Archive for April, 2009
Five Questions for Jürgen Todenhöfer
Beau Friedlander: Jürgen Todenhöfer was a member of the German parliament from 1972 to 1990, but he made his greatest contribution traveling through the war-torn nations of the Middle East, most recently sneaking into Iraq to live with the “enemy,” as he recalls in his new book WHY DO YOU KILL? The Untold Story of the Iraqi Resistance:
Pornocalypse Now
Let me entertain you with a fantastic scenario — If Orwell had been born in 1984 rather than 1903, he would be a member of a subset of young men whose lives have been framed by two critical shifts in the mental landscape: the collapse of the global superpowers (USSR/US) and the rise of the pornography industry.
Obviously there are countless events that have shaped the world in the past quarter century, but in terms of timing and impact, none have had such a profound effect on the average G8 20-something as the reshaping of conflict and sexual narratives. Just as the war on terror mainstreamed the notion of war without actual war, the pornography industry has successfully popularized sex without sex. So what would this bizarro Orwell be getting up to while the world totters on the brink of depression?
Plumbing the depths of the English language or playing Call of…
Adbusters Wins Legal Victory
Adbusters Media Foundation, the publisher of Adbusters magazine, has won an important appeal in its case against the CBC and Global Television Network. Adbusters initiated a landmark legal action against the media companies for refusing to sell airtime to Adbusters for its social marketing television campaigns.
“This is a great day for Adbusters,” says Kalle Lasn, editor and co-founder of the magazine. “After 20 years of legal struggle, the courts have finally given us permission to take on the media corporations and hold them up to public scrutiny.”
The Dirty Little Secret of Rush Limbaugh’s Radio ‘Success’
Bill Mann, HuffPo: Ever wonder why Rush “Boss” Limbaugh’s syndicated radio show is all over the place like the proverbial cheap suit?
If you do much driving in rural areas — e.g. between cities — “Boss” Limbaugh’s bloviations are often the only thing you can pick up on a car radio. Hey, that’s what CD players are for.
Did Rush accrue hundreds of local radio affiliates across the country because his political views are mainstream? That’s obviously not it. OK, so why IS his show so “popular?” Why do hundreds of stations around the country carry his show, the most widely syndicated talkfest in the country?
Glad you asked.
The real story is not generally well-known. The only reason I know is through my covering the business of radio for years for several major daily newspapers and also, for industry trade magazines like Radio World.
It’s because — ready for this? — Rush’s show was,…
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Warns Of “Rightwing Extremism”
The Department of Homeland Security is warning law enforcement officials about a rise in “rightwing extremist activity,” saying the economic recession, the election of America’s first black president and the return of a few disgruntled war veterans could swell the ranks of white-power militias.
A footnote attached to the report by the Homeland Security Office of Intelligence and Analysis defines “rightwing extremism in the United States” as including not just racist or hate groups, but also groups that reject federal authority in favor of state or local authority.
“It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single-issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration,” the warning says.
Man Builds Chair That Tweets His Farts, Single-Handedly Justifies Twitter’s Existence
John Herrman, GizModo: You know those guys (and gals?) who are just, like, super proud of their farts? Thanks to this cool guy and Twitter, these assholes can indulge their disgusting habit without wrecking our noses.
Known Gentleman Randy Sarafan decided to make this office chair to help “accurately document and share [his] life as it happens,” which is as admirable a cause as there ever has been to open a Twitter account. The setup is surprisingly complex: A natural gas sensor does the sniffing; an Arduino does the thinking; an Squidbee wireless module does the communicating; Twitter does the sharing. It’s a feat, to be sure.
If you, like 131 others (and counting!) feel the need to follow the goings — on around Sarafan’s anus, you can follow his tweeted tweets here. Alternatively, you can do the project yourself — it’s open source and a build tutorial is on Instructables, thank god.…
Vice TV: The Singularity Of Ray Kurzweil (Video)
Today on VBS, Ray Kurzweil tells us about his vision of the Singuarlity—a point around 2045 when computers will acquire full-blown artificial intelligence and technology will infuse itself with biology. His theories have all sorts of supporters, detractors, and critics, but do you even remember what life was like before three-year-olds had cell phones and you actually had to remember facts instead of relying on the internet? That was only 10 years ago. If Kurzweil is right, we’ll have supercomputers more powerful than every human brain on the planet combined within a few decades.
Despite being perceived as an extreme optimist, Kurzweil is the first to admit that this technology could very quickly bring an end to the world as we know it. Stuff like gray goo is a concern, but a biological terrorist attack could happen tomorrow that is based on the very same type of technology he touts as…
Vice TV: The Singularity Of Ray Kurzweil (Video)
Today on VBS, Ray Kurzweil tells us about his vision of the Singuarlity—a point around 2045 when computers will acquire full-blown artificial intelligence and technology will infuse itself with biology. His theories have all sorts of supporters, detractors, and critics, but do you even remember what life was like before three-year-olds had cell phones and you actually had to remember facts instead of relying on the internet? That was only 10 years ago. If Kurzweil is right, we’ll have supercomputers more powerful than every human brain on the planet combined within a few decades.
Despite being perceived as an extreme optimist, Kurzweil is the first to admit that this technology could very quickly bring an end to the world as we know it. Stuff like gray goo is a concern, but a biological terrorist attack could happen tomorrow that is based on the very same type of technology he touts as…
The Indigo Aura Children – New-Age Confusion, Delusion & Conspiracy
Indigo Children, Star Children and Crystal Children Investigated
Indigo Children have been on mainstream television news and in dozens of newspapers. They are generally described as highly intelligent, creative, system busting teen psychics with a bright indigo aura and a mission to save the world.
