people to give up hard earned money should be wary of filling his own coffers, using their money to pay for his plane tickets/haircuts. These donors can't even write it off.

Wisconsinites and the next pres

2007-06-21T17:25:00.000-05:00

Wisconsin loves Giuliani and Gore, with the latter pulling in 64 percent among Republicans, and the former pulling in 62 percent among Dems in the latest Badger Poll.

Following the footsteps among "net favorability" were

Republicans
Tommy "the gay/jew basher" Thompson at 58 percent
John "bomb Iran" McCain at 16 percent
Mitt "Ann Coulter wants me" Romney at 4 percent

Democrats
Hillary (blame Iraqis) Clinton 60 percent
Barack (I talk nice) Obama at 57 percent
John (the trial lawyer everyman) Edwards at 54 percent

Meanwhile President Bush has favorability rating of 26 percent of Americans, according to the latest Newsweek poll. This is between the lowest for his father (29 percent) in a '92 Gallup poll and the lowest for Nixon (23 percent) in a '74 Gallup poll.

No mention of Fred Thompson in the Badger state this time around, though he did top a straw poll held in Lake Geneva mid-May.

UW-Madison Political Guru/Pollster Charles Franklin, on his blog, notes Fred Thompson is eclipsing Sen. McCain nationally, even though both are pretty similar on the issues.

Dems and Reps, mostly wrong

2007-06-21T16:09:00.000-05:00

As Democratic and REpublican presidential candidates, as well as many congress members debate the futility of the IRaq situation, what is disturbing is the tendency to blame Iraqis.

Hillary et. al. call for benchmarks so that the Iraqis "step up to the plate" for the security of their country. While Republicans, for the most part, clamor about how they'd extend Guantanamo Bay. It's like Rudy and Mitt are having a pissing contest on how tough they can be with rogue nations.

Hmmm, many in the rest of the globe consider the U.S. to be a rogue nation.

Politicos say that Iraq leaders just aren't doing enough to insure security for their people, to quash "sectarian violence" sprouting up in the green zone and elsewhere.

But what about the failure of U.S. leadership? Invading Iraq after a brutal dictatorship expecting things to be puppies and rainbows, roses tossed at the troops.

Some parts of the country have less electricity and job prospects than under Saddam. How about Abu Ghraib's scourge brought on by Western treatment, driven by the highest levels of defense. What of the amount of looting allowed and decision by Paul Bremer to purge Iraq of Baathist elements who have experience to rule?

The Iraqi's didn't bring all of this on themselves, though tensions between Shia and Sunnis doesn't help. They got caught up in what UW alumnus/Washington post correspondent Anthony Shadid calls "The U.S. war in Iraq."

Politicos don't seem to recognize that Iraq and Iran have a history of a bright civilization with preservation of the arts and sciences. Though that was muddied further when English and French colonialists grasped for oil in the early 20th century.

OF course, the ones in charge usually don't have problems finding scapegoats.

For a look into the Iraqi consciousness, see this blog by an Iraqi teenager who's lost most of his family.

Burning Break

2007-06-16T12:32:00.000-05:00

As the world is burning itself to the ground, it's a good time to take a break and go to the beach. So with my trusty laptop and digital camera, I find myself in paradise for a couple of days with the fam and girlfriend at Daytona Beach Shores.

Early this morning, the sunrise over the Atlantic ocean was magnificent.
Here's photos for the kids at home:

As I read Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream, I figure that's the kind of journalism that I really want to do.

Hip Hop in the Classroom

2007-06-16T12:11:00.000-05:00

A Cap Times article by yours truly on a new teaching technique.

Two steps back

2007-06-15T00:26:00.000-05:00

Palestine has erupted into chaos as Hamas takes over Gaza and President Mahmoud Abbas scraps the government, blaming the internal strife on Hamas, and calls for new elections.

I remember four months ago when there was some sign of hope for a coalition between Abbas and Prime Minister Ishmael Haniyeh via the Mecca accords, with the bringing together of a unity government. Hamas even agreed to respect prior peace agreements made by the PLO, though didn't specifically address Israel.

The only G8 groups that considered backing the accords were Germany, France and Russia, with the U.S. only agreeing to meet with Abbas.

It's possible to partially blame the West for lack of progress there. The U.S. and Israel were as stubborn as Hamas about conditions in the international "peace process."

The U.S.-Israel camp conditioned restoration of foreign aid if Hamas reject violence, recognized Israel, and past agreements. Hamas wanted to keep the slightly altered (Mecca Accords) status quo vis a vis Israel, in turn for restored aid.

In the midst of the February talks, a Rural Sociologist and West Bank native at UW-Madison, with whom I talked, made a common yet poignant observation. The good professor pointed out, who the hell are Israel and the U.S. to make demands when they don't really embrace peaceful terms with all of Palestine? Israel doesn't recognize Hamas as an authority despite both allowing state-sponsored violence against civilians.

On the other hand.

The West does not deserve the entire blame for the current situation. Hamas was so horizontally organized that internal strife was already common despite the Mecca Accords.

Even if Haniyeh had complied with Israel's demands (less likely than a snowstorm in the West Bank), pissed off, fragmented groups would have still lobbed missiles.

