history

Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing


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In which we confront the stop sign that exists at the intersection of metaphysics and politics.

In which we conclude an epic tale of drunken revelry, Constitutional Law, and the impact of the FISA "compromise" on the Fourth Amewndment.

In which we get a bit naughty in the service of freedom.

Tonight my wife Kate and I -- and a lot of folks in the Bull City --  will head downtown to take in a free screening of Durham: A Self-Portrait at the Carolina Theatre. The first show at 7:30 is sold out.

The documentary chronicles the people and neighborhoods of my hometown, as well as the history of race and class here.  It's the work of Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Dr. Steven Channing and Durham-based VideoDialog.

The city has a rich heritage as a textile center and of course, tobacco production (Liggett-Myers, which vacated long ago); my father's side of the family has long been a part of the city's history as well, in business, public service and civil rights. It will be interesting to see how civil rights era history will be covered in the doc.

When surfing by the excellent local blog Bull City Rising, I found a short video tribute to the city center by Luther Blissett. It's below the fold.

fp'd by Betsy

Today’s thought experiment:

I’m going to post an article written by a mystery author.

Can you name the author?

On Tuesday I will post the answer.

Here’s the post, and good luck!

Canada will not renew anti-terror legislation that stemmed from the hysteria following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the US. The vote came after the Canadian Supreme Court struck down one of the provisions, said BBC News:

"On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that a system allowing the government to indefinitely detain foreign-born terror suspects or deport them violated the Charter of Rights and Freedoms."

Apparently, Canadians feel a lot safer and calmer now. There have been no attacks on Canada. Why was the US targeted, any way? Why do the terrorists hate us, and not Canada?

This week, Amy Goodman interviewed former CIA consultant, Chalmers Johnson, on Democracy Now!. You can hear/watch/read this eye-opener HERE. Johnson is the author of the Blowback trilogy, and he talked with Goodman about his latest in the series, Nemesis: The Last Days of the American Republic. Among his not unexpected, but nonetheless startling to hear confirmed, revelations:

Every president, when he takes office, is told about his secret, private army, the CIA, which he can use for assassinations, destabilization of foreign economies and governments, or for any purpose he chooses, with impunity, even if those actions are illegal. Since the agency was formed in 1947, no president has declined to use the CIA for clandestine warfare. These operations are kept secret from the American people. When there is retaliation ("blowback") for these covert operations, the American people don't see the connection.

Over at Ex, I was a little more playful with the title given the fact that Sandburg was pretty much a socialist. I've been reading a little Sandburg this winter. Chicago Poems and War Poems.
Here's the post: