Category Archives: Text

Fascism on the March

They hate public broadcasting. They hate it. They’ve hated it for decades. Wouldn’t you hate something that exposes you, as an incompetant world leader, for the fraud that you are? And you know that public broadcasting never got into the whole big graphics with american flags and exciting 3d animations in your newsreports bullshit.

So now they’re on the attack. They’ve had just about enough of this quality journalism crap! Say goodbye to BigBird and Frontline, they want to cut 25% of the PBS budget and thensome. And just to pour salt on the wound, they’re holding health and welfare programs hostage. Saying if you want to keep your health and social programs, they have to cut PBS, because -you know- SOMEBODY mismanaged the budget and spends billions on the colonization of the middle east.

Oh and as an extra kick in the head, several of the members of this congressional committee set to destroy public broadcasting are our supposed saviors: Democrats. If there’s one party I hate as much as I hate the republicans its those spineless dems.

Brighter news, the internets’ very own Lilia of Mathemagenic is speaking at the fishtank tomorrow! I’ve been asked to podcast it.. bicyclemark to the podcast rescue.

I miss Labor

You there reading this post – you work don’t you? I mean, maybe you’ve got a job and a boss and that sort of thing? I wonder if you’re in a union? I doubt it. Seems like no one is in a union these days. I am sort of a member/ex-member of the UnitedAutoWorkers Local 1981. That’s right, I’m in the National Writers Union, because freedom of speech on the factory floor is just as important as freedom of speech in publishing. Or something like that.

I’ve been thinking about this as a read about a group of unions in the US who’ve decided to make their own conglomerate, outside of that friggin elephant the AFL-CIO. I hate the AFL-CIO most of the time, they have leadership who have grown fat and complacent. They’re surely in bed with politicians and parties, instead of with their people – the workers. So for me, and workers in general, this is an interesting sign. I mean, when was the last time there was a real alternative to the AFL? 1950’s or around there?

Oh speaking of which, I just checked, and amazingly, my most admired Union from the olden days of REAL action, the IWW, still exists and has a shiney new website. 1905 to 2005.. thats a long time. I wonder if there’s going to be a resugrency? maybe I should renew my writers union membership now. Maybe they’ll give me a tshirt.

Nostalgicly

Have you been to many reunions in this life? Myself, I haven’t. Not high school, not college, none really. Until this one, the fishtank reunion, which I happen to be organizing. And let me tell you, having a reunion of international folk right here in Amsterdam is F U N. When I’m not freaking out about everyone enjoying themselves, that is.

It’s incredible. They come from such different places. I received a gift from one who arrived from Shanghai. I sat at a dinner table with a few who arrived from Iraq, Israel, LA and of course — PORTUGAL. I even received a cancelation email that read something like:

Dear BM, Im really disappointed to tell you, but things here in the west bank have taken a turn for the worse, and I won’t be able to attend the reunion. I have to be present at the negotiations between general so and so and general so and so. I was really looking forward to coming to the dam and seeing everyone, please give them my regards. — signed, important guy.

Yeah, I was sad to hear it, but then I thought — wow, we’ve got people all over the world doing important stuff. Feels cool to be related in any way to them.

Later this evening I found myself watching old friends wander into the bar and people rush over to hug them. I’ll be dammed if I didn’t almost see tears as well. Then I sat with the wonderful BlondeButBright for a few hours. Anyway, time to get a few hours sleep before the next events.

Olympics Are Evil

There are much more important things to talk about in the world. There are much more important things for a government to spend its resources. But all these stories about the Olympic Bids of London, Paris, NYC, Moscow, Madrid and pretty much any city in the world that can put up a banner and wave some flags, are really getting to me.

If you haven’t been following the story, my compliments to you — you’re much better off. Yet, this does warrant discussion cause in all cases, government money will be spent on building those yummy temporary Olympic Villages, and plenty of new stadiums that nobody needs in the longterm. Remember the Mellenium Dome? I don’t. But the one reoccuring theme I see is that Olympic bids are portrayed as good news for everyone. Oh happy day, your city might get the olympics. Pull that wool over your eyes.

So NYC has lost their bid, because the state refused to give 300 million for the 2.2 billion dollar stadium project. Those stingy bastards… can you imagine? What could the city possibly need to spend money on, more important then lighting a flame and running around in tights? (no offence if you’re into that, but you know.. I worry more about the homeless)

So now its between Paris and London basically. With Madrid I guess as a darkhorse. They give a biggass NO to Moscow because they claimed the city was in horrible shape. I’d rather hear a study of what happens to cities after the Olympics leave. What happens after the big economic boom? burst? fizzle? oh yeah. You can only sell Olympic Tshirts for so long before nobody cares. This is what I can’t stand about the Olympic Fever that drives these city governments; shortsightedness… a lack of longterm planning or concern for better ways to spend public money.

Frisbee Girl and Me

Eventually I’m going to run into trouble when Frisbee Girl discovers the blog and then presses charges against me. But until that time, I like tellin’ you guys about my on-field crush. And maybe when I do get busted, you guys could be my character witnesses and probably explain blogging to her and that I didn’t mean this in a creepy way. Second thought, you guys might have to explain that to a Dutch judge.

So today we played a double header, and despite all my screams of pain and frustration, I had a great time and made some sweet-ass catches. Probably most of the reason I work so hard on that field is that she inspires me to do so. Seriously, don’t laugh at me yet (wait til the end), but when I’m running the plays, her voice is always present… and I might be hallucinating out there (this is Amsterdam Frisbee League!) but I swear she’s always cheering for me. Even when I completely fuck up the play and wind up rolling around in the grass just short of the disc, EVEN THEN, I hear her shouting kind words like “Good Run BM!” or “GREAT DIVE BM.” I know it’s lame, but that small gesture goes a long way with me. Anytime I look her way, she’s lookin back with something positive or kind to say to me. I’m sure thats part of her frisbee Jedi training, but nevermind that — I like pretending it’s especially for ME.

Maybe the great bummer is that we’re in the playoffs (or so I hear, I don’t really pay attention to things like scores and schedules) and so, soon it will be over, and everyone will go on their long Dutch vacations. Dam you TIME — why must you keep moving along!?

Oh and Tomorrow I’m tearing into this Olympic Bid bid-ness, cause it’s pissing me off to no end!

PS – – It’s been awhile since I talked about a Tony Pierce post, but the man is full of good stuff and I highly recommend this one.

Deep Throat This

One of the most important whistle blowers in history also happens to have a great porn name. Go figure.

D-rock and other commentors here at the communique requested that I speak about mr throat and the fact that he came forward after what — 35 years of silence.

So as a journalist at heart and by training, I’m a big Woodward and Bernstein fan (also potential porn names). And I have especially admired them for taking an oath of silence in a day and age where you could probably be called a terrorist and get the death sentence for keeping a secret like that. But I have to say, with this announcement, my first reaction was “VANITY FAIR? Who makes an earth shattering announcement in VANITY FAIR?”

I guess we all make mistakes. But it’s cool that he comes forward. It’s good to be recognized before you own death, cause afterwards, well – I just don’t believe it’s as rewarding. At the same time, as the number 2 man for J. Edgar Hoover, who was convinced that everyone and their mother was a terrorist-communist-pig, I think mr deep is guilty of some bad crimes in the name of fighting communists. Randomly arresting and searching people, that sort of thing.

So in summary, Blow the Whistle on Political Fraud= good. Work as the right hand man for a insane leader of a secret police force=bad. add 35 years, well, it just isn’t very exciting.

I want to podcast dammit. But its late, and Im a working slob, so… tomorrow friends. But I did discover the wonderful OVERNIGHTSCAPE which comes to you from the graden state.