Over 30 killed in gunbattles in Jamaican slums
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A Final Thanks !!! I’m Buzzing !
3 hours ago
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
If you haven't heard Gonjasufi yet...
...then head over to BLEEP where you can download a couple of tracks from 'A Sufi and a Killer' for free.
'Slugs' by Scurvy Bastard (c) 2003
From 1965, for a few fine years
the sweetest place on God’s gray Earth
was a Jazz club called SLUG’S
242 East 3rd Street, between B & C,
in the black heart of Alphabet City
set into the brick of a torn tenement
just down the block from the Hell’s Angels clubhouse
SLUG’S was where the real ones came to play
Pharaoh Sanders fed my soul
while Leon Thomas yodeled to God
and the ghost of Coltrane sipped scotch in the shadows
watching his students pass the torch
Sun Ra descended
golden gowned, black marble Alien
there was no room left on the small stage
so his Arkestra sat at the front tables
often erupting in procession, between the tight spaces, blowing horns to our heads
strutting with loud wail through the sawdust beach
Elvin Jones once showed up with a broken finger
he used his splint as a drumstick
while we downed half-bottles of very cool Cold Duck
and shots of J&B
February 19, 1972
Lee Morgan
the bad and beautiful trumpet which escorted me through countless Nights In Tunisia
was shot dead by his wife at the bar
and two treasures were silenced forever
A perfect fusion of alchemy and irony
the damned place was named for the final blows that would close its doors 7 years later
Beat that
A speech that should be taught in high school to every child.
This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence - economic, political, even spiritual - is felt in every city, every statehouse, every office of the federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society. In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals so that security and liberty may prosper together.MORE
Crack Babies: 20 years on
I've just noticed a smattering of articles that have tackled the idea of the 'crack baby' which became popular during the worrying emergence of crack cocaine during the late 80s. It turns out that babies exposed to crack in the womb weren't necessarily massively brain damaged tragedies as the stereotype had it, but the concept has remained with us.This is despite the fact that we have solid research to show that while those exposed to cocaine in utero do show some differences from other kids, the effects are undesirable but actually relatively small.
This is from The New York Times last year:
Cocaine slows fetal growth, and exposed infants tend to be born smaller than unexposed ones, with smaller heads. But as these children grow, brain and body size catch up.A piece from City Limits Monthly tracked how the myth arose. It's probably the best account I've read of the cultural currents that promoted the concept to front page news and keep it afloat even today.
At a scientific conference in November, Dr. Lester presented an analysis of a pool of studies of 14 groups of cocaine-exposed children — 4,419 in all, ranging in age from 4 to 13. The analysis failed to show a statistically significant effect on I.Q. or language development. In the largest of the studies, I.Q. scores of exposed children averaged about 4 points lower at age 7 than those of unexposed children.
In tests that measure specific brain functions, there is evidence that cocaine-exposed children are more likely than others to have difficulty with tasks that require visual attention and “executive function” — the brain’s ability to set priorities and pay selective attention, enabling the child to focus on the task at hand.
Cocaine exposure may also increase the frequency of defiant behavior and poor conduct, according to Dr. Lester’s analysis. There is also some evidence that boys may be more vulnerable than girls to behavior problems.
But experts say these findings are quite subtle and hard to generalize. “Just because it is statistically significant doesn’t mean that it is a huge public health impact,” said Dr. Harolyn M. Belcher, a neurodevelopmental pediatrician who is director of research at the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Family Center in Baltimore.
And just last month The Washington Post talked to some families of kids labelled as 'crack babies' now that they have grown up into adults finding that, well, many have done alright.
Link to NYT on 'The Epidemic That Wasn’t'.
Link to Washington Post piece (via @sunshinyday)
Vaughn Bell @'Mind Hacks'
'Pink Hitler' advertisement upsets Sicilians
An advert for a clothing shop that features Adolf Hitler dressed in pink has provoked outraged reactions in Italy.
The posters were put up in the city of Palermo in Sicily, with the caption: "Change your style. Don't follow your leader".
The swastika on Hitler's armband has been replaced by a heart.
But the local association of wartime resistance fighters said the adverts were offensive to those who had fought fascism.
World War II resistance fighters wrote to the mayor demanding their immediate withdrawal.
A spokesman said that the posters violated democratic principles.
Duncan Kennedy @'BBC'
Malcolm Fraser quits Liberal Party
Former (Australian) prime minister Malcolm Fraser has quit the Liberal Party, reportedly because he believes it is becoming too conservative.
