Sunday 27 March 2011

Ralph Mooney, Master of the Steel Guitar, Dies at 82

Justice Keeping Blanket of Secrecy Over MLK Parade Bomb Case

R.I.P – Lula Côrtes (1950-2011)

We’re sad to announce the passing of the mythic Brazilian singer, songwriter, guitarist, artist and visionary Luis Augusto Martins Côrtes. Côrtes died today after a long fought battle with throat cancer. He was 61 years old.
Best known by his nom de plume Lula Côrtes, he was one of the driving forces behind the late 60s to late 70s psychedelic rock scene in Recife and the artistic godfather of the likes of Nação Zumbi and, by extension, our own Seu Jorge and Almaz. The albums he produced and recorded – from the dueling guitars of Satwa to Marconi Notaro’s groundbreaking No Sub Reino dos Metazoários to his own Rosa de Sangue – put forth a revolutionary bent with a striking originality during Brazil’s military dictatorship. That his albums were almost all self-released (many on Solar, the imprint he helped found) only furthered to his legend.
If Côrtes is to be remembered by one masterpiece, it should be Paebiru, recorded and released with Zé Ramalho in 1975. This white whale of a record – a double LP encapsulating a book within its gatefold – took Brazilian psychedelic rock to its zenith. Stunning and timeless, Paebiru will help help keep Côrtes’ memory alive for years to come. With that in mind, we present one song – “Raga dos Raios” (“Raga of the Rays”) – below.
In 2008, the photographer B+ put us in touch with Côrtes, and we were able to purchase some of his original artwork and strike up a conversation with him about Paebiru and his artistic trajectory. A humble, spiritual and perplexing man, Côrtes wrote us:
“Acho que o objetivo primordial de todo artista é fazer com que sua obra fale por si mesma, dessa forma a pessoa que existe em cada um transparece e se dá a conhecer.”
/
“I think that the primordial objective of every artist is to make it so that his work speaks for itself, so that the person that exists within him transpires to come out so that we know him.”
With that said, we can say that we hope that we know Lula Côrtes.
Download: “Raga dos Raios”.
More information on Marconi Notaro’s No Sub Reino dos Metazoários in a previous Pick.
External link: Lula Côrtes on Egon’s Funk Archaeology at NPR – Brazilian Psych For A Night On The Porch.
Via

Anti-cuts march: Tens of thousands at London protest

Britons rally against budget cuts

Tens of thousands of people have rallied in London, the British capital, in opposition to public spending cuts introduced by the country's coalition government.
There were outbreaks of violence amid Saturday's demonstration as several hundred masked protesters clashed with police and rampaged down London's main shopping district.
About 4,500 police officers were deployed ahead of the protest.
Away from the main protest, a group of black-clad protesters threw paint bombs at shops and banks on the main shopping streets of Oxford Street and New Bond Street.
Police said that some protesters also threw paint bombs and light bulbs filled with ammonia at officers during the demonstration.
Several banks were attacked and the Fortnum and Mason department store was briefly occupied.
Five policemen were injured during the protests.
'Serious message'
But the main demonstration, billed as the "March for the Alternative", went peacefully with families and their children among the protesters.
Steel bands, choirs and dancers also joined the march, giving a carnival atmosphere to the demonstration.
Tim Friend, Al Jazeera's correspondent at the march, said: "It's all good fun for many people here but there is a serious message as well, which the government will be watching very carefully.
"There are 'unsung heroes' here, from communities across Britain who have come down to London.
"The closure of their projects [due to cuts] for their local communities might not get much publicity, but for the people who use those services it will be absolutely devastating."
Many protesters carried banners reading "Don't Break Britain", "No to Cuts" and "Defend Our Public Services", while others blew vuvuzelas, the plastic trumpets made famous during the South African football World Cup.
Organisers had claimed earlier that the demonstration could be the biggest rally in the capital since mass protests against the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Political protest
The demonstrations were called over cuts to public spending, rising unemployment, tax rises and pension reforms imposed by the government after it came to power in May.
The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition has announced plans for cuts worth £81bn ($131bn) over five years in order to slash a record public deficit that the party's blames on the previous Labour administration.
The cuts involve most government departments, with the loss of 300,000 public service jobs and pay freezes for civil servants.
The Liberal Democrats have faced public criticism for supporting the austerity measures, especially the hike in university fees which it had opposed before it came to power.
Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, spoke at the rally, likening the protest to the suffragette movement in Britain and the civil rights movement in America.
"Our causes may be different but we come together to realise our voice. We stand on the shoulders of those who have marched and have struggled in the past," he told protesters gathered in London's Hyde Park.
The UK march is the latest protest against austerity measures to take place in Europe where governments are struggling to bring down record deficits following bailouts and bank nationalisations in the wake of the financial crisis.
@'Al Jazeera'
(GB2011)

