Disgust and Shame for the US and the World

I’m feverish and sneezing and soon to pass out from the pill my dear roomate convinced me to take in order to fight this here sickness of mine. But before I collapse, I had to point out one of the most gut wrenching and startling reports about what is going on in Iraq, which was on DemocracyNow today.

History teachers, parents, average citizens… not only in the US but worldwide, should listen to this testimony and tell everyone about it. This cannot go intold. These crimes must not be buried, they must be exposed. This soldier, among all the soldiers who have slowly and bravely come forward, about the crimes they committed and observed in Iraq, their messages must be heard and must make us realize that as citizens, we too are responsible and blood is on OUR hands.

You owe it to yourself and every one of the thousands upon thousands who have died in Iraq over the past 3 years. Listen to this army interrogator tell about how his task was to rifle through the pockets of dead bodies in a warehouse in fallujah. Listen to him talk about how the government expected him to take their finger prints and retnal scan but they had no fingers or eyeballs to be recorded. They had been burned, rotted or eaten away by dogs. Listen to him talk about how they would freeze and starve detainees. How they would break their limbs or induce hypothermia, all in their quest to bring freedom to the middle east.

It reminds me, on the one hand, why I’m ashamed and always will be ashamed to be american. And it also reminds me of how all nations worldwide, including the one I reside in , have blood on their hands. They keep doing business with the US. They love the money and the power and they stand by or participate during attrocity after attrocity. I for one will work my whole life to remind everyone, regardless of nationality, what a terrible distaster every war in history was, especially the one they claimed would bring freedom to the middle east.

After listening to this terrible account, and so many others over the past year about all the destruction and torture, I can only say, I HATE YOUR FREEDOM.

bicyclemark82: The Right of Podcast and Mashup

World Famous dj, mashup artist, and podcaster Tim of Radio Clash joins me to discuss our right to podcast what we want and the conflicts with money, commercials, and laws.

AudioCommunique #82(mp3)
42min+, 80kbps, 24Mb+

Discussed:

Radio Clash’s 1-year anniversary
Adam Curry and EU laws
Mashups Aren’t Selling Anything
Commercial Podcasts Should Pay
Advertizements on the AudioCommunique?
The Future at risk for podcasting
Self-Censorship and the excessive fear of podcasters
Tim and I will podcast til we have long-er beards or we get arrested (beards preferrably)

Music Includes:

Leonard Cohen with Noir Desir – The Partisan
Boards of Canada – Satellite Anthem Icarus
Stereo Total – Joe le Taxi
Dave Mathews – Out of my hands
Vinicius Cantuaria – bootleg I proudly made at Bimhuis last week (and yes I buy his CD’s and go to every show I can ! )

Retail Doctors and the Assault on Healthcare

Sore throat and feeling not so hot on this rainy Amsterdam morning. And before I begin my work chores, I wanted to rap about an issue that concerns me, thus far effecting the US and I believe the UK: Retail Clinics!

Never heard of them? Luck you, I’d say. Maybe you use them all the time? I’d love to hear some testimony. It was recently brought to my attention in the Financial Times and the Philly Inquirer that there’s a new trend in healthcare – sticking a quickie clinic in the back of department stores and whore whole sale clubs. Basically while you go in to buy toothpaste, potato chips, and some batteries… you can also go in the back and visit Dr. K-Mart who will diagnose you and send you on your way in 15 minutes. Wham-Bam-Thankyou’mam. And back you go to finish your shopping, maybe pick up some ice cream on your way to the check-out.

Not that I fear progress, mind you. I thought the emergence of drive-thru insurance was exciting! I love the I-pod, though I can’t afford one. But retail doctors? Is there a shortage of doctors and are doctors offices so bad that THIS is a good thing for people? Will these quickiemart MD’s really care about their patients? Does anyone in these stores actually give a shit about their customers?

Personally I hope they fail miserably. It is insulting the way these retail stores think the answer to the lack of social services and access to health care is that it simply be fit into a corner of their store, next to the pretzel vender and the 1-hour photo.

And now Im sure someone who loves minuteclinic will comment and condemn my questioning….

See me in Videos and Remixes

I’m so busy with editing, correcting, writing, and recording i can barely write a proper chaotic post like my usual self. My journey to Brussels was brief and extremely interesting. More information on that when you get older and your mom and I decide you’ve earned the responsibility. Now go to your room blogchildren.

What I can do is point you to a vlog starring me and my vlog/podcast pals in Utrecht last night. Also note that Ive opened my own vlog which will have random videos from my life. And if you listen to the excellent podcast in Japanese by Mr. Sugimoto, you will hear amazing sounds including me saying “modulation” in Portuguese, mixed in with many other voices in other languages. Listen to it and don’t worry if you dont understand Japanese, that isn’t the point. It’s pure musical fun.

bicyclemark81: Another Podcaster Visits the European Parliament

OK not really. But I’ve been in the neighborhood in the past 24 hours and this podcast was recorded whilst walking around the suburbs.

AudioCommunique #81(mp3)
22min+, 80kbps, 13Mb+

Discussed:

Reactions and Reflections on my Interview Style
Armistice Day in Belgium
Central Europe’s War Wisdom
Adam Curry’s Visit to the EU parliament
dutch podcast meetup today
Integration.. a word that annoys me
other odds and ends

Music — A bootleg I made. I can say no more about it.

Brazil’s Bestest Musician

I was going on and on about how great he is to my friends seated to my left, as I sat down in the shiney new fake leather seats at the new Bimhuis last night. I barely even took notice, in between my longwinded analysis of all-time greatest Brasilian musicians, that HE and his band had quietly taken their places.

“Which one is he?” asked my Colombian buddy, scanning the crew of four now in position to start the magic. I glanced quickly at all of them… recognized Paulo Braga.. drummer…the playful genius. And there he was, long hair and already strumming in that style that so reminds me of Bill Frisell if he suddenly turned Brazilian. I also remembered that trumpet playing percussionist from when I first saw them way back in 1998 in NYC. Can’t remember what club we were at. I just remember I liked some girl who I had gone there with, and when I arrived, excited to see her, there she was, alongside the man who she would then introduce as her fiancee. Ouch.

But fortunately for me back then, as now, there’s Vinicius. Vinicius can fix anything for me. I’m working oh so many jobs lately to push my career forward and give me some extra loot to fly to Cuba in a few months, and the music of Vinicius Cantuaria takes me away from all the websites and texts and emails that need answering. From the moment he starts off with Procissão.. Im groovin and wishing we weren’t so dutch and didn’t have to remain seated to watch music that makes one’s body want to move. Anyway you all get the point. It was heaven.

And as always, I waited around with some new friends, constantly scanning the room for him. And sure enough, in a big puffy jacket and a skull cap covering his fro, I spotted Vinicius almost alone at the bar. I came over and told him “Cada vez que vóçe toca em Amsterdão, eu venho, e cada vez é o melhor prazer do ano. Muito obrigado pelo seu trabalho.” He looked at me with gratitude and slight suprise – you’ve come to see me every year? oh man.. .thank you so much for that support. thats wonderful.

That’s Vinicius. He’s the bestest.