The Financial Review newspaper says Mr Fraser quit in December, shortly after Tony Abbott replaced Malcolm Turnbull as Liberal leader.
Mr Fraser has previously criticised the party for becoming one of "fear and reaction" and says it is now unrecognisable as the party he joined more than 50 years ago.
The newspaper says his final decision to quit was made after he became increasingly concerned with the conservative direction of the party.
The former prime minister has also been a vocal critic of the Coalition's border protection policies.
This morning Mr Abbott paid tribute to Mr Fraser.
"He obviously has a right to make his judgements about where he stands," the Opposition Leader told Macquarie Radio.
Liberal backbencher Petro Georgiou was a senior adviser under Mr Fraser when he was prime minister.
He has told ABC's AM program that Mr Fraser left because the party is different from the party he joined.
"I think Malcolm's had a classical Menzies-ian view of the party and has been troubled by where he's seen the party going over recent years," he said.
"I think [his resignation] should be viewed with a great deal of sadness. It should be viewed as the action of a man who takes his convictions very seriously."
When asked if anyone had tried to convince Mr Fraser to stay Mr Georgiou replied: "That's something you'd have to ask Malcolm."
Mr Georgiou said he was deeply saddened by Mr Fraser's resignation but said others would have to form their own view as to whether it is a blow to the Liberal Party and Tony Abbott.
The ABC has tried to contact Mr Fraser for comment.
Photo essay: Oil reaches Louisiana shores
A dragonfly tries to clean itself as it is stuck to marsh grass covered in oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, in Garden Island Bay on the Gulf Coast of Louisiana near Venice on Tuesday, May 18, 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Rumor has it Republicans tell more lies
An interesting study has shown that rumor site snopes.com has had to disprove three times as many rumors regarding President Obama in 1 year as they did under President George W. Bush's 8 years. So, while Democrats generally try to achieve their goals through building consensus, Republicans couldn't care less what other people think and will knowingly spread rumors and lies in order to achieve their goals. In other words, they don't give a hoot about anybody but their own. Now, I ask, is that good government?
MOREPS:
sunny_hundal Westminster Council bullshitting. RT @AdamBienkov: Parliament Square is not part of the World Heritage site. http://twitpic.com/1qxkp2sunny_hundal
Funny how Tories were never using the Unesco Heritage site crap when Labour banned protesting in Westminster
Tuesday, 25 May 2010
Westminster City council: Parliament Square's permanent protest camp had to go
Peace protester Brian Haws sits handcuffed after being arrested by police on Parliament Square ahead of the Queen's speech. Photograph: Ian Nicholson/PA
For weeks, a permanent Glastonbury has been set up on Parliament Square. While we all support peaceful protest, it is completely unacceptable for this public square to become a campsite in the heart of central London, when it is meant to be a place for everyone to enjoy. We welcome the mayor's plans to take action and remove the protestors as it is unfair for a major part of our city to be occupied and turned into a no-go area by vociferous minorities, however laudable their causes of land reform, sustainability and self-sufficiency may be.
The campsite may have been dubbed "democracy village" by some, but what the protestors have effectively been doing is taking away others' freedoms.
Londoners and visitors have not been able to enjoy the public square when more than 40 tents prevent them from walking across it and enjoying it. Every day while the protestors remain, our street cleansing teams are having to dispose of at least a tent's worth of waste from the square. In addition, the creation of a permanent home on the square has stopped others, with causes that are just as important, from being able to protest there. It is not right that anyone else who wants to highlight an issue cannot take their cause to the square because it is overcrowded with tents, compost lavatories, an oak sapling and vegetable plots.
As well as the disruption caused to ordinary workers and tourists who are prevented from going about their daily business and enjoying the Unesco world heritage site, the police have been diverted from policing local communities and tackling crime. It is clear that the present legislation is not working and new laws are required to ensure everyone can enjoy the square and give other groups the opportunity to legally protest there. New legislation is urgently needed to enable the police to intervene effectively in cases of prolonged demonstrations, or where there are real public order or nuisance problems. We need powers to regulate and police the square.
In Westminster, we want to see effective legislation, backing the police to do what is appropriate in a civil, democratic and peaceful society. Parliament needs to turn its mind to this and pass the necessary laws as soon as possible. We want to work with the police and the Greater London Assembly to make sure that this situation does not happen again, in order that everyone – be they workers, tourists or other protestors – can use the square. We hope that the campsite is removed as soon as possible.
Parliament Square anti-war, peace camp protester, Brian Haw arrested
Anti-war campaigner Mr Haw, who has been camping there since 2001, was held as police searched the
“peace camp”.
Another protester Barbara Tucker, who has also been camping outside the Houses of Parliament, was arrested.
Ms Tucker was heard saying on BBC London 94.9: “You can’t arrest him [Mr Haw], you don’t have a search order.”
High Court action
A Metropolitan Police spokesman confirmed that two people had been arrested in Parliament Square at about 0800 BST for obstructing police.
Police with sniffer dogs searched the collection of tents opposite the Houses of Parliament before the Queen arrived at the state opening of Parliament.
Phoenix, an environmental activist who has been living in the camp, witnessed the arrests.
He said: “I didn’t like the way he was held in a stress position and was taken off.
“He was carried off by four officers with his whole body weight on his forward shoulders…he wanted his crutches.”
Mr Haw, of Redditch, Worcestershire, set up his camp in protest against sanctions on Iraq and then over the war.
In 2007, he won a legal battle to remain in place due to a drafting error in a new law banning unauthorised protests in Westminster.
Since 1 May several other tents and flags have cropped up on the green, which has been dubbed Democracy Village by campaigners, who include anti-war demonstrators, climate change activists, communists and anarchists, as well as some homeless people.
The green is owned by the Greater London Authority.
The Mayor of London’s office said Mayor Boris Johnson was seeking to apply to the High Court over the camp. But the spokesman added he had nothing to do with the police searches.
“The mayor respects the right to demonstrate, however the scale and impact of the protest is now doing considerable damage to the square and preventing its peaceful use by other Londoners – including those who may wish to have an authorised protest,” he said.
“As a result he has given GLA officers the authority to apply to the High Court to begin legal proceedings for trespass.”
Councillor Colin Barrow, Leader of Westminster City Council, backed the legal action.
“We felt that the hijacking of Parliament Square, one of London’s historic public spaces, needed to be brought to an end,” he said.
Another POV...musn't say anything, stay polite...
Konx-om-Pax - Display Copy Mix
Glasgow-based director, animator and sound designer Konx-om-Pax aka Tom Scholefield (designer/director for Hudson Mohawke and Jamie Lidell amongst others) has put together this exclusive mix for The Wire as part of his Display Copy project.
Along with being a studio and record label, Display Copy is also a club night in Glasgow. Forthcoming gigs scheduled are: Oneohtrix Point Never, Tomutonttu, DJ set from Konx-om-Pax and special guests. Glasgow Artschool, 29 May, 11pm–3am, £5/6. Gescom, Konx-om-Pax and Guy Veale, Glasgow Ivy Bar, 4 June, 8pm–12am, free.
Click here to download Knox-om-Pax’s Display Copy mix (1h 38m, tracklist below)
1. City Scum Shot, “The Bamboo Vein”
2. Grippers Nother Onesers, “After Dark Cravings”
3. Ducktails, “Seagull’s Flight”
4. Dolphins Into The Future, “Lone Voyager”
5. Tod Dockstader, “Knockwhistle”
6. Tom Dissevelt & Kid Baltan, “The Visitor from Inner Space”
7. Bruce Haack (Miss Nelson And Bruce), “Mudra”
8. Conrad Schnitzler, “Trigger One 2″
9. Irsol, “Concentration”
10. Tolerance, “Sacrifice”
11. Stephen Mallinder, “Length of Time”
12. David Fenech, “Poteaux/Feux”
13. Coil, “Who’ll Fall”
14. Throbbing Gristle, “Painless Childbirth”
15. Team Doyobi, “Music For Cat”
16. Alan Sparhawk, “17.53″
17. Zoviet France, “Fire Sticks”
18. Konx-om-Pax, “At Home With Mum & Dad”
19. Chris Carter, “Clouds”
20. Sir Richard Bishop, “Smashana”
21. Erkki Kurenniemi, “Sähkösoittimen Ääniä #4 (1971)”
22. The Goslings, “Overnight”
23. Konx-om-Pax, “Hurt Face”
24. Pocahaunted, “Chinatown”
25. Konx-om-Pax, “Jamie Mono Tape”
26. Current 93 & Nick Cave, “Patripassian”
27. Popol Vuh, “Through Pains to Heaven”
28. Alexandro Jodorowsky, Ronald Frangipane & Don Cherry, “Tarot Will
Teach You/Burn Your Money”