♪♫ Redskins - Kick Over The Statues

NATO Airstrike Kills 7 Afghan Civilians

The Lost World of Tibet (BBC)

Video: BBC, aired on May 18, 2009

Images from an Independent Tibet

(GB2011)

Unconfirmed reports that forces loyal to Cameron are attacking rebels in Trafalgar square.

So they don't call it a kettle eh?

CO11MetPolice Metropolitan Police

A containment is now in place in Trafalgar Square. The Met Police ask that you remain calm #march26 #ukuncut

Sustain - Release Editions

(Thanx Dray!)

FourTet Four Tet

Respect to the protesters on Oxford st dealing with topshop hsbc etc.

The old and the new (GB2011)

(GB2011)

johannhari101 Johann Hari

Read last tweet by @jeremy_hunt - we have a PG Wodehouse government presiding over a Ken Loach film

Fontface

The Ritz (GB2011)

Hunter S. Thompson Interviews Keith Richards (1993)

1993-03-15 - ABC "In Concert", Owl Farm - Woody Creek, CO
Via

'London's Burning' (GB2011)

Jermyn Street
Via

Iron Sky Teaser

"Towards the end of World War II the Nazi scientists made a significant breakthrough in anti-gravity. From a secret base built in the Antarctic, the first Nazi spaceships were launched in late ‘45 to found the military base Schwarze Sonne (Black Sun) on the dark side of the Moon. This base was to build a powerful invasion fleet and return to take over the Earth once the time was right.
Now it’s 2018, and it’s the time for the first American Moon landing since the 70′s. Meanwhile the Nazi invasion, that has been over 70 years in the making, is on its way, and the world is goose-stepping towards its doom. The three main characters of the story are Renate Richter (Julia Dietze), Klaus Adler (Götz Otto), and James Washington (Christopher Kirby).
Iron Sky is a science fiction comedy being produced by Blind Spot Pictures and Energia Productions in Finland, and co-produced by 27 Films in Germany and New Holland Pictures in Australia. Iron Sky has been filmed, the principal photography took place in Germany in November-December 2010 and in Australia in January-February 2011. We are currently going through the post-production that takes the better part of the year."

http://www.ironsky.net/site/

Alison Krauss and Union Station @ Louisville Palace Kentucky April 29-30, 2002

1. Let Me Touch You for Awhile, 2. Choctaw Hayride,3. The Lucky One, 4. Baby Now That I've Found You, 5. Bright Sunny South, 6. Every Time You Say Goodbye, 7. Tiny Broken Heart, 8. Cluck Old Hen, 9. Stay, 10. Broadway, 11. Ghost in This House, 12. Forget About It, 13. Faraway Land, 14. A Tribute to Peador O'Donnell / Monkey Let the Hogs Out

15. The Boy Who Wouldn't Hoe Corn, 16. Take Me for Longing, 17. I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow, 18. Maybe, 19. We Hide & Seek, 20. But You Know I Love You, 21. When You Say Nothing At All, 22. New Favorite, 23. Oh, Atlanta

Alison Krauss (vocals, fiddle); Ron Block (vocals, guitar, banjo, dobro); Dan Tyminski (vocals, guitar, mandolin); Barry Bates (vocals, acoustic bass); Jerry Douglas (dobro); Larry (drums, percussion)

Lucky in Kentucky!!

