Enjoy the full interactive experience at http://www.allisnotlo.st
Download the free song and buy the EP at http://www.okgo.net/notlost
Saturday, 30 July 2011
jamesrbuk James Ball
US has a manufactured crisis w/potential for global recession so as to take money from poor & sick to fund tax breaks for the richest
US has a manufactured crisis w/potential for global recession so as to take money from poor & sick to fund tax breaks for the richest
Statement from Glenn Mulcaire's solicitors re: phone hacking scandal
ViaGlenn Mulcaire has already expressed his sincere regret to those who have been hurt and affected by his activities and he repeats that apology most sincerely.
He was effectively employed by News of the World from 2002 to carry out his role as a private investigator.
As he accepted when he pleaded guilty in 2007 to charges of phone interception he admits that his role did include phone hacking. As an employee he acted on the instructions of others.
There were also occasions when he understood his instructions were from those who genuinely wished to assist in solving crimes. Any suggestion that he acted in such matters unilaterally is untrue. In the light of the ongoing police investigation, he cannot say any more.
Glenn Mulcaire: I acted only on News of the World's orders
Friday, 29 July 2011
Hazel Dooney: Portrait of M.M.
The first of a series of commissioned portraits.
Via
Anti-Piracy Lawyer John Steele Caught Copying Content From Other Anti-Piracy Lawyer
From CEG's website
A year and a half ago, in writing about all the new law offices jumping into the mass "anti-piracy" shakedown lawsuit business, one of the early ones we covered was an operation called the Copyright Enforcement Group -- or CEG. Oddly, we haven't seen many stories of CEG in action threatening people... but we do keep coming across stories of other such lawyers copying content from CEG. Almost exactly a year ago, we wrote about how US Copyright Group had copied large parts of CEG's website into its own website and, now, TorrentFreak has pointed out that infamous, mass-suing lawyer John Steele has been caught copying parts of CEG's website as well. This is doubly ironic, given Steele's usual bravado and talk about the evils of copyright infringement.
TorrentFreak asked CEG about this and it claimed that this was not authorized and that it might have to "take steps" to prevent Steele from continuing this copying. Now wouldn't that be an interesting lawsuit to follow?
Mike Masnick @'techdirt'
Louise Mensch MP responds to allegations from investigative journalist
I also focussed questions on whether hacking and blagging was, in fact, widespread throughout Fleet Street.
On 22 July I received the following email, which I reprint here in full and respond to below:
Dear Mrs Mensch
We are informing you that we have come into possession of the following information, about yourself, and would like to ask you for any comments, before we publish this information.
1. Whilst working at EMI, in the 1990s, you took drugs with Nigel Kennedy at Ronnie Scott's in Birmingham, including dancing on a dance floor, whilst drunk, with Mr Kennedy, in front of journalists. Photos of this exist.
2. Whilst working at EMI, in the 1990s, you wrote a novel, of a sexual nature, on your work computer, during working hours, and that it was this that caused EMI to terminate your employment. Correspondence of this exists.
3. The resultant novel included derogatory references to a driver called Roger, a character you based on Roger Lewis, your then line manager, Managing Director at EMI, who is now Group Chief Executive of Welsh Rugby Union.
We look forward to hearing from you.
With thanks
David Jones Investigative Journalists
###
My response to the allegations is as follows:
1. Although I do not remember the specific incident, this sounds highly probable. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Nigel Kennedy, whom I remember with affection. Additionally, since I was in my twenties, I'm sure it was not the only incident of the kind; we all do idiotic things when young. I am not a very good dancer and must apologise to any and all journalists who were forced to watch me dance that night at Ronnie Scott's.
2. Writing the first few chapters of Career Girls on my EMI computer is quite correct. However, it was all done after work hours. It was also not why I was fired by EMI. "Leaving work early" and “missing the odd day at work” along with "inappropriate dress" were the reasons quoted to me.
