2006 January | buzz twang

Let he who is without sin….

January 13, 2006 by DJ Lanphier

Have to say I react with equal parts amazement and bemusement and sadness when the right-wing peanut gallery (most particularly the self righteous navel gazers at Little Green Balls) get all sanctimonious about the annual Hajj when people are injured and killed in stampedes during the pilgrimage. It’s simple math. You put millions of people [...]

Don’t Let Me Down

January 12, 2006 by DJ Lanphier

A once rare outtake (Windows Media) of The Beatles performing Don’t Let Me Down, from the film Let It Be, which still has not been re-released on DVD. I suspect that Sir Paul is busy making himself look good and pushing his vocals to the fore as he did with Let It Be – Naked. [...]

How to Build a Universe….

January 12, 2006 by DJ Lanphier

…That Doesn’t Fall Apart Two Days Later. An excerpt: The basic tool for the manipulation of reality is the manipulation of words. If you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use the words. George Orwell made this clear in his novel 1984. But another way to control the [...]

Pretty much….

January 11, 2006 by DJ Lanphier

Wednesday Quote of the Day: I’ll show you politics in America. Here it is, right here. “I think the puppet on the right shares my beliefs.” “I think the puppet on the left is more to my liking”‘ “Hey, wait a minute, there’s one guy holding out both puppets!” – Bill Hicks Man, I miss [...]

King-George-gate: Myths v. Realities

January 11, 2006 by DJ Lanphier

The Left Coaster has an extraordinary post which breaks down each of the GOP talking points regarding the NSA wiretapping scandal (some many scandals! so little time!) to its component parts. Laymans terms: they sift through the shit and establish the facts. This is the type of hard hitting fact based reporting that should be [...]

Sigh of Truth

January 10, 2006 by DJ Lanphier

Via Past Peak, CNN tool Wolf Blitzter is handed his hat by Howard Dean. The truth hurts doesn’t it Wolf? Video here. (Windows Media) Transcipt from Past Peak: BLITZER: Should Democrats who took money from Jack Abramoff, who’s now pleaded guilty to bribery charges among other charges, a Republican lobbyist in Washington — should the [...]

Spinning Spying

January 9, 2006 by DJ Lanphier

Eric Alterman offers some astute analysis of the ongong NSA wiretapping scandal, focusing upon some points often left out of the “arguments” proffered by the right. The opening graph sums it up: It’s a symptom of just how confused the debate in our public square has grown that while a single, independent Republican senator, Arlen [...]

Pen and Ink from Iraq

January 8, 2006 by DJ Lanphier

Being a great lover of ancient art and all things from abroad, when we were over in London visiting the British Museum, I spent most of the morning one day pouring over the extensive collection of Iraqi antiquities on display. (I could just move into a closet there. They could slip me sandwiches now and [...]

Using facts to counter right-wing disinfo

January 8, 2006 by DJ Lanphier

Over at Unclaimed Territory, Glenn Greenwald is offering some of the most astute analysis of the NSA/FISA Wiretapping scandal anywhere on the internet, most expecially in the area of calling the right-wing talking pointz kidz on their nonsense. As are his commentors as well. Glenn and Co. go after Ol’ Assrocket over at Powerline, who [...]

"Tell all I see them on the other side…"

January 7, 2006 by DJ Lanphier

To the right is a letter from Martin Toler Jr., who died in the Sago mine, to his family. (Source) This just hits me hard and to the bone. It reminds me of the letters written by Russian sailors on the Kursk, as she lay at the bottom of the Berents Sea. While extremely tragic [...]

Killing NYC one business at a time…

January 6, 2006 by DJ Lanphier

Via Jewschool I learn that the 2nd Avenue Deli has been forced to close because of rent increases. It’s a sad example of what has become of my home island of Manhattan. Not uncommon. A mom and pop video store is forced to close because of rent increases, what replaces it? A 7 Eleven. There [...]

Thursday Movie Quote

January 5, 2006 by DJ Lanphier

MAJOR STRASSER Are you one of those people who cannot imagine the Germans in their beloved Paris? RICK It’s not particularly my beloved Paris. HEINZ Can you imagine us in London? RICK When you get there, ask me! CAPTAIN RENAULT Hmmh! Diplomatist! MAJOR STRASSER How about New York? RICK Well there are certain sections of [...]