Robert Frank/ Photographer

 

Over a half century ago, legendary Swiss photographer Robert Frank snapped their picture as he was wrapping up what would become a groundbreaking outsider's perspective on the U.S., his two-year photo project entitled simply The Americans (previously on MeFi). 51 years later, now that the Indianapolis Museum of Art is opening TODAY an exhibit pairing all of Frank's 83 images from The Americans together with the original scroll of Jack Kerouac's "On the Road," friends and relatives have identified the couple who had never known they were so iconic! (via)

They didn't know they were icons...

Car Runs On Water

 

For more details, please click on the link to read the article.

VIDEO: Water-fuel car unveiled in Japan

The Iran Question

Premiere US investigative reporter, Seymore Hersh weighs in on the likelihood of a strike at Iran. How much chatter has there been in the past two years on this subject? On and on and on. With Chaney chomping at the bit, as crazy as it sounds, it must be a 50/50 chance that it will happen in some form before the end of the year. They've been inside, agitating and conducting 'kills' for a while now. Read about it here.

Annals of National Security: Preparing the Battlefield: Reporting & Essays: The New Yorker

For more on the subject, here is Scott Ritter

Bilateral accords quietly push neo-liberal agenda

Currently Canada is pursuing bilateral accords across the planet, with countries as far afield as Colombia, Korea and Jordan.

Since the collapse of the latest round of WTO negotiations in 2006, admits major grassroots opposition internationally and intense internal tensions between governments, Canada, the U.S. and the E.U. have shifted attention toward securing bilateral or regional trade accords.

Two sites on the subject: fightingftas.org, bilaterals.org.

Bilateral accords quietly push neo-liberal agenda

Walter Gordon: the last liberal

 Article by Duncan Cameron

Michael Ignatieff wants Canada to have an east-west energy corridor linking provinces producing low greenhouse gas emitting electricity with those still burning coal, and increasing energy security. Speaking to Globe and Mail columnist Lawrence Martin, Ignatieff was quick to qualify himself. He favours a made-in-Canada energy strategy, but noted: I'm not a Walter Gordon nationalist.

Walter Gordon: the last liberal

The Ambiguous Legacy of ‘68 -- Slavoj Zizek

lets be realists, demand the impossible.

In 1968 Paris, one of the best-known graffiti messages on the city’s walls was “Structures do not walk on the streets!” In other words, the massive student and workers demonstrations of ‘68 could not be explained in the terms of structuralism, as determined by the structural changes in society, as in Saussurean structuralism. French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan’s response was that this, precisely, is what happened in ‘68: structures did descend onto the streets. The visible explosive events on the streets were, ultimately, the result of a structural imbalance.
The Ambiguous Legacy of ‘68 -- In These Times

Taking Power ( book review)

Gregory Wilpert has pulled off a triumph on two fronts with his new book on the Bolivarian Revolution, Changing Venezuela by Taking Power. Most obviously, Wilpert's book — in both its scope and (sometimes almost maddening) objectivity — is the most detailed and credible analysis yet published of the Venezuelan revolution, which itself represents, arguably, the single most significant challenge today to the hegemony of global capitalism.

rabble.ca - book reviews

Will Canada Last?

 

Not if we surrender our energy lifeblood to the US.

Will Canada Last? (in Views)
Murray Dobbin

MIT team debut $5,000 solar thermal system

Over their summer break, a group of 23-year-old American university students have developed what could become the world’s cheapest and most effective solar power generator.

The team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a solar dish that they claim extracts 1,000 times more power from the sun's rays than a conventional solar panel system and costs just US$5,000 (£2,500).

Using curved mirrors on the dish's aluminium surface, sunlight is magnified at such an intensity that it could melt steel. The power generated is directed towards a 12ft aluminium tube rising out of the centre of the dish.

At the top end of the tube is a section of coil containing water, which heats in an instant to create steam.

The students say this steam will be strong enough to power industrial processes, heat or cool buildings and generate electricity through a turbine.

MIT team debut $5,000 solar thermal system - 26 Jun 2008 - BusinessGreen

Nicholas Stern/ Interview

Interview: 'The Stern review on the economics of climate change irrevocably altered the climate debate when it came out in October 2006. For the first time, environmentalists who had shouted loudly about the dangers of climate change were joined by an apparently hard-headed economist, commissioned by a government and with a team of 15 economic analysts and modellers at his command.

Nicholas Stern, a former World Bank chief economist, was working at the treasury when he was asked to look at the economics of climate change. The conclusion of his 700-page report—that the world must act quickly or face devastating consequences—was not new, but the language it used was. Stern presented an economic argument that rapid and affordable action now would prevent huge losses later. That in turn made it easier for politicians and business leaders to back action on climate change.' by Alun Anderson | Prospect Magazine July 2008 issue 148

Top intellectual/ Prospect Magazine

Bio of Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen.

Cover story: 'A modern Ottoman' by Ehsan Masood | Prospect Magazine July 2008 issue 148

Top 100 Intellectuals/ Prospect magazine

Here it is. What we've all been waiting for. Get ready to Google. Michael Ignatieff survives his transition from public intellectual to politician at 34, up from 37. Namoni Kline drops off the list.

Intellectuals: 'Intellectuals—the results' by | Prospect Magazine July 2008 issue 148

Canada: Peacekeeper or Warmonger?

 

By: Ian Sinclair | Winnipeg Free Press

[W]hile the United States is seen as a bellicose, aggressive superpower, many Canadians view their nation as the leading peacekeeping force in the world...This quaint picture of nation-building and development work sits uneasily with the cold facts of the Canadian deployment...

In reality...Canadian troops (in Afghanistan) fired an incredible 4.7 million bullets between April 2006 and December 2007...

read more

Canadian Militarism

 An article by Murray Thompson in Embassy Magazine today.

Eight Ways Militarism is Growing in CanadaAnd Eight Things to Do About It

Tokyo Mango Interviews the Dalai Lama's Younger Brother

Lisa Katayama says: Here's an interview I did with the Dalai Lama's youngest brother -- he's bipolar and has anger management problems. Nobody's interviewed him at length before.

Tendzin Choegyal is the Dalai Lama’s youngest brother. Aside from being related to one of the holiest persons alive, TC is a rebellious soul who dropped out of college, spent a couple of years as a paratrooper in the Tibetan contingency of the Indian army, survived alcoholism,and found peace through a blend of Buddhism, lithium, and reading the news on the Internet. When I met him at his home in Dharamsala, India—the Himalayan town that houses the Tibetan government-in-exile—we talked about reincarnation, war movies, Steven Seagal’s crazy outfits, and the preservation of Tibetan culture.

Link

The garage

Blue is the cloth
In the tradesman's trade
A name on the chest
To distinguish from the rest
Of the blue trades clothes
Of the tradesmen

In those days
My flower was A
green coke bottle
Half-way up
With high octane
Squeezed in between
The banged around orange toolbox
And the blue vice

Cold black pit-
crank-case oozing
into the caged pale light
He adjusting the torque
Me clutching the cool ratchet

His fingers were thicker than
mine
Black below the skin
Gouged and torn
And one dying

Our own car was always
falling apart but
purred like a kitten

i've been fixed
fixed to the spot
here
in this room
that rooms me

soon i will be gone
but the room will too
whenever
this room
removes me

Under Bill C-51 Genetically-engineered Plants Become "Natural"

"Health Canada's mission is to ...help ensure that the natural health products Canadians use are ...labelled accordingly and truthfully"

read more

George Carlin

First there was Lenny Bruce. He was my hero. I had his bits completely memorized while going to high school (which tells you how old I am). Then there was George Carlin. (and Richard Prior)

Video: George Carlin "It's called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it."

NAFTA Bitten by the deal that once fed us.

