SATURDAY’S SCOTTISH SONG : #484: THE HARDY BOYS
2 hours ago
Saturday, 4 December 2010
Julian Assange answers your questions
I'll start the ball rolling with a question. You're an Australian passport holder - would you want return to your own country or is this now out of the question due to potentially being arrested on arrival for releasing cables relating to Australian diplomats and polices?
Julian Assange:I am an Australian citizen and I miss my country a great deal. However, during the last weeks the Australian prime minister, Julia Gillard, and the attorney general, Robert McClelland, have made it clear that not only is my return is impossible but that they are actively working to assist the United States government in its attacks on myself and our people. This brings into question what does it mean to be an Australian citizen - does that mean anything at all? Or are we all to be treated like David Hicks at the first possible opportunity merely so that Australian politicians and diplomats can be invited to the best US embassy cocktail parties.
girish89
How do you think you have changed world affairs?
And if you call all the attention you've been given-credit ... shouldn't the mole or source receive a word of praise from you?
Julian Assange:For the past four years one of our goals has been to lionise the source who take the real risks in nearly every journalistic disclosure and without whose efforts, journalists would be nothing. If indeed it is the case, as alleged by the Pentagon, that the young soldier - Bradley Manning - is behind some of our recent disclosures, then he is without doubt an unparalleled hero.
Daithi
Have you released, or will you release, cables (either in the last few days or with the Afghan and Iraq war logs) with the names of Afghan informants or anything else like so?
Are you willing to censor (sorry for using the term) any names that you feel might land people in danger from reprisals??
By the way, I think history will absolve you. Well done!!!
Julian Assange:WikiLeaks has a four-year publishing history. During that time there has been no credible allegation, even by organisations like the Pentagon that even a single person has come to harm as a result of our activities. This is despite much-attempted manipulation and spin trying to lead people to a counter-factual conclusion. We do not expect any change in this regard.
distrot
The State Dept is mulling over the issue of whether you are a journalist or not. Are you a journalist? As far as delivering information that someone [anyone] does not want seen is concerned, does it matter if you are a 'journalist' or not?
Julian Assange:I coauthored my first nonfiction book by the time I was 25. I have been involved in nonfiction documentaries, newspapers, TV and internet since that time. However, it is not necessary to debate whether I am a journalist, or how our people mysteriously are alleged to cease to be journalists when they start writing for our organisaiton. Although I still write, research and investigate my role is primarily that of a publisher and editor-in-chief who organises and directs other journalists.
achanth
Mr Assange,
have there ever been documents forwarded to you which deal with the topic of UFOs or extraterrestrials?
Julian Assange:Many weirdos email us about UFOs or how they discovered that they were the anti-christ whilst talking with their ex-wife at a garden party over a pot-plant. However, as yet they have not satisfied two of our publishing rules.
1) that the documents not be self-authored;
2) that they be original.
However, it is worth noting that in yet-to-be-published parts of the cablegate archive there are indeed references to UFOs.
gnosticheresy
What happened to all the other documents that were on Wikileaks prior to these series of "megaleaks"? Will you put them back online at some stage ("technical difficulties" permitting)?
Julian Assange:Many of these are still available at mirror.wikileaks.info and the rest will be returning as soon as we can find a moment to do address the engineering complexities. Since April of this year our timetable has not been our own, rather it has been one that has centred on the moves of abusive elements of the United States government against us. But rest assured I am deeply unhappy that the three-and-a-half years of my work and others is not easily available or searchable by the general public.
CrisShutlar
Have you expected this level of impact all over the world? Do you fear for your security?
Julian Assange:I always believed that WikiLeaks as a concept would perform a global role and to some degree it was clear that is was doing that as far back as 2007 when it changed the result of the Kenyan general election. I thought it would take two years instead of four to be recognised by others as having this important role, so we are still a little behind schedule and have much more work to do. The threats against our lives are a matter of public record, however, we are taking the appropriate precautions to the degree that we are able when dealing with a super power.
JAnthony
Julian.
I am a former British diplomat. In the course of my former duties I helped to coordinate multilateral action against a brutal regime in the Balkans, impose sanctions on a renegade state threatening ethnic cleansing, and negotiate a debt relief programme for an impoverished nation. None of this would have been possible without the security and secrecy of diplomatic correspondence, and the protection of that correspondence from publication under the laws of the UK and many other liberal and democratic states. An embassy which cannot securely offer advice or pass messages back to London is an embassy which cannot operate. Diplomacy cannot operate without discretion and the
protection of sources. This applies to the UK and the UN as much as the US.
In publishing this massive volume of correspondence, Wikileaks is not highlighting specific cases of wrongdoing but undermining the entire process of diplomacy. If you can publish US cables then you can publish UK telegrams and UN emails.
My question to you is: why should we not hold you personally responsible when next an international crisis goes unresolved because diplomats cannot function.
Julian Assange:If you trim the vast editorial letter to the singular question actually asked, I would be happy to give it my attention.
cargun
Mr Assange,
Can you explain the censorship of identities as XXXXX's in the revealed cables? Some critical identities are left as is, whereas some are XXXXX'd. Some cables are partially revealed. Who can make such critical decisons, but the US gov't? As far as we know your request for such help was rejected by the State department. Also is there an order in the release of cable or are they randomly selected?
Thank you.
Julian Assange:The cables we have release correspond to stories released by our main stream media partners and ourselves. They have been redacted by the journalists working on the stories, as these people must know the material well in order to write about it. The redactions are then reviewed by at least one other journalist or editor, and we review samples supplied by the other organisations to make sure the process is working.
rszopa
Annoying as it may be, the DDoS seems to be good publicity (if anything, it adds to your credibility). So is getting kicked out of AWS. Do you agree with this statement? Were you planning for it?
