Subway Graffiti

This is why I got a cell phone with a camera in it.


http://www.geocities.com/sloecat/graffiti/graffiti.html

Robert Fisk and the Moron Terror

I can't believe I haven't talked about Robert Fisk here before. He's the Middle Eastern correspondent for The Independent, which I started counting on for actual news soon after Bush was "elected." That was about the time I realized that some sort of unspoken gag order was holding the tongues and pens of our illustrious newsgathering services. I was disappointed that when I read the New York Times I started to feel like I'd get more honest stuff from the Weekly World News. Bat Boy in any context is more credible than W. (henceforth to be known as the "Moron Terror") as leader of the free world. Now that's sad.

But, more about Robert Fisk. He wrote a fascinating book called Pity the Nation about the state of Lebanon since the Palestinian refugees had begun to flood in. It tells another side to the Palestine-Israel conflict that not a lot of people want to hear, and it's heartbreaking. In short, he's a rare journalist who isn't afraid to present what he sees and says some controversial things, but is a breath of fresh air. He lived in Beirut for years, now he's in Iraq. I think he's still in Baghdad. He's saying things about this war that many Americans and Britons have been thinking. From the very beginning.

He's my Graham Greene, Quiet American period.

Here's a collection of his articles:

http://www.robert-fisk.com/

Francis Bellamy

The Pledge of Allegiance of the United States of America was written by a fucking socialist! Francis Bellamy was the first cousin to Edward Bellamy, famous author of the utopian socialist narrative Looking Backward that I had to read (and enjoyed reading) in my history of social thought (or something along those lines) class in college. This is an interesting history, and pretty fascinating to read about considering the assault on our sense of self as Americans this administration is inflicting on us with its distortions and perversions of our laws and documents it is attempting to put through.


Oh, none of this whining needs reiteration. I just can't keep my mouth shut over the cauldron roiling in my gut over these people (because it's not just the president; he's probably the least of our concerns) who are trying to irrevocably take us back to the middle ages in social issues. But, take heart, self and all who feel the same, and read the original feelings behind the pledge. Because despite all my bitching and criticism (because this joint has never, ever been perfect or lived up to the promises it has romanced us into believing on paper--but that's what is so great: sometimes the love affair turns into a really great marriage), I love this country; it's the defiling of what I love about it that makes me feel like a bayonet is scratching at my back, right behind my heart.


http://history.vineyard.net/pledge.htm

Florrie Fisher and Mad Crunk

She's the inspiration for Amy Sedaris' character on Strangers with Candy, one of the best TV shows ever! This site is frickin' hilarious. You can hear the speeches the former "street whore" who smoked "sticks of marijuana" had given to high school students about staying away from drugs in the '70s. The best part is she's real! There was a documentary about her called The Trip Back. Transcript and MP3s(!) here:

http://home.earthlink.net/~thetripback/

I haven't been online in a while, that's why I haven't been putting any posts up. I had the week off for Memorial Day and had a lost weekend that lasted until the following week. How great is that? I feel renewed! It seems as though an entire month has passed instead of a week. Life is shifting in ways I'm not ready to explain here, but it's great. The soundtrack for it is Andre 3000's The Love Below. It's all I want to listen to. "Behold: A lady. I see you standing on the wa-hall. Clap, clap. You dee-serve it ah-hall." Sweet!