A tale of two films and one bitter stooge
If you've been following the news and blogworld, you know that media giant Sinclair Broadcasting Group has ordered its affiliate stations in swing states to pre-empt prime time programming with what is basically a feature length propaganda ad by the same folks who brought you the swift boat spot. This is not a paid advertisement, which is a blatant violation of FCC regulations and raises the possibility of Sinclair stations losing their broadcasting licenses. Imagine the shit-storm if CBS ran Fahrenheit 9/11 on prime time a few days before the election? This is not a free speech issue, but a severe abuse of power and influence by Sinclair executives. What to do? The one thing television companies care about more than anything is money, and a handy way to prevent 1/4 of American households from being force-fed a string of distortions with the sole purpose of destroying Senator Kerry is to let the sales manager at your local Sinclair station know that you are requesting advertisers to boycott their station. Josh Marshall has all the info you need, including a list of advertisers.
Just as one-sided, though not being beamed into living rooms, acclaimed filmmaker George Butler's documentary on John Kerry during the Vietnam era, Going Upriver is testament to the strength a well made documentary can have. I'm sure it's possible a handful of people could walk out of the theater still thinking Vietnam was a good idea and that John Kerry isn't one of the most corageous and honorable men in modern history (not so much for his combat time, but for what he did afterwards), but it's not likely. Seeing and hearing the 27 year-old Kerry speak with such purity, honesty and conviction and accepting responsibility for his own actions (something nobody in the current administrations seems capable of) I certainly went form luke warm to enthusiastic about the Senator. Going Upriver is currently in theaters around the country, and definitely worth seeing. A must see actually.
Did you know that the main guy behind Stolen Honor and the swift boat ad (other than Karl Rove) was hand-picked by the Nixon administration in a simiar attempt to discredit Kerry back in the 70s? John O'Neill - 33 years a bitter GOP stooge.
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Monday, October 11, 2004
Nothing but candy at durkl dot com.
And have you ever listened to the Burnlab source code?
Friday, October 08, 2004
On the subject of science and politics, the latest 527: Scientists and Engineers For Change.
11:00 (e.s.t.) this morning on the Brian Lehrer show:
President Bush does not approve of most stem cell research and has doubts about global warming. Some scientists think the famously pious president doesn't believe in science. Where does John Kerry stand on the issues, and how would he be different from W?
Tune into WNYC online.
Since we've brought up Rothko a couple times this week, everyone should block out the first week of November, whether they live in New York or not (and those who don't should be looking up airafre.)
Wednesday, November 3rd, Team Dorkwave returns to 976, Gibby Miller and Dave Elliott's postpunk/electro/free-for-all dance party at Lit. Depending on how election day goes (that's Tuesday, November 2nd... ahem ) we'll either be celebrating or drowning our sorrows. Either way, it will be a sloppy good time in NYC's coolest basement bar. Check Make Out Club and Dorkwave.com for details as the date gets closer.
Saturday, November 6th will be the official debut of UNTITLED NYC. If last month's preview party at Happy Ending was any indication, this will be complete madness of the highest quality. Performing live will be: Kill Memory Crash, James T. Cotton and Audion, with Osborne, James T. Cotton, Ryan Elliott, Mike Servito and Derek Plaslaiko on the decks. (I hate that term, but couldn't think of a better way to phrase it.) Plus, it's a double birthday celebration for Ghostly main man SV4 and everyone's favorite Persian Prince Latif Eans.
UNTITLED NYC, Party #1
11.6.04 at Rothko
116 Suffolk St, Manhattan
more details soon
New York won't know what hit it, but only New York can handle it.
Our good friend Dan Selzer just landed himself a spot in the Village Voice's Best of New York: Best DJ's DJ.
Besides the fact that he runs the nyhappenings music list, which makes him the most clued-in guy in town, DAN SELZER is the DJ music nerds who like early electronic, experimental, and post-punk want to hear when they leave the house. That's 'cause his record collection makes everyone green with envy, and also 'cause he knows how to string the music together just so. His label, Acute, is dedicated to putting out obscure no-wave artists like Theoretical Girls. And when he DJs, it's part entertainment, part education - just as it should be.
I couldn't agree more. (I can write a whole lot better, but I couldn't agree more.)
Dan will be working his magic this Saturday at Rothko with JDH and Julian Process for FREE! Get your asses down there and get some edutainment.
By the way, you can get your hands on the entire Acute Records catolog via iTunes. No record store clerk is worth his Arto Lindsay tee without it.
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Ghostly International presents:
Solvent, Lusine + Skeletons
this Friday, Oct. 8th
Blind Pig
Ann Arbor, MI
18+ | flyer
+ more Solvent dates (all with Lusine except Toronto)
Fri. 10.8.04: Ann Arbor, MI Blind Pig w/ Skeletons
Sat. 10.9.04: Chicago, IL Empty Bottle w/ Skeletons
Wed. 10.13.04: Pittsburgh, PA Garfield Artworks
Fri. 10.15.04: NYC (CMJ Festival) Tonic
Sat. 10.16.04: Austin, TX venue TBA
Tue. 10.19.04: Houston, TX venue TBA
Thur. 10.21.04: Madison, WI Catacombs Coffeehouse w/ Cepia
Fri. 10.22.04: Milwaukee, WI Riverhorse (75) w/ Cepia
Sat. 10.23.04: Minneapolis,MI Kitty Kat Club w/ Cepia
Fri. 11.5.04: Toronto Gladstone Hotel as Black Turtleneck (Solvent side project)
Monday, October 04, 2004
Les Infants Terribles
Dorkpol: Official Interpol After-Party
Friday, 10.15.04
Carlos D.* + the Dorkwave trainwreck tag-team
Corktown Tavern
1716 Michigan Ave., Detroit
18+ 10pm - 2am
21+ 10pm - later
always free!
Metro Times Best of Detroit '04
Best roaming dance party with attitude: Les Infants Terribles
Carlos' Friday residency [with our August guest Cowboy Mark] at Lit is one of the things I miss most about New York. Blackbx and Burnlab are pleased to present his first ever DJ appearance in Detroit. Interview from Filter here.
+ The Dorkwave Trainwreck Tag-Team of Servito, Theakston, Ozias, meself, and special guests.
Beautiful new website for Dublin-based photographer Aiden Kelly and a new single from design savy Irish indie rockers Random.
Brian Eno, four boomboxes and an overhead projector
Tuesday October 5th, 7pm-9pm
Terminal 5, JFK
Sunday, October 03, 2004
The single most unsettling structure ever built by the hand of man: Ryugyong Hotel.
Something deep inside my brain tells me that the 75° angle of the hotel's outer walls is exactly the wrong angle; it says sinister, it says creepy, it says get away.
Sorry Ren-Cen, you've been trumped.
Saturday, October 02, 2004
Friday, October 01, 2004
One of my favorite politcal writers, Joshua Marshall has been busy, busy blogging today. If he's not already on your daily bookmarks, worth a read.