Thank you for doing what you are doing.
Julian Assange:Since 2007 we have been deliberately placing some of our servers in jurisdictions that we suspected suffered a free speech deficit inorder to separate rhetoric from reality. Amazon was one of these cases.
abbeherrera
You started something that nobody can stop. The Beginning of a New World. Remember, that community is behind you and support you (from Slovakia).
Do you have leaks on ACTA?
Julian Assange:Yes, we have leaks on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, a trojan horse trade agreement designed from the very beginning to satisfy big players in the US copyright and patent industries. In fact, it was WikiLeaks that first drew ACTA to the public's attention - with a leak.
people1st
Tom Flanagan, a [former] senior adviser to Canadian Prime Minister recently stated "I think Assange should be assassinated ... I think Obama should put out a contract ... I wouldn't feel unhappy if Assange does disappear."
How do you feel about this?
Julian Assange:It is correct that Mr. Flanagan and the others seriously making these statements should be charged with incitement to commit murder.
Isopod
Julian, why do you think it was necessary to "give Wikileaks a face"? Don't you think it would be better if the organization was anonymous?
This whole debate has become very personal and reduced on you - "Julian Assange leaked documents", "Julian Assange is a terrorist", "Julian Assange alledgedly raped a woman", "Julian Assange should be assassinated", "Live Q&A qith Julian Assange" etc. Nobody talks about Wikileaks as an organization anymore. Many people don't even realize that there are other people behind Wikileaks, too.
And this, in my opinion, makes Wikileaks vulnerable because this enables your opponents to argue ad hominem. If they convince the public that you're an evil, woman-raping terrorist, then Wikileaks' credibility will be gone. Also, with due respect for all that you've done, I think it's unfair to all the other brave, hard working people behind Wikileaks, that you get so much credit.
Julian Assange:This is an interesting question. I originally tried hard for the organisation to have no face, because I wanted egos to play no part in our activities. This followed the tradition of the French anonymous pure mathematians, who wrote under the collective allonym, "The Bourbaki". However this quickly led to tremendous distracting curiosity about who and random individuals claiming to represent us. In the end, someone must be responsible to the public and only a leadership that is willing to be publicly courageous can genuinely suggest that sources take risks for the greater good. In that process, I have become the lightening rod. I get undue attacks on every aspect of my life, but then I also get undue credit as some kind of balancing force.
tburgi
Western governments lay claim to moral authority in part from having legal guarantees for a free press.
Threats of legal sanction against Wikileaks and yourself seem to weaken this claim.
(What press needs to be protected except that which is unpopular to the State? If being state-sanctioned is the test for being a media organization, and therefore able to claim rights to press freedom, the situation appears to be the same in authoritarian regimes and the west.)
Do you agree that western governments risk losing moral authority by
attacking Wikileaks?
Do you believe western goverments have any moral authority to begin with?
Thanks,
Tim Burgi
Vancouver, Canada
Julian Assange:The west has fiscalised its basic power relationships through a web of contracts, loans, shareholdings, bank holdings and so on. In such an environment it is easy for speech to be "free" because a change in political will rarely leads to any change in these basic instruments. Western speech, as something that rarely has any effect on power, is, like badgers and birds, free. In states like China, there is pervasive censorship, because speech still has power and power is scared of it. We should always look at censorship as an economic signal that reveals the potential power of speech in that jurisdiction. The attacks against us by the US point to a great hope, speech powerful enough to break the fiscal blockade.
rajiv1857
Hi,
Is the game that you are caught up in winnable? Technically, can you keep playing hide and seek with the powers that be when services and service providers are directly or indirectly under government control or vulnerable to pressure - like Amazon?
Also, if you get "taken out" - and that could be technical, not necessarily physical - what are the alternatives for your cache of material?
Is there a 'second line' of activists in place that would continue the campaign?
Is your material 'dispersed' so that taking out one cache would not necessarily mean the end of the game?
Julian Assange:The Cable Gate archive has been spread, along with significant material from the US and other countries to over 100,000 people in encrypted form. If something happens to us, the key parts will be released automatically. Further, the Cable Gate archives is in the hands of multiple news organisations. History will win. The world will be elevated to a better place. Will we survive? That depends on you.
That's it every one, thanks for all your questions and comments. Julian Assange is sorry that he can't answer every question but he has tried to cover as much territory as possible. Thanks for your patience with our earlier technical difficulties.The Shameful Attacks on Julian Assange
Israeli Government Documents Show Deliberate Policy to Restrict Food to Gaza
Documents, whose existence were denied by the Israeli government for over a year, have been released after a legal battle led by Israeli human rights group, Gisha. The documents reveal a deliberate policy by the Israeli government in which the dietary needs for the population of Gaza are chillingly calculated, and the amounts of food let in by the Israeli government measured to remain just enough to keep the population alive at a near-starvation level. This documents the statement made by a number of Israeli officials that they are "putting the people of Gaza on a diet".
In 2007, when Israel began its full siege on Gaza, Dov Weisglass, adviser to then Prime-Minister Ehud Olmert, stated clearly, “The idea is to put the Palestinians on a diet, but not to make them die of hunger.” The documents now released contain equations used by the Israeli government to calculate the exact amounts of food, fuel and other necessities needed to do exactly that.
The documents are even more disturbing, say human rights activists, when one considers the fact that close to half of the people of Gaza are children under the age of eighteen. This means that Israel has deliberately forced the undernourishment of hundreds of thousands of children in direct violation of international law and the Fourth Geneva Convention...
Continue reading
Saed Bannoura@'truth-out'.
The full text of the released documents, and the original Freedom of Information Act request filed by Gisha, can be found on Gisha's Website
Oceans of blood and profits for the mongers of war
Not the human cost – 80 lives a day in Iraq, unknown numbers in Afghanistan, one a day in Israel/"Palestine" (for now) – but the financial one. I'm still obsessed by the Saudi claim for its money back after Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1990. Hadn't Saudi Arabia, King Fahd reminded Saddam, financed his eight-year war against Iran to the tune of $25,734,469,885.80? For the custodian of the two holy places, Mecca and Medina, to have shelled out $25bn for Saddam to slaughter his fellow Muslims was pretty generous – although asking for that extra 80 cents was surely a bit greedy.
But then again, talking of rapacity, the Arabs spent $84bn underwriting the Anglo-American operation against Saddam in 1990-91 – three times what Fahd gave to Saddam for the Iran war – and the Saudi share alone came to $27.5bn. In all, the Arabs sustained a loss of $620bn because of the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait – almost all of which was paid over to the United States and its allies. Washington was complaining in August 1991 that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait still owed $7.5bn. Western wars in the Middle East, it seemed, could be fought for profit as well as victory. Maybe Iraq could have brought us more treasure if it hadn't ended in disaster. At least it would help to have paid for America's constant infusion of cash to Israel's disastrous wars.
According to Israeli historian Illan Pappé, since 1949, the US has passed to Israel more than $100bn in grants and $10bn in special loans – more than Washington hands out to North Africa, South America and the Caribbean. Over the past 20 years, $5.5bn has been given to Israel for military purchases. But for sheer self-abuse, it's necessary to read of the Midas-like losses in the entire Middle East since just 1991 – an estimated $12,000,000,000,000. Yup, that's a cool $12trn and, if you don't believe me, take a look at an unassuming little booklet that the "Strategic Fortnight Group" published not long ago. Its statistic caught a few headlines, but was then largely forgotten, perhaps because it was published in faraway Mumbai rather than by some preposterous American "tink-thank" (as I call them). But it was funded by, among others, the Norwegian and Swiss foreign ministries. And the Indians are pretty smart about money, as we know as we wait in fear of its new super-economy.
So since there may soon be a new Israel-Hizbollah war, let's get an idea of the astronomical costs of all those F-16s, missiles, "bunker-busters", Iranian-made rockets, smashed Lebanese factories, villages, towns, bridges, power stations, oil terminals – we will not soil ourselves with Lebanon's 1,300 pathetic dead or Israel's 130 pathetic dead in the 2006 war for these are mere mortals – not to mention the losses in tourism and trade to both sides. Total losses for Lebanon in 2006 came to an estimated $3.6bn, for Israel $1.6bn – so Israel won hands down in terms of money, even if its rabble of an army screwed everything up on the ground. But among those who paid for this were American taxpayers (funding the Israelis) and European taxpayers, Arab potentates and the crackpot of Iran (funding Lebanon). So the American taxpayer destroys what the European taxpayer rebuilds. It's the same in Gaza; Washington funds the weapons to blow up EU-funded projects and the EU rebuilds them in time for them to be destroyed again. But boy oh boy, in the Lebanese war, US arms manufacturers make a packet – and so, to a lesser extent do the Iranian and Chinese missile dealers.
Let's break down the 2006 Lebanon war figures. Bridges and roads: $450m. Utilities: $419m. Housing: $2bn. But military "institutions": a paltry $16m. Hizbollah apparently spent $300m. Overall, rebuilding came to $319m, infrastructure repairs to $454m, oil spill costs to $175m. Just for sadistic fun, you can add forest fires ($4.6m), displaced civilians ($52m) and Beirut airport ($170m). But the biggest cost of all? Tourism, at $3-4bn. Now Israel. Tourism lost $1.4 bn, "government and emergency services" $460n, businesses $1.4bn, compensation paid out $335.4m, forest fires $18m. What have the Israeli army and Hizbollah got against forests? In all, the Israeli losses amounted to 1.5 per cent of GDP, the Lebanese 8 per cent of GDP...
Continue reading
Robert Fisk@'The Independent'
Rachel Maddow on How the GOP Uses Sex, Pedophiles to Kill Good Legislation
On last night's Rachel Maddow Show, the host discussed the GOP's current love affair for the horrible "poison perv pill" as a way to kill meaningful legislation in Washington:
If you want to kill a proposed policy in Washington, one of the most devious ways to do it is with a "poison pill." As a metaphor, the poison pill is relatively straightforward: you simply force something into a bill that is so politically toxic, it kills the whole thing.But if you are this year's minority party in the House -- and yes, that still means the Republicans -- then you've got a whole new take on the poison pill tactic .... This year's Republican lawmakers have come up with "poison sex pill" or the "poison perv pill" or the "world's most cynical poison pill," depending on how you think about it. They keep coming up with ways to add the word "pedophile" or "Viagra" or "rapist" to bills that have precisely nothing to do with any of those things. They add those things to bills so it looks like Democrats are voting in favor of pedophiles or Viagra or rapists, when in fact they are voting for things like better school lunches. Classy, right?
Watch the whole segment here:
David Lynch - Good Day Today
“I am very happy to be with Sunday Best with the songs ‘Good Day Today’ and ‘I Know’. This feels like a good partnership and I’m looking forward to everyone having a good day today. In all my films, I have always been very involved with all that one hears. The creation of this record was a natural extension of my love of sound and music.”
- David Lynch
via Drowned In Sound
Friday, 3 December 2010
WikiLeaks Mirrors
- wikileaks.org - Official Wikileaks Page [46.51.171.90, 184.72.37.90]
- cablegate.wikileaks.org - Secret US Embassy Cables [91.194.60.90, 91.194.60.112, 204.236.131.131]
- chat.wikileaks.org - Secure SSL Chat Page [88.80.13.160]
- sunshinepress.org - Secure Document Submission Page [88.80.2.32]
- wikileaks.com - Points to Official Site [88.80.13.160]
- wikileaks.net - Points to Official Site [88.80.13.160]
- wikileaks.biz - Points to Official Site [88.80.13.160]
- wikileaks.de - Points to Official Site [88.80.13.160]
- wikileaks.eu - Points to Official Site [88.80.13.160]
- wikileaks.fi - Points to Official Site [88.80.13.160]
- wikileaks.mobi - Points to Official Site [88.80.13.160]
- wikileaks.nl - Points to Official Site [88.80.13.160]
- wikileaks.pl - Points to Official Site [88.80.13.160]
- wikileaks.us - Points to Official Site [88.80.13.160]
- ljsf.org - Points to Official Site [88.80.13.160]
Real mirrors on different IP Addresses
- wikileaks.info - Mirror hosted in Switzerland [62.2.16.94]
- wikileaks.se - Mirror hosted in Sweden [88.80.6.179]
- nyud.net - Mirror hosted in the United States [129.170.214.192]
Important Wikileaks Links
JPBarlow The first serious infowar is now engaged. The field of battle is WikiLeaks. You are the troops. #WikiLeaks JPBarlow We'll see if an army without officers can be effective against the combined Meatspace military. I bet on us. #SaveWikiLeaks
wikileaks WikiLeaks,org domain killed by US everydns.net after claimed mass attacks KEEP US STRONG https://donations.datacell.com/
WTF Indeed???
BrandDNA North and South Korea let off a few missiles at each other, yet Korea still gets more World Cup votes than Australia. WTF!?
jamesrbuk Good news - I believe Salon (thanks to @ggreenwald) is set to host (sadly non-interactive) .jpg versions of the @tableau graphics. Kudos.
WikiLeaks - The Musical
[A playground, Australia, mid-1980s. Two girls are gossiping.]
SALLY
You know who I love?
That band Men at Work.
Did you hear the scandal
With Annie and Dirk?
They were caught making out
By a school clerk
You know who I love?
That band Men at Work.
Did you hear the scandal
With Annie and Dirk?
They were caught making out
By a school clerk
LISA
Someone told me. I think it was Lou.
They were over by the football ground
They were naked; she was making a sound
Like a hot and bothered kangaroo.
Someone told me. I think it was Lou.
They were over by the football ground
They were naked; she was making a sound
Like a hot and bothered kangaroo.
SALLY
I also heard that Mr. Nantz
Was driving his car without any pants
I also heard that Mr. Nantz
Was driving his car without any pants
LISA
He's the one
With the red Impala?
He has tufts of hair
Just like a koala
He's the one
With the red Impala?
He has tufts of hair
Just like a koala
[JULIAN ASSANGE approaches.]
SALLY
Uh oh, it's Julian
He's a little bit strange
Let's lower our voices
As he comes into range
Uh oh, it's Julian
He's a little bit strange
Let's lower our voices
As he comes into range
LISA
I agree with you
This is not for his ears
We can start talking normal
When he disappears
I agree with you
This is not for his ears
We can start talking normal
When he disappears
[SALLY and LISA start to whisper.]
JULIAN ASSANGE
What are you guys
Talking about?
What are you guys
Talking about?
LISA
It's none of your business
Don't stick in your snout
It's none of your business
Don't stick in your snout
JULIAN ASSANGE
But whispering is impolite
It's cliquish, mean, and just not right.
Your secrecy is a kind of slap.
But whispering is impolite
It's cliquish, mean, and just not right.
Your secrecy is a kind of slap.
LISA
You should tell someone who gives a crap
You should tell someone who gives a crap
JULIAN ASSANGE
I don't like how this is going
My curiosity is growing
Come on, tell me. Really, tell!
To not know is a kind of hell
I don't like how this is going
My curiosity is growing
Come on, tell me. Really, tell!
To not know is a kind of hell
[SALLY and LISA whisper more and then leave, giggling.]
JULIAN ASSANGE
I'll get you!
I'll get you!
Don't believe me?
I'll bet you!
There will be retribution!
There will be tit for tat!
There will be revolution
I will see to that!
I'll get you!
I'll get you!
Don't believe me?
I'll bet you!
There will be retribution!
There will be tit for tat!
There will be revolution
I will see to that!
[Enraged and frustrated, JULIAN ASSANGE becomes a hacker. He devotes himself to the unchecked distribution of all information.]
JULIAN ASSANGE
I'll dub myself Mendax
It means "noble liar."
I'll remake myself as a
High-tech town crier
When people attempt
To hide information
I will be the one
To compel revelation
I'll dub myself Mendax
It means "noble liar."
I'll remake myself as a
High-tech town crier
When people attempt
To hide information
I will be the one
To compel revelation
[After two decades moving between the hacking subculture and academia, JULIAN ASSANGE founds WikiLeaks, a website devoted to challenging secrecy regulations by releasing documents.]
JULIAN ASSANGE
To radically shift regime behavior
We must accept a new kind of savior
How can any authority control what we see
When all information wants to be free?
To radically shift regime behavior
We must accept a new kind of savior
How can any authority control what we see
When all information wants to be free?