What happens in the planned new elections is another sign of whether there could be any progress for reconciliation between Fatah, Hamas, let alone Israel in the next 20 years. And this is all the more convoluted with Syria and Iran's involvement.

Abbas has been able to pull off small miracles in the past. Let's just hope the U.S. doesn't support him so much that he or the government there are even less legitimate than now. Or that Abbas doesn't get killed.

For a BBC take, click here.

Online news of tomorrow

2007-06-12T00:35:00.000-05:00

Broadcast Engineering says a study predicts that online news will overtake TV news within the next five years.

"The data came from a Harris Interactive poll on newspapers and online sites and was released last week at the World Association of Newspapers conference in Cape Town, South Africa. The research came from a poll of 8749 adults taken last month in seven countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Germany and Australia."

Among other findings, people want more local news coverage, as well as more in-depth analysis.

If you watch TV news this should come as no surprise. CNN, FOX et. al. are filled with pestilent platitudes.

I rather prefer doing news online, including videos, games, interactive polls. Newpapers seem to be catching on to that.

Cap Times has jumped on the scene with video-editorials using images and music, as well as open-commenting after stories. Sometimes the comments are nuts, but doesn't that add to the fun?

I mean, Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad left me a comment just last week...

Save Me, Julie Kogon

2007-06-10T23:47:00.000-05:00

Writing about his hometown of New Haven, Conn, novelist Allen Ruff invites the reader into a world that existed beyond the confines of Yale's protective ivy enclosures. His new book, Save Me, Julie Kogon, features a charming, yet bittersweet view into that scene, a glimpse at the underbelly of a Jewish urban scene that has all but disappeared.

"Whenever you think about the past and piece things together, the writing becomes therapeutic, even cathartic, says Ruff, at the reading of his book Sunday at Avol's bookstore.

The story itself is about a son, Davey Rabin, flying from his home in the Midwest to visit his childhood roots of New Haven. The occasion? The "ol' man," Harry Rabin, has gone stiff, and Davey must go to bury Harry.

Davey's own apprehension about seeing his family, and the ensuing mishigas (for Yiddish trans. click the link), is shown by instructions to his wife, Annie, to pretend it's all a movie.

He ponders about his own life: "Forty years old tomorrow, I got gray in my beard already and I gotta bury the old man. Happy Birthday!"

Ruff's Sunday reading at Avol's was of Chapter 7, "The Obit" where the reader comes into contact with intertwining, perhaps little known facets of the life of Harry and the family tension therein.

Davey and his brother, Howard, wonder why Harry's last words were "Save me, Julie," when they couldn't recall any particular Julie in Harry's life.

Davey bemoans the Rabbi overseeing the funeral as a shmuck. He writes Harry's obituary on the 80 MB hard drive computer, initially blaming the death on the "malpractice and professional incompetence on the part of the staff in the Intensitve Care Unit at Yale New Haven Hospital," rather than the old age and cigar habit.

Davey notes how he'll see his black sheep brother, Mickey, at the funeral, who will likely bring along his girlfriend to have a cat-fight with Mickey's wife.

The reader also learns of a long-lost sister, Alexandra, from an affair Harry had after fighting with mom. The sister does have Harry's shnoz. The brothers almost include their newly discovered sister in the obituary as "an illegitimate daughter named Alexandra from down state somewhere," right before Davey drives down and delivers the obit to the Journal Courier. They wonder if the Alexandra's mother is named Julie.

The realism of the story is that it's somewhat identifiable with everyone's family: the unknown parts of family history, the conflicted acceptance of annoying family members, and the feeling of being frozen in time during times of laughter and tears.

As Ruff notes, the tapestry of quirks and questions unravels further. With deft touch, and familiar dialogue, the reader is pressed to look for more.

Will a cat-fight between a mistress and a wife interrupt the funeral? Is Julie Kogon Alexandra's mother? What other secrets lie in the family after Davey escaped for the Midwest?

A sample of the novel follows as the story begins with Harry's hard-drinking, best friend and undertaker...

"1989...Louie Vellner just sat and stared at the body of his lifelong friend, barely recognizable without any clothes, lying there on the morticians's table. The aged undertaker figured it must have been well over an hour since they wheeled Harry in from the van, removed him from the zippered body bag, and slid him onto the slab. That made it more than two since they had gotten the call from Yale New Haven to come get his old crony. But Louie, dressed in a body length surgeon's gown, a surgical mask tucked under his chin, hadn't done a thing since he removed the hospital tubes from the corpse's nose and mouth and peeled the tape from his arms."

"He sat there and stared at the body as he sipped deeply from a glass of Johnny Walker, his long-time anesthetic of choice, and took a moment to pour another belt from the half-empty bottle resting nearby on the cart that he had wheeled within reach before sitting down. He realized that he was beginning to get as stiff as his old friend, knew he must get to work, but found it impossible to move. He felt as if he had suddenly lost all the skills and know-how that came with more than fifty years in the business. He reflected on how it had rarely troubled him before, after all he had seen, the thousands he had prepared. How it had suddenly become so very difficult, now that it had come time to bury so many of his old friends. And Harry was the most difficult to date. 'Time to get the hell out,' he thought."