There are scores of Indigo books and videos. Thousands of web-sites discuss the subject or host forums where Indigos can gather. There are even numerous tie-in products ranging from herbal medicines and dietary regimes to seperate special schools.
Personally I was actually a member of the Beloved Community Indigo cult for a limited period of time many years ago. I was then young, naive and unaware of anything about the groups’ murky origins. There are also many Indigo proponents amongst fringe writers and spiritual speaker’s. It is likely that most of them are unaware of the worrying issues attached to this human phenomenon. It has become clear to…
John McTiernan’s “The Prosecutions of Karl Rove” Documentary (Video)
The news that leading Hollywood director John “Die Hard” McTiernan is fighting back against his prosecution in the Anthony Pellicano case by making a documentary film about Karl Rove masterminding a conspiracy to harrass Democrats is all over the media today.
This is a link to his new website where you can watch the movie. It’s not his greatest work and his website isn’t too slick either, including the video. It’s been posted to youtube, albeit in 10-minute chunks, which might be easier than watching via McTiernan’s site. Here’s the first:
Alex Jones on Strawman FEMA Camps, Bird Flu Trucker Disinfo
The Alex Jones Show: Alex debunks the disinformation surrounding FEMA camps and the “bird flu trucker” and explains why we need to focus on what is documented rather than nebulous hearsay and hysteria.
Terror in Clitheroe UK
I wonder what MI5 thought when they saw them? I’ve no doubt they had them translated.
The Friendliest Necromancer – Disinformation World News
Disinformation World New – Episode 6: The Friendliest Necromancer
iTunes • Direct Download • RSS
DARPA limb regeneration, a necromancer with a heart of gold, and the Strange Adventures of H. P. Lovecraft, this week on Disinformation World News.
Disinformation Podcast T-shirts available here!
The Bible, Zombified
Welcome, Pilgrims! You’ve arrived at the promised land of the Stinque Zombie Bible, an open-source collaborative project. If, like us, you’ve thought the Good News would be even better with zombies, here’s your opportunity to add some.
Genesis 1:1: In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth and the Zombies sprang forth from the roiling foam of creation, barking in uncontrollable rage, hungry for human flesh to eat and pestork, giving pause to our Lord who shat himself and uttered ‘Oh, fuck’ amidst the primordial celestial gloom.
Exodus 1:7: And Joseph died because a Zombie got a hold of him and tore out his liver. Then he rose again to chase and eat all his brethren, and all that generation, until somebody wised up and smashed his head with some stale matzoh in a copper pot.
Judges 5:6: In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of…
Phil Spector Faces The Music
Phil Spector was found guilty today of second degree murder in the death of actress Lana Clarkson, more than six years after cops found the actress fatally shot in the music man’s foyer.
Judge Larry Paul Fidler ordered Spector to be put into custody immediately. The music industry legend is expected to be sentenced on May 29th.
Spector — the 69-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Fame artist who rose to prominence with his unique “Wall of Sound” production technique — faces 25 years to life behind bars for Clarkson’s slaying. The Los Angeles jury of seven men and five women had been deliberating since March 26.
Cops in Alhambra, Calif., found the blonde beauty slumped over in a chair inside Spector’s castle-like mansion in the early morning hours of Feb. 3, 2003. >Clarkson, best known for her “Barbarian Queen” movies, died from a single bullet fired into her mouth.
The struggling actress had…
Happy Easter, Goodbye Christianity
A Gallup poll released just in time for Easter charts the steady decline of Christian belief in the United States, and the rise of non-belief. Interestingly the percentage of Americans who consider themselves nonreligious remained fairly steady during the ’90s, but began shooting upwards around the time George W. Bush took office.
A related poll shows that the recent recession has not caused any uptick in religiosity, as had been suggested it might; Americans are not attending church more frequently, nor turning to religion as a source of solace.
Texas Gov. Perry Backs Resolution Affirming Texas’ Sovereignty Under 10th Amendment
Gov. Rick Perry today joined state Rep. Brandon Creighton and sponsors of House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 50 in support of states’ rights under the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
“I believe that our federal government has become oppressive in its size, its intrusion into the lives of our citizens, and its interference with the affairs of our state,” Gov. Perry said. “That is why I am here today to express my unwavering support for efforts all across our country to reaffirm the states’ rights affirmed by the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. I believe that returning to the letter and spirit of the U.S. Constitution and its essential 10th Amendment will free our state from undue regulations, and ultimately strengthen our Union.”
Turkish TV Dons Blackface To Address Obama
Barack Obama’s early presidency has been covered from a variety of angles in different parts of the world. Here’s how a Turkish television news host approached a segment in which he addresses Obama directly (imploring him not to believe “propaganda” concerning the Armenian genocide and to help crush the Kurdish militant group PKK). The host explains the blackface with a bizarre racist Turkish proverb about how “he who requests something has dark skin, yet he who denies the request has even darker skin.”
The Most Dangerous Person in the World?
JOHN GOEKLER, Counterpunch: A significant majority of Americans, polls repeatedly tell us, list terrorism as one of their greatest fears. Like most of our media-inspired interests and worries, however, this one has little basis in reality.
In actual fact, unless you’re serving in a war zone, the most dangerous person you’re ever likely to encounter – by several orders of magnitude – is the one you see in the mirror every morning.
Not some shadowy arms dealer peddling second hand nukes. Not some dusky Jihadi with a song on his lips and a suicide belt around his middle. Not some mad scientist, bribed by the forces of evil to cook up a bio-bug capable of ending life as we know it.
Here are the hard facts.
The single greatest killer of Americans is the so-called “lifestyle disease”. Somewhere between half a million and a million of us get a short ride in a long…