[At first, JULIAN ASSANGE uses WikiLeaks for good, exposing assassinations in Kenya.]
JULIAN ASSANGE
Witness how I used my network
To interfere with Kenyan wetwork.
It's hard to grasp this type of power
I liken it to Bentham's tower
He called it the panopticon
It acted as a check upon
All who thought they were being observed
This is what we have long deserved.
Witness how I used my network
To interfere with Kenyan wetwork.
It's hard to grasp this type of power
I liken it to Bentham's tower
He called it the panopticon
It acted as a check upon
All who thought they were being observed
This is what we have long deserved.
[One day JULIAN ASSANGE is contacted by BRADLEY MANNING.]
BRADLEY MANNING
Hello, I am Bradley Manning
I work in intelligence
I know you by your reputation
And frankly, sir, I have the sense
That my position in the army
Grants me special access to
Secret information that I
Think that I might leak to you.
Hello, I am Bradley Manning
I work in intelligence
I know you by your reputation
And frankly, sir, I have the sense
That my position in the army
Grants me special access to
Secret information that I
Think that I might leak to you.
JULIAN ASSANGE
What's your name, now? Manning? Bradley?
Tell me more; I'll listen, gladly...
What's your name, now? Manning? Bradley?
Tell me more; I'll listen, gladly...
Hallucinogens as Medicine
Sandy Lundahl, a 50-year-old health educator, reported to the behavioral biology research center at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine one spring morning in 2004. She had volunteered to become a subject in one of the first studies of hallucinogenic drugs in the U.S. in more than three decades. She completed questionnaires, chatted with the two monitors who would be with her throughout the eight hours ahead, and settled herself in the comfortable, living-room-like space where the session would take place. She then swallowed two blue capsules and reclined on a couch. To help her relax and focus inward, she donned eyeshades and headphones, through which a program of specially selected classical music played.
The capsules contained a high dose of psilocybin, the principal constituent of “magic” mushrooms, which, like LSD and mescaline, produces changes in mood and perception yet only very rarely actual hallucinations. At the end of the session, when the psilocybin effects had dissipated, Lundahl, who had never before taken a hallucinogen, completed more questionnaires. Her responses indicated that during the time spent in the session room she had gone through a profound mystical-like experience similar to those reported by spiritual seekers in many cultures and across the ages—one characterized by a sense of interconnectedness with all people and things, accompanied by the feeling of transcending time and space, and of sacredness and joy.
DOH!
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has few places to hide
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange had a reputation for being suspicious and paranoid even before everyone was out to get him.
Everyone, in this case, is the US - where government lawyers are hoping to prosecute on espionage charges - and the European Union, where he is wanted for questioning about an allegation of rape.
As of Tuesday, Mr Assange has also been liable to arrest in any of the 188 member countries of Interpol - from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe - in connection with the Swedish case.
Last seen in London, he is widely assumed to be in the UK now, though remaining continuously on the move.
If he appeared in public, British police would be obliged to arrest him under a European Arrest Warrant issued by the Swedish authorities - though it's not clear that anyone is going to go out of their way to find him.
"If there is no indication that the accused is in a particular region, you won't expect a police force to investigate," said a spokesman for the UK's Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA).
So, supposing Mr Assange is still in the UK, and he lies low, he may be able to avoid arrest. In spring, however, his six-month visa will run out, creating additional problems for him...
Continue reading
HA!
davidhepworth RT @rob_fitzpatrick: Perhaps echo and the bunnymen can cheer us up with one of their football songs. Spare Us The Qatar. #besticandosorry
Grateful Dead: 30 days of the Dead (Archive)
The music of The Grateful Dead is meant to be shared and enjoyed by everyone. That's why we created the 30 Days of Dead. We at Dead.net realize that it was sometimes a little tougher than it should have been for you to download the music (especially that first week - sorry!), so we thought it only right that we give everyone a second chance to get every minute of the music. It's the kind thing to do.
Until the evening of December 8, 2010, we will keep this page and all of the links to the music live so that everyone has the chance to get and enjoy all of the songs. Just click on the song title to download the song.
NB: Most of these are previously unissued SBD recordings.
