Alan Moore on 'Dodgem Logic'

So there's an overtly political thrust to the mag?

To a certain extent. In the second issue I'm doing a piece on anarchy: the practicalities of it, and how it might be made to work without just fucking everything up forever (laughs). I've been reading some stuff about Sortition, which is basically a bit like the old Athenian government by lot. Which strikes me as a way you could still have a government which would not contradict the central anarchist tenet of no leaders. Yes, you need massive constitutional reform, but on the other hand when circumstances are as desperate as they are at the moment, when our political masters are buying mink coats for their swans on expenses, then what is unthinkable, politically, in this day and age?

These are ideas I'm going to be pushing and I suppose there is a political agenda, but it's mainly a humanitarian one...

Alan Moore launches his bi-monthly magazine Dodgem Logic in November, featuring articles and artwork by himself and various other contributors, including Mustard magazine. We spoke to him at his Northampton home.
@'Mustard'

Remember that Alan Moore knows the score...

The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy - Television, the Drug of the Nation

The Beatnigs - Television (On-U Sound Remix by Adrian Sherwood, Gary Clail & Mark Stewart)

(A shout out to the 'Devotional Hooligan' in Bristol!)

On their debut album, this striking San Francisco quintet explodes in a tight and danceable riot of industrial percussion, vocals and tape manipulations. According to an enclosed booklet ("Aural Instruction Manual"), the word "nig" is defined as "a positive acronym...[it] has taken on a universal meaning in describing all oppressed people who have actively taken a stand against those who perpetuate ethnic notions and discriminate on the basis of them." Assailing "Television" (the medium, not the band), poverty and hunger ("Burritos"), the "CIA" and South Africa ("Control"), the Beatnigs cross Devo, Test Dept. and the Dead Kennedys in a brilliant, original coincidence of extremist musical ideas and radical politics. "Television" was subsequently given a pair of head-spinning remixes by Adrian Sherwood, Gary Clail and Mark Stewart and issued on a four-version 12-inch.

Beatnigs leader Michael Franti went on to front the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy and then Spearhead in the '90s.
(Ira Robbins - Trouser Press)

Bonus:Audio
The Beatnigs - Television (On-U Sound Remix)

David Bowie - Boys Keep Swinging (The Kenny Everett Video Show)

30-Years On: David Bowie's Lodger Comes In From The Cold
@'The Quietus'

Lord McCluskey calls for drugs to be legalised

One of Scotland’s most senior former judges has called for the legalisation of heroin and other illicit drugs.

Lord McCluskey said government policy had failed to cut the number of drug deaths or level of drug-related crime.

The former solicitor general for Scotland and High Court judge added that he was appalled by the effect that illegal substances were having on Scotland’s communities.

McCluskey, who defended Sir Paul McCartney against drugs charges in 1973, said he believed that heroin should be given to addicts in controlled medical settings to cut off the flow of money to organised crime. “If people are addicted to heroin, give them heroin. I’m not suggesting you sell it at newsagents, but if you were to offer it to addicts in a medically controlled setting, there would be no criminal market,” he said.

McCluskey said treating drugs as a criminal issue was wrong, and they should be regarded as a health problem...

@'The Times'

Launch of ‘After the War on Drugs: Blueprint for Regulation’

Transform Drug Policy Foundation will launch their internationally groundbreaking book ‘After the War on Drugs: Blueprint for Regulation’ on 12th November 2009 at 11.15am, at the House of Commons, London and at 11.00am at the DPA Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The book is also being launched in mainland Europe, South America, Australasia and Asia.

There is a growing recognition around the world that the prohibition of drugs is a counterproductive failure. However, a major barrier to drug law reform has been a widespread fear of the unknown – just what could a post-prohibition regime look like?

For the first time, ‘Blueprint’ answers that question by proposing specific models of regulation for each main type and preparation of prohibited drug, coupled with the principles and rationale for doing so.

Transform demonstrate that moving to the legal regulation of drugs is not an unthinkable, politically impossible step in the dark, but a sensible, pragmatic approach to control drug production, supply and use.

The House of Commons event will include short presentations by Steve Rolles (author of the publication), Dr Ben Goldacre (‘Bad Science’ columnist for the Guardian) and Professor Rod Morgan (Former Chair of the UK Youth Justice Board) followed by a question and answer session and a light lunch.

The Albuquerque launch has a panel including Danny Kushlick (Transform), Sanho Tree (Institute for Policy Studies) and US Rep. Roger Goodman.

If you would like to attend either the House of Commons or Albuquerque events, please contact Jane Slater on +44 (0) 117 941 5810 or email jane@tdpf.org.uk.

Till The Bars Break

Superb album concerning Native American Indian's culture & land rights with the wonderful Jeanette Armstrong, Michael Franti's Beatnigs, The Fire Next Time, Chuck D with Mad Professor and an interview with Che Guevara from 1967 amongst others.
@'(Son of)'

Shackleton - DJ Set Sonar 08

The Open Road London (1927)

London was the final stop in a marathon journey around Britain filmed as a series of cinema travelogues. Pioneering filmmaker Claude Friese-Greene brought these picture-postcard scenes to life with a specially-devised colour film process.

Text from the earliest illustrated handscroll (12th century) of The Tale of Genji

(Thanx Carolyn)

Dirty Three: Live at ATP-NY'09 w/ Nick Cave (download)

Black Tide/Deep Waters
@'Free Music Archive'

Fans in uproar after Morrissey storms off

Two weeks after collapsing on stage with breathing difficulties, Morrissey was at the centre of controversy again last night when the former Smiths singer stormed off during a performance in Liverpool after a plastic beer glass was thrown.

Scuffles broke out among frustrated fans leaving the Liverpool Echo Arena after they were told that the notoriously temperamental star could not carry on. Eyewitnesses said the singer narrowly avoided being hit during the second song of the night, but was splashed in the face...

@'The Guardian'

My cousin (Hi Adele) was at the gig in Liverpool and was "gutted"! One and a half songs at how much a ticket?

NEU! - Hero live 74

NEU!
More chewing gum addiction!

Pixies FREE Doolittle EP download (Live in Paris 2009)

Breaking the Australian silence

"No shipload of whites fleeing disaster would be treated like this"
In a speech at the Sydney Opera House to mark his award of Australia's human rights prize, the Sydney Peace Prize, John Pilger describes the "unique features" of a political silence in Australia: how it affects the national life of his homeland and the way Australians see the world and are manipulated by great power "which speaks through an invisible government of propaganda that subdues and limits our political imagination and ensures we are always at war -- against our own first people and those seeking refuge, or in someone else's country".
Full transcript of speech
@'Information Clearing House'