Saturday 26 March 2011

♪♫ The Only Ones - No Peace For The Wicked (OGWT)

Majority not blaming God

Americans are a religious lot – most of them believe in a personal God who is in control of everything that happens in the world – but a new survey finds that Americans are more likely to attribute the increased severity of natural disasters to global climate change than to signs of apocalyptic biblical prophecy.
The new PRRI/RNS Religion News Survey was conducted by Public Religion Research Institute in partnership with Religion News Service following the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan. It found that:

7-in-10 Americans see God as a person with whom one can have a relationship, and a majority (56%) say God is in control of everything that happens in the world.
However, less than 4-in-10 (38%) believe earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters are a sign from God; and even fewer (29%) believe that God sometimes punishes nations for the sins of some of its citizens.
The one exception to this pattern is found among white evangelical Protestants.
- Nearly 6-in-10 (59%) white evangelicals also believe that natural disasters are a sign from God. Only about one-third of Catholics (31%) and white mainline Protestants (34%) believe natural disasters are a sign from God.
- A majority (53%) of white evangelicals believe that God punishes nations for the sins of its citizens–a view held by just 1-in-5 white mainline Protestants and Catholics.

The survey shows Americans are more likely to attribute the increased severity of natural disasters to global climate change than to signs of apocalyptic biblical prophecy.

Nearly 6-in-10 (58%) Americans say that the severity of recent natural disasters is evidence of global climate change, compared to 44% of Americans who say that the severity of recent natural disasters is evidence of what the Bible calls the ‘end times.’ White evangelical Protestants and Republicans are an exception to this pattern:
Among White evangelicals, 67% believe that natural disasters are evidence of what the Bible calls the ‘end times’ compared to 52% who see it as evidence of global climate change.
Among Republicans, 52% believe that natural disasters are evidence of what the Bible calls the ‘end times’ compared to 41% who see it as evidence of global climate change.

Richard Farmer

'The Stump'

Chinanon

Via

Q & A on Laws of War Issues in Libya

The following Questions and Answers (Q & A) address aspects of international humanitarian law (the laws of war) governing the armed conflict between the government of Libya and the international coalition, and between Libya and Libyan opposition armed groups. The purpose is to provide legal guidance on the fighting, including to the parties to the conflict and those with the capacity to influence them. This Q & A does not address the justifications or the legitimacy of resorting to war by any party.
By what authority was the no-fly zone against Libya created?
What does the no-fly zone in Libya provide?
What international humanitarian law is applicable in Libya?
What are the basic principles of the laws of war?
Do the laws of war apply to air warfare?
What laws of war apply to no-fly zones generally?
What targets are subject to military attack?
What kinds of targets may be attacked under SC Resolution 1973?
What are the obligations of the warring parties regarding fighting in populated areas?
What precautions must be taken in carrying out military attacks?
Are warring parties permitted to target infrastructure such as airports, roads, bridges and power stations?
May coalition forces attack Libyan radio and television stations?
What is meant by using human shields?
What obligations do warring parties have to humanitarian agencies?
Does international human rights law still apply in Libya?
Who can be held responsible for violations of international humanitarian law?
@'Human Rights Watch'

Laurie Penny: Why I'm marching today (GB2011)

Libyans deserve better than this coalition of the unwilling

Obama’s Unconstitutional War

Protesters set for London march against spending cuts

People from across the country are converging on London for a march in protest at the coalition government's spending cuts.

The Trades Union Congress predicts more than 100,000 people will join the march, to be policed by 4,500 police.
The TUC said it was deploying more than 1,000 stewards to ensure the event remained "family friendly".
Ministers say the cuts are necessary to fix the public finances and critics must come up with an alternative.
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said those taking part in the March for the Alternative will include community groups, pensioners and public sector workers.
He said they were urging the government to spend more public money - not less - on projects to create jobs and boost the economy, and to crack down on tax evasion and avoidance in order to claw back more for the Treasury.
'Mainstream voices'
The largest union involved, Unite, said so many of its members wanted to take part that it could not find enough coaches or trains to ferry them to London.
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey claimed the response showed that the public anger against the spending cuts was now palpable.
Andrew Burgin, secretary for campaign group Coalition of Resistance, said he thought it would be a "massive demonstration".

More than 600 coaches are due to take people to London on Saturday morning, with marchers planning to assemble from 1100 GMT on Victoria Embankment and Lower Thames Street.

They will then walk to Hyde Park for a rally from 1330 GMT where speakers will include Labour leader Ed Miliband.
He said on Friday that "the voices of the mainstream majority" would be making themselves heard.
"I think the government will be making a great mistake if they somehow dismiss all of the people on that march as troublemakers, or just 'the same old people'. They are not," he added.
Conservatives say Mr Miliband has no right to attend because Labour has not put forward a credible economic plan.
There are some concerns about disorder at the event, and a number of groups have been using the internet to call for the occupation of buildings in the West End.

The Metropolitan Police said it planned to station officers at certain sites thought likely be at risk, such as the Treasury and the entrance to Downing Street.

It has also written to businesses asking them to step up their security and to clear away any loose equipment such as ladders and dustbins that could be used as weapons.
But police preparations have been criticised by former Met assistant commissioner Andy Hayman.
Writing on the website of the centre-right think tank Policy Exchange, he said there was "strong intelligence" that "extremist groups" were planning to cause trouble, and officers should be "more intrusive and active" to try to prevent it.
But the TUC hit back, insisting that months of planning and close co-operation with the police would ensure the march would be peaceful.
The TUC is urging people not to join feeder marches and to stagger their arrival and departure times.
Both the police and the TUC will be sending information and advice to protesters during the march via Twitter.
'Kettling' concerns
In a report published on Friday, Parliament's Joint Human Rights Committee praised the Met and the TUC for their close liaison.
But it said it was concerned about the possible use of containment - or "kettling" - on peaceful demonstrators, and expressed surprise that neither the police nor the organisers had raised issues around the technique in their planning.
The Met will for the first time allow observers from human rights group Liberty into its control room for the event.
Met Police commander Bob Broadhurst said he hoped for a peaceful demonstration, but added: "We might end up in some form of containment. We would hope we can keep that for as few people as possible and for as little time as possible."
@'BBC'
(GB2011)

Robots Arrive at Fukushima Nuclear Site with Unclear Mission

As workers race to stave off further melting at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactors in Japan, several robots there are waiting on the sidelines for an opportunity to help. Questions remain, however, regarding how these units might assist in an ongoing emergency at a site contaminated with radiation and deluged with tons of corrosive seawater.
Concrete pump trucks sprayed about 130 tons of water into Daiichi's No. 4 reactor on Wednesday, Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) reported (pdf). Meanwhile, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCo) injected about 35 tons of seawater into the spent fuel pool of the No. 3 reactor to keep the fuel rods there from overheating, according to NISA, which also observed "slightly blackish" smoke generated from the building housing that reactor. Seawater is also being injected into the No. 1 reactor as well as the spent fuel pool of the No. 2 reactor.
TEPCo summoned a small corps of military-grade robots last week from iRobot Corp. in Bedford, Mass. Japan's Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co. last week sent its Disaster Monitoring Robot, or Moni-Robo, to the Daiichi site as well. Other robotics companies, including Canada's Inuktun Services, are also fielding inquiries about how their technology might be of use. Each of the robots of interest moves on tracks and features a mechanical hand that can be used to lift and manipulate objects...