Saturday, 16 April 2011
Radiohead – The Butcher + Supercollider (2011)
According to Radiohead’s website, vinyl versions of “The Butcher” and “Supercollider” will be available in North American Stores on June 14th.
According to Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien, “The Butcher” is from the King of Limbs sessions, while “Supercollider” was “recorded during that period and finished off after the album came out.”
“The Butcher”
“Supercollider”
via
Kettling has radicalised Britain's youth
The high court has ruled the kettling that took place during the G20 protests was illegal. Photograph: Martin Godwin for the Guardian
One night last December, having already spent five hours trapped by the Metropolitan police in Parliament Square, I was imprisoned on Westminster Bridge along with 1,000 other mostly young protesters, in sub-zero temperatures, for more than two hours. We were held in such a tight space that some suffered respiratory problems and chest pains: the symptoms of severe crushing. This is kettling, and in its strategic brutality and unabashed doublethink, it is the perfect hallmark for the Cameron era.
In a landmark ruling, the high court ruled on Thursday that the Met's use of the tactic during 2009's G20 protests was illegal. Their wider use of kettling, common throughout this winter's student and anti-cuts protests, is currently being challenged at the European court of human rights. Despite the high court warning that it must only be used as a "last resort catering for situations about to descend into violence", the Met are unrepentant. "At the heart of this case," they responded, "lies a vital public order policing tactic that prevents disorder and protects the public." They will appeal against the high court ruling, and continue to use kettling "where necessary".
While the tactic's origin is German (from "Kessel"), kettling is very rarely used by police forces other than our own; it's such a British verb, somehow – a darkly comic inversion of the national obsession with the serenity to be found in a nice cup of tea. And for a newly politicised generation of young Brits, it has become a common, though brutal, reality. It felt "like I'd been in a car accident", said one female student who had been kettled on Westminster Bridge. Invoking Hillsborough, a doctor present that night observed it was miraculous no one was killed – from crowd panic and surges that could have easily led to people toppling over the waist-high walls of the bridge and into the Thames below. Another video from inside the kettle that day was described as "appalling" by the chair of the Met watchdog, the Metropolitan Police Authority.
Beyond the physical danger, kettling is collective punishment, in violation of the Geneva conventions: a response to the brick-throwing of a handful of protesters that affects the peaceful ones, too, no matter how old or young, how sick or well. More than that, it is de facto imprisonment without trial. It is also police brutality at its most devious – the strategic version of a baton to the head. You want to have your voice heard, to speak out about injustice? How about we smother your esprit de corps, shut you off from your fellow citizens, and raise your temperatures until you do break the law? The nomenclature used on the police side, meanwhile, exudes Wordsworthian calm: they call it "containment", an attempt to mop protesters' brows in the interests of everyone's "public safety". It is impeccable Orwellian newspeak. As David Lammy asked the home secretary, Theresa May (who was busy denying that a kettle had even existed) : "Is not the point of a kettle, that it brings things to the boil?"
It is often observed that kettling is designed to dissuade people from coming out to protest: if anything, it has the reverse effect on those who've experienced it. As protesters finally shuffled out of the Westminster Bridge kettle in single file, after seven hours imprisoned in freezing temperatures without food, water, toilets or freedom of movement, I saw several of them look the police in the eye – for that was all they could see, beneath a riot shield visor and a raised black snood – and say, some with humour, some with anger – but all with total defiance, "see you at the next one, mate".
Freshly radicalised by these experiences, it is little surprise that on 26 March, so many young people chose to reject the police-approved TUC march and masked up, seeking freedom and solidarity in the anonymity of the black bloc. I say this to the police: why should protesters engage on your terms, when these are your terms?
Dan Hancox @'The Guardian'
(GB2011)
In a landmark ruling, the high court ruled on Thursday that the Met's use of the tactic during 2009's G20 protests was illegal. Their wider use of kettling, common throughout this winter's student and anti-cuts protests, is currently being challenged at the European court of human rights. Despite the high court warning that it must only be used as a "last resort catering for situations about to descend into violence", the Met are unrepentant. "At the heart of this case," they responded, "lies a vital public order policing tactic that prevents disorder and protects the public." They will appeal against the high court ruling, and continue to use kettling "where necessary".
While the tactic's origin is German (from "Kessel"), kettling is very rarely used by police forces other than our own; it's such a British verb, somehow – a darkly comic inversion of the national obsession with the serenity to be found in a nice cup of tea. And for a newly politicised generation of young Brits, it has become a common, though brutal, reality. It felt "like I'd been in a car accident", said one female student who had been kettled on Westminster Bridge. Invoking Hillsborough, a doctor present that night observed it was miraculous no one was killed – from crowd panic and surges that could have easily led to people toppling over the waist-high walls of the bridge and into the Thames below. Another video from inside the kettle that day was described as "appalling" by the chair of the Met watchdog, the Metropolitan Police Authority.