3. “Career Girls” was my first novel. I used the names of many real people I knew for minor characters, such as journalists, chauffeurs, bankers, and so forth. Roger Lewis was probably amongst them, as were (off the top of my head) Therese Coffey MP, now my colleague on the Select Committee, Jeremy Quin, Damian Hinds MP, Maurice Oberstein, Rod Clayton, James Robertson, and many more. None of them have ever complained about my using their names in this way.
I would also like to note that I am thrilled that Roger is now the Group Chief Executive of the Welsh Rugby Union. So many other co-workers from my music business days in the 90s have not found as exciting second careers.
Most importantly, I have not the slightest intention of being deterred from asking how far the culture of hacking and blagging extended in Fleet Street.
Louise Mensch
(Who don't forget is married to the manager of Metallica & The Red Hot Chilli Peppers!)
Tory MP Louise Mensch 'probably took drugs in club'
Baobinga PitchforkMixtape
Tracklist:
1. Linkwood - Three - Prime Numbers
2. Baobinga & Kowton - Proper - Build (Album Dub)
3. Funkineven - Roland's Jam - Eglo (Dub)
4. Funkineven - Heart Pound - Eglo
5. Ginz & Baobinga - Lowrise Riddim - (Dub)
6. E40 ft Keak Da Sneak - Tell Me When To Go
7. Busta Rhymes ft Pharrell - Light Your Ass On Fire (Instrumental)
8. Ginz & Baobinga - Ballin In The Club Riddim - (Dub)
9. Cee Lo Green - I Want You (Redlight RMX)
10. xxxy - Kerpow - All City (Dub)
11. Baobinga & I.D. - Tongue Riddim (Roska RMX (Binga's ReFix)) - Build (Album Dub)
12. Lighter - Skanker (James Fox Work Vocal Edit) - (Dub)
13. Adam Beyer - Remainings III (Jesper Dahlback RMX) - Drumcode
14. The Phantom - Arctic - Senseless (Dub)
15. Hud Mo - Thunder Bay - Warp
16. Darqwan - Said The Spider - Texture (vinyl rip)
17. Baobinga & I.D. - Wang It - Build (Album Dub)
>>>w/ Randomer - Brunk - Hessle Audio
18. Menta - Sounds Of Da Future - Sounds Of Da Future (vinyl rip)
>>> w/ Randomer - Brunk - Hessle Audio
19. Plasticman - Be There Or Be Square - Terrorhythm (vinyl rip)
20. Baobinga - Make Me Feel - Build (Album Dub)
21. Guido & Baobinga - Ballin' - Build
22. Ginz & Baobinga - Heartburst Riddim - Build (Album Dub)
23. Chris Brown ft Busta Rhymes & Lil Wayne - Look At Me Now
>>>w/ DJ X Change - Booty Talk - Database
24. Jack Sparrow & Baobinga - TransPennine Express - Build (Album Dub)
25. TC ft Dread MC - Burning Starlight - Dont Play (Dub)
>>>w/ Die - Jitta Bug - Full Cycle
26. Photek - KJZ - Virgin
27. Indigo - Elysian - (Dub)
Joint Ventures Review
EDL & Anders Breivik
1. Fresh from his court appearance during which he was convicted of leading a violent brawl involving 100 football supporters, EDL leader Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (aka “Tommy Robinson”) was interviewed by Becky Anderson on CNN’s “Connect the World” programme on Monday evening. The anchor noticed what appeared to be a threat at the end of the interview and challenged Yaxley-Lennon about it. The full transcript of the CNN interview (link provided above) also includes the observations of a former Neo-Nazi who was interviewed immediately after Yaxley-Lennon, both in relation to the massacre in Norway and his damning response to Yaxley-Lennon’s own anti-Islam assertions on behalf of the EDL, especially the close parallels with historical Far-Right bigotry towards Jews.