| 1 | New Speedway Boogie | 09.20.1970 | Fillmore East | 23.6 MB | ||
| 2 | Dark Star | 06.05.1969 | Fillmore West | 49.7 MB | ||
| 3 | Althea | 03.14.1981 | Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT | 20.6 MB | ||
| 4 | Playin' in the Band | 05.13.1973 | Iowa St. Fairgrounds, Des Moines, IA | 68.3 MB | ||
| 5 | Easy Wind A | 01.16.1970 | Springer's Inn, Portland, OR | 23.1 MB | ||
| 6 | Sugaree | 10.13.1980 | Warfield | 24.1 MB | ||
| 7 | He's Gone A | 03.26.1987 | Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT | 30.3 MB | ||
| 8 | Estimated Prophet | 10.07.1980 | Warfield | 28.8 MB | ||
| 9 | China Cat Rider | 02.01.1970 | The Warehouse, New Orleans, LA | 28.3 MB | ||
| 10 | Cream Puff War | 03.18.1967 | Winterland | 14.3 MB | ||
| 11 | St. Stephen | 10.15.1983 | Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT | 18.04 MB | ||
| 12 | The Music Never Stopped | 04.24.1978 | Horton Field House, Illinois St. U. | 20.3 MB | ||
| 13 | Truckin' | 05.30.1971 | Winterland | 19.4 MB | ||
| 14 | New MinglewoodBlues | 12.26.1970 | Legion Stadium, El Monte, CA | 12.5 MB | ||
| 15 | Sailor/Saint | 10.25.1980 | Radio City Music Hall, NY, NY | 30.4 MB | ||
| 16 | New Potato Caboose | 08.04.1967 | O'Keefe Toronto, ON | 15.6MB | ||
| 17 | Cold Rain & Snow | 12.28.1970 | Legion Stadium, El Monte, CA | 15.3 MB | ||
| 18 | So Many Roads | 03.28.1993 | Knickerbocker Arena, Albany, NY | 16.9 MB | ||
| 19 | Sugar Magnolia | 02.24.1971 | Capitol Theater, Port Chester, NY | 13.3 MB | ||
| 20 | Alligator | 08.05.1967 | O'Keefe Toronto, ON | 25.6 MB | ||
| 21 | Cassidy -> Don't Ease Me In | 08.31.1983 | Silva Hall, Eugene, OR | 22.5 MB | ||
| 22 | Tennessee Jed > Let it Grow | 10.23.1989 | Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, NC | 49.8 MB | ||
| 23 | Dupree's Diamond Blues | 01.25.1969 | Venuee: Avalon Ballroom, SF | 9.4 MB | ||
| 24 | Help->Slipknot!->Franklins | 05.05.1991 | Venu: Cal Expo, Sacramento, CA | 58.2 MB | ||
| 25 | My Brother Esau | 04.14.1984 | Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA | 13.4 MB | ||
| 26 | Shakedown Street | 04.06.1982 | Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA | 30.5 MB | ||
| 27 | Mason's Children | 01.10.1970 | Golden Hall, San Diego, CA | 10.9 MB | ||
| 28 | Let it Grow | 07.16.1990 | Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, NY | 27.3 MB | ||
| 29 | Uncle John's Band | 02.11.1970 | Fillmore East, NY | 13.0 MB | ||
| 30 | Sugar Magnolia | 6.4.1978 | UCSB Stadium, Santa Barbara | 19.2 MB |
British Foreign Office's guidance for travelling to Qatar.
It is a punishable offence to drink alcohol or be drunk in public. Offenders may incur a prison sentence or deportation. Alcohol is, however, available at licensed hotel restaurants and bars, and expatriates living in Qatar can obtain alcohol on a permit system. You should not carry alcohol with you, including in your car (except to take it on the day of collection from the warehouse to your home).
You should dress modestly when in public, including whilst driving. Women should cover their shoulders and avoid wearing short skirts. You should behave courteously at all times. Any intimacy in public between men and women (including between teenagers) can lead to arrest. Homosexual behaviour is illegal in Qatar.
More good advice here
You should dress modestly when in public, including whilst driving. Women should cover their shoulders and avoid wearing short skirts. You should behave courteously at all times. Any intimacy in public between men and women (including between teenagers) can lead to arrest. Homosexual behaviour is illegal in Qatar.
More good advice here
The Votes
2018 FIFA World Cup™
Round 1: England 2(!) votes, Netherlands/Belgium 4 votes, Spain/Portugal 7 votes and Russia 9 votes
(as no absolute majority was reached, the candidate with least amount of votes, England, was eliminated)
Round 2: Netherlands/Belgium 2 votes, Spain/Portugal 7 votes and Russia 13 votes (Russia obtained an absolute majority)
2022 FIFA World Cup™
Round 1: Australia 1 vote, Japan 3 votes, Korea Republic 4 votes, Qatar 11 votes, USA 3 votes (Australia eliminated)
Round 2: Japan 2 votes, Korea Republic 5 votes, Qatar 10 votes and USA 5 votes (Japan eliminated)
Round 3: Korea Republic 5 votes, Qatar 11 votes, USA 6 votes (Korea Republic eliminated)
Round 4: Qatar 14 votes and USA 8 votes (Qatar obtained an absolute mayority)
That means England spent 15 million pounds for one vote (the other coming from the FA president)
Round 1: England 2(!) votes, Netherlands/Belgium 4 votes, Spain/Portugal 7 votes and Russia 9 votes
(as no absolute majority was reached, the candidate with least amount of votes, England, was eliminated)
Round 2: Netherlands/Belgium 2 votes, Spain/Portugal 7 votes and Russia 13 votes (Russia obtained an absolute majority)
2022 FIFA World Cup™
Round 1: Australia 1 vote, Japan 3 votes, Korea Republic 4 votes, Qatar 11 votes, USA 3 votes (Australia eliminated)
Round 2: Japan 2 votes, Korea Republic 5 votes, Qatar 10 votes and USA 5 votes (Japan eliminated)
Round 3: Korea Republic 5 votes, Qatar 11 votes, USA 6 votes (Korea Republic eliminated)
Round 4: Qatar 14 votes and USA 8 votes (Qatar obtained an absolute mayority)
That means England spent 15 million pounds for one vote (the other coming from the FA president)
Football WM 2018/2022
Host 2018: Russia (!)
Host 2022: Qatar (!!!)
sponsored by Gazprom & petrodollars
what a corrupt bunch of bastards!!
Thursday, 2 December 2010
50 Greatest Merseyside Albums
We asked. And you voted. Over 2000 of you. Thank you. Liverpool.com presents our 50 Greatest Merseyside Albums of all time. As voted for by you... and with an introduction by Paul Du Noyer, author of Liverpool - Wondrous Place:
In a logical world we would see a chart topped by ten Beatle albums. With Atomic Kitten at Number 11. But this is not a logical world - this is Liverpool. So what we get, instead, is something much more interesting. Mere commercial success is not very important here. What Liverpool seems to like are its local mavericks and its lost legends. It definitely prefers acts who have stayed in the city. Those who were lured to that faraway nest of vipers, that London, are often forgotten. Something to ponder, all you young Wombats and Rascals...
"Still not enough room for acts lesser cities could only dream of..."
The trouble with Scousers, people tell me, is that you think you're God's gift to music. To which I reply: Well, let's look at the evidence, shall we? Here is a chart of fifty albums and there's still not enough room for acts that lesser cities could only dream of producing. A few omissions that spring to mind: Pete Burns' Dead Or Alive, Ian Broudie's Lightning Seeds, Billy Fury, Cilla Black, The Christians, the aforesaid Atomic Kitten, China Crisis, George Melly, The Scaffold, Space, A Flock Of Seagulls, It's Immaterial and Gerry & The Pacemakers.
"This is not a list of Easy Listening..."
More surprising than the overlooked oldies, though, are the missing modern acts. Where are The Wombats and The Rascals? And no Ladytron? Or Candi Payne? But as for what is here, few could really complain. Your Beatle choices follow the music critics' consensus, with Revolver riding high. Lennon's stark solo album, Plastic Ono Band, is a much hipper option than the more predictable Imagine, which does not feature. Macca's Band On The Run seems about right, and George's All Things Must Pass is definitely on the money. Elvis Costello's brooding Blood And Chocolate does well - this is not a list of Easy Listening. Pete Wylie of Wah!, Michael Head (Pale Fountains, Shack and The Strands), Edgar Jones (The Stairs and The Joneses), Ian McNabb (solo and Icicle Works) and Ian Prowse (Pele and Amsterdam) all show our loyalty to locally-based talent.
You see, Ringo? If only you'd come back to the Dingle you could have been a contender. But you're nowhere, man. Peace and Love...
1. The La's, The La's
(Go! Discs, 1990)
2. The Beatles, Revolver
(Parlophone, 1966)
3. Echo & The Bunnymen, Ocean Rain
(Korova, 1984)
4. Michael Head, The Magical World of the Strands
(Megaphone, 1998)
5. The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper's ...
(Parlophone, 1967)
=5. The Coral, The Coral
(Deltasonic, 2002)
7. The Beatles, Abbey Road
(Parlophone, 1969)
8. Shack, Waterpistol
(Marina, 1995)
9. The Beatles, The Beatles (White Album)
(Parlophone, 1968)
10. Teardrop Explodes, Kilimanjaro
(Fontana, 1980)
11. Elvis Costello, Blood & Chocolate
(Demon, 1986)
12. Deaf School, 2nd Honeymoon
(Warner Bros, 1976)
13. Shack, HMS Fable
(London, 1999)
14. Amsterdam, Arm In Arm
(CIA/Universal, 2008)
=14. Ian McNabb, Merseybeast
(This Way Up, 1996)
16. Echo & The Bunnymen, Heaven Up Here
(Korova, 1981)
17. Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Welcome to the Pleasuredome
(ZTT/Island, 1984)
=17. Cast, All Change
(Polydor, 1995)
=17. Echo & The Bunnymen, Crocodiles
(Korova, 1980)
=17. The Stands, All Years Leaving
(Echo, 2004)
21. The Real People, What's On The Outside
(Columbia, 1996)
22. Pete Wylie & The Mighty WAH!, Songs of Strength & Heartbreak
(Castle/When!, 2000)
=22. The Zutons, Who Killed The Zutons?
(Deltasonic, 2004)
=22. The Coral, Magic & Medicine
(Deltasonic, 2003)
25. The Beatles, A Hard Day's Night
(Parlophone, 1964)
26. Pale Fountains, Pacific Street
(Virgin, 1984)
27. Pele, Fireworks
(Polydor, 1991)
28. Half Man Half Biscuit, Back in the DHSS
(Probe Plus, 1985)
29. Ian McNabb, Head Like A Rock
(This Way Up, 1994)
30. Gomez, Bring It On
(Hut, 1998)
31. The Icicle Works, The Small Price of A Bicycle
(Beggars Banquet, 1985)
32. John Lennon, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
(Apple/EMI, 1970)
=32. The Beatles, Please Please Me
(Parlophone, 1963)
=32. The Zutons, Tired of Hanging Around
(Deltasonic, 2006)
=32. The Coral, Roots & Echoes
(Deltasonic, 2007)
36. The Beatles, Let It Be
(Parlophone, 1970)
37. Shack, Here's Tom With the Weather
(North Country, 2003)
38. The Icicle Works, The Icicle Works
(Beggars Banquet, 1984)
39. Wings, Band on the Run
(Apple/EMI, 1973)
40. WAH!, Nah=Pooh! - The Art of Bluff
(Eternal/WEA, 1981)
41. OMD, Architecture & Morality
(Virgin, 1981)
42. Hot Club de Paris, Drop It 'til It Pops
(Moshi Moshi, 2006)
43. The Beatles, Help!
(Parlophone, 1965)
44. The Wild Swans, Bringing Home The Ashes
(Sire/Reprise, 1988)
45. The Stairs, Mexican R'n'B
(Go! Discs, 1992)
46. George Harrison, All Things Must Pass
(Apple/EMI, 1970)
47. The Beatles, Magical Mystery Tour
(Parlophone, 1967)
48. Elvis Costello, My Aim Is True
(Stiff, 1977)
49. The Farm, Spartacus
(Sire, 1991)
50. Edgar Jones & The Jones', Soothing Music for Stray Cats
(Viper, 2005)
(Go! Discs, 1990)
2. The Beatles, Revolver
(Parlophone, 1966)
3. Echo & The Bunnymen, Ocean Rain
(Korova, 1984)
4. Michael Head, The Magical World of the Strands
(Megaphone, 1998)