 

Gordon Laxer, director of the Parkland Institute at the University of  Alberta,  co-author with John Dillon of the report "Over a Barrel:  Exiting from NAFTA's proportionality clause" and a professor of
political economy  argues:
"None of those assumptions [made when the FTA and NAFTA were  negotiated 15 and 20 years ago]  now hold. Elsewhere, governments are making plans to drastically cut greenhouse gases, meet the challenge of very expensive gasoline and natural gas, and are preparing for the sudden shut off of fossil fuels. But, not Canada. The business as usual crowd, led by Stephen Harper's government and the oil transnationals, seems to expect our carbon-burning society to carry on as before.But we can't. ...  Canada can no longer afford to export its remaining supplies of deliverable oil."

NAFTA Bitten by the deal that once fed us. Gordon Laxer

Has modern life killed the semicolon?

When the Times of London reported in 1837 on two University of Paris law profs dueling with swords, the dispute wasn't over the fine points of the Napoleonic Code. It was over the point-virgule: the semicolon. "The one who contended that the passage in question ought to be concluded by a semicolon was wounded in the arm," noted the Times. "His adversary maintained that it should be a colon."
[more ...]

Solar Thermal

I've just started to research this subject and feel pretty excited about it and will be posting articles I think useful. Solar Thermal seems like it could be a major part of the equation of getting beyond dirty energy.

Clean energy mega grid proposed « Ecocity Media

The Hedonists of Power

While this blog is pretty free-form as to content, I've decided not to include any internal U.S. politics, but I'm making an exception this time because I like Chris Hedges writing. Here he is as posted in Truth Dig today.

Washington has become Versailles. We are ruled, entertained and informed by courtiers.

READ THE WHOLE ITEM

350

A new activist international ecology site worth checking out. The 350 refers to 350 parts per million of co2 in the atmosphere, considered to be the borderline to irrevocable damage.

350 | Global Warming. Global Action. Global Future.

Born in the Stars?

 

Meteorites Brought DNA "Ancestors" to Earth, Study Says

North Pole May Be Ice Free for First Time This Summer

 

The pole now contains mostly thin, new ice vulnerable to summer heat, scientists on a ship in the Arctic say. Within weeks it could be gone, at least temporarily, they speculate.

North Pole May Be Ice Free for First Time This Summer
Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Times Archive

Now here's an interesting resource just being made available: The Times of London.

Every issue of The Times published between 1785-1985, digitally scanned and fully searchable.

Pakistan’s Phantom Border

Pakistan’s Phantom Border. "Pakistan is often called the most dangerous country on earth. Increasingly, its people would agree. Despite nearly $6 billion in U.S. military aid for the border region since 9/11, the Taliban, al-Qaeda, and homegrown terrorist groups have eroded the border with Afghanistan, inflicting a steady toll of suicide bombings. Going where few Westerners dare—from Taliban strongholds to undercover-police headquarters—the author sees what’s tearing the country apart"

Canada for Anti-imperialists

Continuing on with a theme which seems to be emerging here, we have an essay by Justin Podur from a few years ago, which I found on  the 'Mostly Water' site. He peels back some long cherished Canadian myths and lays out a history of abetting of US imperialist adventures and  Canada's feeding of it's own little imperialist ambitions.

ZNet - Canadian Foreign Policy

Colonial Canada Now. (Part Two) The Canadian Police

Another entry by Robin Mathews on Canada as colony of which two articles are included on this blog earlier. This time as it relates to the R.C.M.P. I don't know if there's more coming. 

Colonial Canada Now. (Part Two) The Canadian Police - Vive

U.S. Threatens Canada on Copyright Reform/ Canada Caves

U.S. threatened "thickening the border" without firm copyright reform from Canada, says Michael Geist
Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:19:36 GMT

Afghanistan Pipeline

So here we go. This pipeline was in the works even before the US invaded the country. Part of the reason for the war? Many thought so at the time, though it never really came up in the mainstream press at the time (or since). Now it's a done deal and the complexion of things change utterly. Now Canada is playing it's part in the 'great game' for Central Asian Oil. Time to move the discussion on, or should I say start a discussion about the real reasons we are over there. Read the PDF.

A Pipeline Through A Troubled Land
info@policyalternatives.ca (John Foster)

Pistachio Wars (now for something really nuts)

Unusually, the U.S. critical of Israel.

The US and Israel are at odds about Iran's "weapon": Ten days ago, US Ambassador to Israel Richard H. Jones wrote a severe letter to Finance Minister Ronnie Bar-On, with copies sent to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and two of his ministers. In the letter, Jones accuses Israel of secretly trading with Iran and transferring foreign currency to the country, in direct violation of an Israeli law prohibiting trade with enemy states. The fuss is over something Iran is famous for, though perhaps less than its nuclear ambitions; namely pistachio nuts. The American government accused Israel of buying Iranian pistachios under the guise of trade with Turkey, despite the US's objection...

[Uruknet 45058 21-jun-2008 19:22 ECT] US envoy slams Israel over 'illegal importation of pistachios from Iran'

Parag Khanna interview/ Macleans magazine

An interview by Andrew Coyne of Parag Khanna, author of The Second World, talked about here last month. A foreign affairs adviser to Obama, Khanna spent two years traveling the world, researching his book, which presents a fresh look at the new balance of power, particularly as it relates to what he refers to what he calls the second world- those countries with one foot in the first world and one foot in the third world, as it relates to the new Nexis of power, the US, the EU and China. Some other interesting articles on the subject can be found on his own web page.

Link to article

Canada in court for violating federal climate change law

 

Lawsuit demands government obey will of Parliament [June 18, 2008]

Canada in court for violating federal climate change law

The Electric Car Lives

 

Via: Business Week: Clean, quiet, and relatively profitable to produce, electric vehicles have had a rough start in the U.S.: Five years after General Motors (GM) nixed its innovative EV1 electric car program, just a handful of automakers have committed to making and selling electric vehicles on a mass scale any time soon. Enter Think Global, a [...]

The Electric Car Lives

Scarcity In An Age Of Plenty

 

By Joseph Stiglitz
As food and fuel prices continue to increase the world must look to new patterns of consumption and production

Scarcity In An Age Of Plenty

Obama is a Hawk

 Pilger weighs in on Obama. beyond the sheen of change and the euphoria created by his eloquence, what's really different here?

by John Pilger - 12 Jun 2008

It is time the wishful-thinkers grew up politically and debated the world of great power as it is, not as they hope it will be. Like all serious presidential candidates, past and present, Obama is a hawk and an expansionist. He comes from an unbroken Democratic tradition, as the war-making of presidents Truman, Kennedy, Johnson, Carter and Clinton demonstrates. Obama’s difference may be that he feels an even greater need to show how tough he is.

read more

The great land grab/ US bases in Iraq

 

At the core of the George W Bush administration's negotiations with Baghdad over the US's long-term presence in Iraq is the issue of bases. Over the past few years they have surged to over 100 in number at the cost of many billions of dollars. Whatever the outcome of the talks, the bases will still be there when the next administration hits Washington, whether the Iraqis like it or not. - Tom Engelhardt (Jun 17, '08)

DISPATCHES FROM AMERICA : The great land grab

Plan Colombia: Then and Now - THE VIDEO

  Video by Gerard Unggerman and Audrey Brohy

 

AxisofLogic/ Plan Colombia: Then and Now - THE VIDEO

the nightmare

I wrote this quite a while ago. Must have been reading Lovecraft at the time. The first part was composed while asleep, then I woke up and had to finish it. I thought that was pretty weird but have found out later that it wasn't all that uncommon, though it was the only time it happened to me.

click talk
behind the lock
of that evaporating clock
sits a jewel of fine precision
to be sure

slip slop
the faces slide
through the fabric of divide
as this lady
through this dream
screams through to me

"this scepter has been hung
above the string you walk along
this rugs an old cats-cradel
that's been stepped on

o can't you see i need you
it's important that i feel you
through this black-thrown highway nightmare
as my fingers start a blood trail

eternity rejoicing
some other dream
some other place
days running down
your face"

Canada’s Toxic Tar Sands: The Most Destructive Project on Earth

For more details, please click on the link to read the article.