Beyond the physical danger, kettling is collective punishment, in violation of the Geneva conventions: a response to the brick-throwing of a handful of protesters that affects the peaceful ones, too, no matter how old or young, how sick or well. More than that, it is de facto imprisonment without trial. It is also police brutality at its most devious – the strategic version of a baton to the head. You want to have your voice heard, to speak out about injustice? How about we smother your esprit de corps, shut you off from your fellow citizens, and raise your temperatures until you do break the law? The nomenclature used on the police side, meanwhile, exudes Wordsworthian calm: they call it "containment", an attempt to mop protesters' brows in the interests of everyone's "public safety". It is impeccable Orwellian newspeak. As David Lammy asked the home secretary, Theresa May (who was busy denying that a kettle had even existed) : "Is not the point of a kettle, that it brings things to the boil?"
It is often observed that kettling is designed to dissuade people from coming out to protest: if anything, it has the reverse effect on those who've experienced it. As protesters finally shuffled out of the Westminster Bridge kettle in single file, after seven hours imprisoned in freezing temperatures without food, water, toilets or freedom of movement, I saw several of them look the police in the eye – for that was all they could see, beneath a riot shield visor and a raised black snood – and say, some with humour, some with anger – but all with total defiance, "see you at the next one, mate".
Freshly radicalised by these experiences, it is little surprise that on 26 March, so many young people chose to reject the police-approved TUC march and masked up, seeking freedom and solidarity in the anonymity of the black bloc. I say this to the police: why should protesters engage on your terms, when these are your terms?
Dan Hancox @'The Guardian'
(GB2011)
Friday, 15 April 2011
dangerroom Danger Room
Wanted: 100 recruits for 'Human Terrain.' Must be 'skilled in Microsoft Office.' bit.ly/gWKGcU via @pricefloyd
God help you out, Paul
Circa 1971: John Lennon writes a scathing missive to Paul and Linda McCartney in response to a letter from Linda in which she chastised him for — amongst other things — not publicly announcing his departure from The Beatles. There was no love lost between the two couples at this point and this angry note was just one shot in a volley that lasted long after the slow dissolution of the band, an already muddled event further complicated by first the death of manager Brian Epstein; the subsequent power struggle for control of the band; and the introduction of both Yoko and Linda to the equation.
Transcript follows. Image courtesy of Profiles in History, who are selling this letter at auction next month.
Transcript follows. Image courtesy of Profiles in History, who are selling this letter at auction next month.
Images: Profiles in History
TranscriptBag Productions Inc.@'Letters of Note'
Tittenhurst Park,
Ascot, Berkshire.
Ascot 23022
Dear Linda and Paul,
I was reading your letter and wondering what middle aged cranky Beatle fan wrote it. I resisted looking at the last page to find out – I kept thinking who is it – Queenie? Stuart's mother? – Clive Epstein's wife? – Alan Williams? – What the hell – it's Linda!
You really think the press are beneath me/you? Do you think that? Who do you think we/you are? The "self-indulgent doesn't realize who he is hurting" bit–I hope you realize what shit you and the rest of my 'kind and unselfish' friends laid on Yoko and me, since we've been together. It might have sometimes been a bit more subtle or should I say "middle class" – but not often. We both "rose above it" quite a few times – & forgave you two – so it's the least you can do for us – you noble people. Linda – if you don't care what I say – shut up! – let Paul write – or whatever.
When asked about what I thought originally concerning MBE, etc. – I told them as best as I can remember – and I do remember squirming a little – don't you, Paul? – or do you – as I suspect – still believe it all? I'll forgive Paul for encouraging the Beatles – if he forgives me for the same – for being – "honest with me and caring too much"! Fucking hell, Linda, you're not writing for Beatle book!!!
I'm not ashamed of the Beatles – (I did start it all) – but of some of the shit we took to make them so big – I thought we all felt that way in varying degrees – obviously not.
Do you really think most of today's art came about because of the Beatles? – I don't believe you're that insane – Paul – do you believe that? When you stop believing it you might wake up! Didn't we always say we were part of the movement – not all of it? – Of course, we changed the world – but try and follow it through – GET OFF YOUR GOLD DISC AND FLY!
Don't give me that Aunty Gin shit about "in five years I'll look back as a different person" – don't you see that's what's happening NOW! – If I only knew THEN what I know NOW – you seemed to have missed that point....
Excuse me if I use "Beatle Space" to talk about whatever I want – obviously if they keep asking Beatle questions – I'll answer them – and get as much John and Yoko Space as I can – they ask me about Paul and I answer – I know some of it gets personal – but whether you believe it or not I try and answer straight – and the bits they use are obviously the juicy bits – I don't resent your husband – I'm sorry for him. I know the Beatles are "quite nice people" – I'm one of them – they're also just as big bastards as anyone else – so get off your high horse! – by the way – we've had more intelligent interest in our new activities in one year than we had throughout the Beatle era.
Finally, about not telling anyone that I left the Beatles – PAUL and Klein both spent the day persuading me it was better not to say anything – asking me not to say anything because it would 'hurt the Beatles'– and 'let's just let it petre out' – remember? So get that into your petty little perversion of a mind, Mrs. McCartney – the cunts asked me to keep quiet about it. Of course, the money angle is important – to all of us – especially after all the petty shit that came from your insane family/in laws – and GOD HELP YOU OUT, PAUL – see you in two years – I reckon you'll be out then –
inspite of it all
love to you both,
from us two
P.S. about addressing your letter just to me – STILL....!!!
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