2. Yaxley-Lennon was interviewed in further detail by Jeremy Paxman on BBC’s Newsnight later on Monday evening. Along with refusing to answer most of Paxman’s questions, Yaxley-Lennon recited almost exactly the same memorised statements that he’d made on CNN, from his “words of condolence” at the beginning to what appeared to be a threat at the end. He became increasingly belligerent and aggressive as the interview progressed, and by the end he was loudly ranting. Paxman also noticed the “threat” and challenged Yaxley-Lennon about it.· Furthermore, Yaxley-Lennon told Paxman that he does not know Daryl Hobson, despite the fact that Hobson is one of the EDL’s main organisers. A photo of Yaxley-Lennon with Hobson is displayed at the top of this PP article (via Hope Not Hate/Searchlight). Hobson himself has also confirmed that the terrorist Anders Breivik was in contact with the EDL.
· Yaxley-Lennon also told Paxman that the millionaire businessman Alan Lake does not finance the EDL, despite the fact that Lake himself has now publicly admitted to funding the organisation. A detailed profile of Lake can be read via Hope Not Hate here.
3. Yaxley-Lennon was interviewed by 3 Counties Radio on Tuesday. It was a complete disaster for him; the interviewer tore Yaxley-Lennon apart despite his attempts to hijack the interview. The interviewer particularly jumped on the “threat” he’d made on Newsnight, and subsequently demolished him in forensic detail. You can read a full transcript here. It includes numerous screenshots and photographic evidence completely contradicting Yaxley-Lennon’s disingenuous claims about the EDL in his ongoing public interviews. The article is exhaustively researched and readers are strongly advised to familiarise themselves with it.
4. Yaxley-Lennon was also interviewed by Adrian Chiles on ITV’s Daybreak programme. Yaxley-Lennon mentioned the EDL’s official “Jewish Division” in an attempt to demonstrate the EDL’s anti-racist credentials. Unfortunately for him, the current leader of that division is now on record as publicly describing the teenagers killed by Breivik as “scum”. Full details here, including a screenshot and a summary of the background & activities of the so-called “Jewish” individual involved. The leadership of the “Jewish Division” has links to US-based convicted terrorists who are banned from Israel and whose organisation is officially classified by the FBI as a terrorist group (as previously discussed on Pickled Politics here). The same article also includes a transcript of Yaxley-Lennon falsely claiming on Newsnight that he doesn’t know EDL senior organiser Daryl Hobson, including a link to the aforementioned photographic evidence unearthed by Hope Not Hate/Searchlight...
Continue reading
'...dis ain't quotes, dis is from 'is man-if-esto!'
Smashed Hits: Is London Calling the best anthem for a city?
A version of The Clash song London Calling was used as part of the countdown coverage to the 2012 Olympics. But is it the best advert for the city, asks Alan Connor.
Food shortages, floods and "zombies of death" - welcome to London. The Clash's breakthrough single is enough to start a housing crash and send tourists fleeing.Even so, it's easy to understand the branding appeal. As it starts, we hear a bass line reveille before Joe Strummer yowls the title, like a radio transmission demanding the listener's attention.
Of course, this is deliberate. The phrase "London Calling" was previously associated with wartime BBC broadcasts to occupied countries - "The news from Britain - up-to-the-minute, truthful".
The Clash were supporters of pirate radio and considered launching their own station - this love song to the wireless signal recounts what, in punk terms, is up-to-the-minute and truthful news. But it isn't saying "come and enjoy the canoe slalom".
In Joe Strummer's mind, in fact, conflict is back. The second line is, "Now war is declared, and battle come down". Engines have stopped running and meltdown is expected.
So what's caused this war, perhaps a Third World War? It's partly down to resources - a kind of unnatural disaster. The Clash were part-band, part-reading list, and the lyrics distill the gloomiest headlines of the 1970s.
The United Nations was tackling food shortages - as the chorus has it, "the wheat's growing thin". The Three Mile Island reactor leaked radioactive steam ("a nuclear error"). Newspapers suggested that the inter-glacial period might end sooner rather than later ("the ice age is coming"). At times it's unclear whether the city's getting too hot or too cold ("the sun's zooming in"), but either way the outlook is poor.