Canada’s Toxic Tar Sands: The Most Destructive Project on Earth

The World According to Monsanto- the Film

-This film was mentioned 2 months ago on this blog. Now, the film. A chilling indictment of the practices of the Monsanto Corporation and the politics as they relate to the EPA and FDA and other agencies of the US government, putting corporate rights above the health and welfare of citizens of the US and around the world.

On March 11 a new documentary was aired on French television (ARTE – French-German cultural tv channel) by French journalist and film maker Marie-Monique Robin, The World According to Monsanto. The gigantic biotech corporation Monsanto is threatening to destroy the agricultural biodiversity which has served mankind for thousands of years.

The World Accoding to Monsanto

‘The Dutch are fighting in Uruzgan primarily for their own safety'

 Interesting to hear a report from a Dutch perspective in Afghanistan. With basically the same mission statement as Canada and in the same area, it seems that things aren't very positive for them either.

• "Our boys and girls are doing their best, but there's hardly any sign of reconstruction and they are fighting primarily to guarantee the safety of their own bases." Below is a report of Remi Poppe's experiences in the war-torn country.

‘The Dutch are fighting in Uruzgan primarily for their own safety'

After Bobby Kennedy

I just had to post this. Written in May for The New Statesman by John Pilger, an essay describing the similarities between the candidacy of kennedy and Obama as they relate to big business and the ruling elite. Pilger is simply the best political documentary film maker out there. Move over, Michael Moore- no contest. I'm burnt out on Moore anyway. I can't see him producing anything relevant anymore. He's really more of a showman, promoting his brand and well ensconced in the establishment at this point anyway. So there!

New Statesman - After Bobby Kennedy

Catching Up on the Canadian DMCA Coverage

When it comes to business there's two things that the US is deadly serious about- patents (and expanding them) and copyright law. This is being played out now in the introduction of the new bill introduced in the Canadian Parliament yesterday.

The amount of coverage and discussion about the Canadian DMCA has simply been overwhelming.  You can view the actual introduction of the bill, local TV coverage, and national TV coverage.  You can read mainstream media coverage (Globe, National Post, Toronto Star, Ottawa Citizen, Vancouver Sun, CBC), wire services coverage (UPI, Reuters, CEP), online media coverage (Ars Technica, Techdirt), newspaper editorials (Toronto Star supports the introduction), and commentary pieces (mine, Terence Corcoran's in the National Post).  You can read Industry Minister Jim Prentice's quick reference in the House of Commons to support from copyright lobby groups and the support itself (music industry, BSA, ACTRA).  You can read the comments from groups that oppose the bill (Canadian Library Association, Canadian Music Creators Coalition, Documentary Organization of Canada,  CIPPIC, Appropriation Art). You can read commentary from profs (Trosow, Murray) and bloggers (Ingram, Doctorow, McOrmond, CopyrightWatch) and screenwriters (Hey Writer Boy).  You can also read the bill.
And when you're done reading, start speaking out.

Catching Up on the Canadian DMCA Coverage
Michael Geist
Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:00:17 GMT

Washington Planning to "Checkmate" Venezuela

 

Washington does not want to lose Latin America in competition with India, China and Europe. The situation is life or death and a military attack against Venezuela from Colombia is possible, maybe likely, and Ecuador and Bolivia are also targeted. By Stephen Lendman

read more

Oilsands- Not Dirty Anymore

•   American legislation to bar so-called “dirty” fuels doesn’t apply to Canadian oilsands, a leading U.S. senator said Wednesday.