29. Nicholas and Gallivan with Larry Young, “Angles Wing”
30. Chris Corsano, “How Should You Throw It On Other Occasions?”
31. Androids Of Mu, “Atomic X”
32. Martin Creed, “Fuck Off”
2. Grippers Nother Onesers, “After Dark Cravings”
3. Ducktails, “Seagull’s Flight”
4. Dolphins Into The Future, “Lone Voyager”
5. Tod Dockstader, “Knockwhistle”
6. Tom Dissevelt & Kid Baltan, “The Visitor from Inner Space”
7. Bruce Haack (Miss Nelson And Bruce), “Mudra”
8. Conrad Schnitzler, “Trigger One 2″
9. Irsol, “Concentration”
10. Tolerance, “Sacrifice”
11. Stephen Mallinder, “Length of Time”
12. David Fenech, “Poteaux/Feux”
13. Coil, “Who’ll Fall”
14. Throbbing Gristle, “Painless Childbirth”
15. Team Doyobi, “Music For Cat”
16. Alan Sparhawk, “17.53″
17. Zoviet France, “Fire Sticks”
18. Konx-om-Pax, “At Home With Mum & Dad”
19. Chris Carter, “Clouds”
20. Sir Richard Bishop, “Smashana”
21. Erkki Kurenniemi, “Sähkösoittimen Ääniä #4 (1971)”
22. The Goslings, “Overnight”
23. Konx-om-Pax, “Hurt Face”
24. Pocahaunted, “Chinatown”
25. Konx-om-Pax, “Jamie Mono Tape”
26. Current 93 & Nick Cave, “Patripassian”
27. Popol Vuh, “Through Pains to Heaven”
28. Alexandro Jodorowsky, Ronald Frangipane & Don Cherry, “Tarot Will
Teach You/Burn Your Money”
29. Nicholas and Gallivan with Larry Young, “Angles Wing”
30. Chris Corsano, “How Should You Throw It On Other Occasions?”
31. Androids Of Mu, “Atomic X”
32. Martin Creed, “Fuck Off”
BPGlobalPR The ocean looks just a bit slimmer today. Dressing it in black really did the trick! #bpcares
♪♫ Josh Ritter - Mexican Home
From the album of John Prine covers 'Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows' which also features Lambchop, Bon Iver, The Avett Brothers and many more.
Prison Beauty Pageants
Instead of a modeling contract, the winner of this Siberian prison's beauty contest gets early release. Too bad life on the outside is just as tough.
Final Jay Bennett Solo Album to Be Released as Free Download
Donations accepted to benefit the Jay Bennett Foundation 
Jay Bennett: "Twice a Year"
Jay Bennett: "M Plates"
In a press release, Jay's brother Jeff Bennett said, "Those of us who loved Jay lost a son, a brother, a collaborator and a loyal friend. The world lost a gifted musician, thoughtful song-writer and uniquely creative force in the studio who was always working to make music better. This album is part of a larger effort to honor Jay's memory and enhance his legacy by exposing more people to his music and by supporting charitable efforts to make the world a better place."
Last May, former Wilco multi-instrumentalist Jay Bennett died of a painkiller overdose at the age of 45. To commemorate the one-year anniversary of Bennett's death, Bennett's mother Jan and brother Jeff have set up a foundation in his name. According to the Jay Bennett Foundation's website, the foundation will support "music and education."
On July 10, the Foundation will release Bennett's final solo album, Kicking at the Perfumed Air, as a free download. Though the download is free, the Foundation will accept donations, which will benefit the Foundation and its partner charities. You'll also be able to buy a physical copy of the album on CD, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Foundation.
Right now, you can download two songs from the album:On July 10, the Foundation will release Bennett's final solo album, Kicking at the Perfumed Air, as a free download. Though the download is free, the Foundation will accept donations, which will benefit the Foundation and its partner charities. You'll also be able to buy a physical copy of the album on CD, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Foundation.
Jay Bennett: "Twice a Year"
Jay Bennett: "M Plates"
In a press release, Jay's brother Jeff Bennett said, "Those of us who loved Jay lost a son, a brother, a collaborator and a loyal friend. The world lost a gifted musician, thoughtful song-writer and uniquely creative force in the studio who was always working to make music better. This album is part of a larger effort to honor Jay's memory and enhance his legacy by exposing more people to his music and by supporting charitable efforts to make the world a better place."
Tom Breihan @'Pitchfork'
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