And so London Calling is a post-apocalyptic radio message to the survivors, a concept familiar to anyone who's seen a zombie movie or any of the 1970s' abundant disaster fiction (see box, right). There's even, at the end, guitar feedback sending a signal in Morse code - naturally, "SOS"
The other sound-effect-of-sorts makes this a very personal portrait of the city by songwriter Strummer. What sounds like a wolf's howl is revealed by early demos as seagulls - the birds Strummer heard from his home in the World's End estate by the bank of the Thames.
"I live by the river" might now be the boast of a mega-mortgage condo-owner - in 1979 it was a shout from a part of the city ravaged by the Blitz.On top of all that, the song sent another message when broadcast on the real-life radio to real-world listeners - a punky-reggae rallying call to "come out of the cupboard, you boys and girls". That message starts with a repudiation of the Carnaby Street depiction of London, dismissing "phoney Beatlemania" and insisting that the only thing swinging about the capital in 1979 is a policeman's truncheon.
The song calls time on red-bus, groovy-baby London branding - the type of thing we saw at the closing ceremony of the 2008 Olympics, and the type of scenes that London Calling is nowadays used to soundtrack.
Young listeners are instructed not to relive the past (particularly the 1960s, an implied swipe at the band's rivals the Jam) and don't lose yourself in drugs - the second verse is Strummer's rebuke to those who, he later explained, were "getting down on heroin at the time" rather than engaging with that "battle come down".
And an early draft has another target. In his book on the Clash, Route 19 Revisited, music writer Marcus Gray describes Strummer's irritation at London's crowds of visiting sports fans - happily for the 2012 campaign, the thought didn't make the recorded version
So why has this excoriation of everything the London Tourist Board stands for ended up a feel-good anthem? The corporate-run world inside Stratford's blue perimeter fence seems unlikely, after all, to resemble the Strummerville campfire at Glastonbury.
One reason may be the band's decision to up their sonic game from more punky beginnings. By their next LP, the Clash's producer was boasting of "more guitars per square inch than anything in the history of Western civilisation". London Calling offers so much to listen to that it's possible to miss most of the words between the opening line and the end of the chorus. The title phrase also lives on in its BBC, non-seditionary sense and it seems that when headline-writers and copywriters type the word "London", "calling" can follow almost unthinkingly. The song is now often not much more than the audio equivalent - a jingle that says "hey, it's London".
"London Calling is a classic example of a song that has become so familiar that its original meaning has been lost," says Gray. "It's instantly recognisable and superficially the perfect invitation to the capital and the world's premiere sporting event, but it's actually about the end of the world, at least as we know it."
The same has happened to other tracks as they become "golden oldies", but that label doesn't quite fit London Calling. In 2011, you can hardly hear a song featuring nuclear accidents, food crises and civil unrest and dismiss it as dated.
@'BBC'
plunderbund Plunderbund
Am I the only one realizing that the GOP House takes more time and consideration over raising the debt ceiling than going to war?
Julian Assange Splendour Forum Address 2011
'When I was twelve my family and I lived in Byron Bay. Some days I would try to climb up to the lighthouse. Earth would overhang the sea cliffs and sometimes a pebble would shift or a gull would cry and I would wonder if I was standing on the overhang.
Later I would look back and see that in fact there had been nothing between me and the waters below. At any given moment I could not see where I was, I could only see where I had been and where I wanted to go. Only with perspective could I understand.
We are all like that. We all laugh at the dorky fashions from ten years ago but we think we are totally cool now. Well we are, but in a more important way. We are becoming the agents of perspective.
This generation is burning the mass media to the ground. We’re reclaiming our rights to old history. We are ripping open secret archives from Washington to Cairo. We are reclaiming our rights to share ourselves and our times with each other, to be the agents and writers of our own history. We don’t know yet exactly where we are but we can see where we’re going.
The change in perspective that has happened over the last year is what this generation is going to use to find our lighthouse and when we get there we’re going to turn the fucking spotlight on.
So enjoy Splendour In The Grass. Find each other. Find every perspective you can. You’ll need it in the adventure ahead.'
Via
Via
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