5. The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper's ...
(Parlophone, 1967)
=5. The Coral, The Coral
(Deltasonic, 2002)
7. The Beatles, Abbey Road
(Parlophone, 1969)
8. Shack, Waterpistol
(Marina, 1995)
9. The Beatles, The Beatles (White Album)
(Parlophone, 1968)
10. Teardrop Explodes, Kilimanjaro
(Fontana, 1980)
11. Elvis Costello, Blood & Chocolate
(Demon, 1986)
12. Deaf School, 2nd Honeymoon
(Warner Bros, 1976)
13. Shack, HMS Fable
(London, 1999)
14. Amsterdam, Arm In Arm
(CIA/Universal, 2008)
=14. Ian McNabb, Merseybeast
(This Way Up, 1996)
16. Echo & The Bunnymen, Heaven Up Here
(Korova, 1981)
17. Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Welcome to the Pleasuredome
(ZTT/Island, 1984)
=17. Cast, All Change
(Polydor, 1995)
=17. Echo & The Bunnymen, Crocodiles
(Korova, 1980)
=17. The Stands, All Years Leaving
(Echo, 2004)
21. The Real People, What's On The Outside
(Columbia, 1996)
22. Pete Wylie & The Mighty WAH!, Songs of Strength & Heartbreak
(Castle/When!, 2000)
=22. The Zutons, Who Killed The Zutons?
(Deltasonic, 2004)
=22. The Coral, Magic & Medicine
(Deltasonic, 2003)
25. The Beatles, A Hard Day's Night
(Parlophone, 1964)
26. Pale Fountains, Pacific Street
(Virgin, 1984)
27. Pele, Fireworks
(Polydor, 1991)
28. Half Man Half Biscuit, Back in the DHSS
(Probe Plus, 1985)
29. Ian McNabb, Head Like A Rock
(This Way Up, 1994)
30. Gomez, Bring It On
(Hut, 1998)
31. The Icicle Works, The Small Price of A Bicycle
(Beggars Banquet, 1985)
32. John Lennon, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
(Apple/EMI, 1970)
=32. The Beatles, Please Please Me
(Parlophone, 1963)
=32. The Zutons, Tired of Hanging Around
(Deltasonic, 2006)
=32. The Coral, Roots & Echoes
(Deltasonic, 2007)
36. The Beatles, Let It Be
(Parlophone, 1970)
37. Shack, Here's Tom With the Weather
(North Country, 2003)
38. The Icicle Works, The Icicle Works
(Beggars Banquet, 1984)
39. Wings, Band on the Run
(Apple/EMI, 1973)
40. WAH!, Nah=Pooh! - The Art of Bluff
(Eternal/WEA, 1981)
41. OMD, Architecture & Morality
(Virgin, 1981)
42. Hot Club de Paris, Drop It 'til It Pops
(Moshi Moshi, 2006)
43. The Beatles, Help!
(Parlophone, 1965)
44. The Wild Swans, Bringing Home The Ashes
(Sire/Reprise, 1988)
45. The Stairs, Mexican R'n'B
(Go! Discs, 1992)
46. George Harrison, All Things Must Pass
(Apple/EMI, 1970)
47. The Beatles, Magical Mystery Tour
(Parlophone, 1967)
48. Elvis Costello, My Aim Is True
(Stiff, 1977)
49. The Farm, Spartacus
(Sire, 1991)
50. Edgar Jones & The Jones', Soothing Music for Stray Cats
(Viper, 2005)
(Thanx Stan!)
NME Top 75 Albums Of 2010
30 Klaxons – Surfing The Void
29 No Age – Everything In Between
28 New Young Pony Club – The Optimist
27 Best Coast – Crazy For You
26 Les Savy Fav – Root For Ruin
25 Avi Buffalo – Avi Buffalo
24 Vampire Weekend – Contra
23 Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before Today
22 Swans – My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky
21 Janelle Monae – The ArchAndroid
20 Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest
19 MGMT – Congratulations
18 Warpaint – The Fool
17 Factory Floor – Untitled
16 Grinderman – Grinderman 2
15 Yeasayer – Odd Blood
14 The Fall – Your Future, Our Clutter
13 Gayngs – Relayted
12 Caribou – Swim
11 The National – High Violet
10 The Drums – The Drums
09 Liars – Sisterworld
08 Salem – King Night
07 Zola Jesus – Stridulum II
06 Foals – Total Life Forever
05 Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can
04 LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
03 Beach House – Teen Dream
02 Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
01 These New Puritans – Hidden
# 31 - 75 here
29 No Age – Everything In Between
28 New Young Pony Club – The Optimist
27 Best Coast – Crazy For You
26 Les Savy Fav – Root For Ruin
25 Avi Buffalo – Avi Buffalo
24 Vampire Weekend – Contra
23 Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before Today
22 Swans – My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky
21 Janelle Monae – The ArchAndroid
20 Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest
19 MGMT – Congratulations
18 Warpaint – The Fool
17 Factory Floor – Untitled
16 Grinderman – Grinderman 2
15 Yeasayer – Odd Blood
14 The Fall – Your Future, Our Clutter
13 Gayngs – Relayted
12 Caribou – Swim
11 The National – High Violet
10 The Drums – The Drums
09 Liars – Sisterworld
08 Salem – King Night
07 Zola Jesus – Stridulum II
06 Foals – Total Life Forever
05 Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can
04 LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
03 Beach House – Teen Dream
02 Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
01 These New Puritans – Hidden
# 31 - 75 here
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