US Senator Says Oilsands Won’t Face ‘Dirty’ Fuel Ban
CommonDreams.org

2,000 year old seed sprouted

Researchers prove age of seed that date palm sprouted from after its discovery at ancient fortress of Masada

Tree's seed really was 2,000 years old

Talking to the Taliban

Taliban: A new breed of leader

Qari Ziaur Rahman, commander of the Taliban in Afghanistan's Nooristan and Kunar provinces, which border Pakistan, represents the new generation of anti-US resistance leaders and is tipped to become one of the most important Taliban commanders in the region. He spoke to Syed Saleem Shahzad in the Kunar Valley.

Gore Vidal’s Article of Impeachment

 

On June 9, 2008, a counterrevolution began on the floor of the House of Representatives against the gas and oil crooks who had seized control of the federal government. This counterrevolution began in the exact place which had slumbered during the all-out assault on our liberties and the Constitution itself.

READ THE WHOLE ITEM

Claus Schunke, "Response to poll about threats to democracy," June 9, 2008.

World Report: Claus Schunke, "Response to poll about threats to democracy," June 9, 2008.

First Nations resist Tar Sands

By Lori Waller Briarpatch Magazine June/July 2008

Fort Chipewyan, a tiny northern Alberta hamlet perched on the shores of Lake Athabasca, is historically notable as the location of the province's oldest European settlement, a trading post opened by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1788.

Mention Fort Chipewyan today, though, and what's likely to come to mind for most Albertans is not the 18th century fur trade, but cancer.

“We can no longer be sacrificed”: First nations resistance to tar sands development is growing

North America Integration- Limits

Lawrence Martin's column in the Globe and Mail June 2 on 'the end of the era of limitless North American integration' shows insight and foresight on the realities of deeper integration with the US and provides a refreshing take for those of us who have been critical of deeper integration, of military association with the Bush regime, of corporate globalization, of NAFTA and the SPP.

NA's end of limitless integration draws to welcome close - Martin G&M

Obama's Latin America Policy

Recent article from Mother Jones by Greg Grandis. Latin America reengaged. Hold onto your hats, the US radar is pointing back to the Continent. Time to shake off the dust from the Monroe Doctrine and re-exert hegemony in the area. I can see the rising star, Parag Khanna, author of 'The Second World', playing a part here. Part of his theory is that we're moving into a tripartite world where the EU, China, and the US will be the centres of the new, new world order, so all the more reason for the US to concentrate on consolidating it's power in it's region. Great news for Canada too, as the US thumb will be pressing even harder on good old Canada (or, what's left of it). Includes a speech by Obama in Miami on his Latin America policy. So the race is on. Can Latin America achieve more cohesiveness while fending off US power? Can the US abide by the turning left of much of The Americas. Stay tuned.

Losing Latin America

Everything You Know About Water Conservation Is Wrong

A whole new way to look at water conservation. A lot of good can come out of this approach. Lots of information. Check it out!

With 5 million deaths a year from lack of water and related illnesses, calculating the "virtual water" that goes into foods and products is essential to reduce our water footprint--and save some of those 5 million lives.

Everything You Know About Water Conservation Is Wrong

Not on our roads

Bureaucrats against electric cars, and progress

IN THESE times of high petrol prices and worries about climate change, you might think that any country would be proud to enjoy a lead in manufacturing electric cars. Not Canada, it seems. Two Canadian companies, ZENN Motor Company and Dynasty Electric Car, make small electric cars designed for city use; a third, which will use new battery technology developed by Exxon Mobil, plans to launch a model later this year.

Not on our roads

Obama- The Day After Victory

By Kaveh Afrasiaba

As coincidence would have it, on the day he clinched the Democratic party's nomination for the United States presidency, Barack Obama was scheduled to deliver a key address at the annual meeting of the powerful Jewish lobby in Washington. His speech on the Middle East, and Iran in particular, will have pleased his influential audience and enhanced his election chances. But it marks a backward step on the road to Obama's promises of change. (Jun 5, '08)

COMMENT : Obama already mired on Middle East road

I'm Back

Hello dear reader. I've been feeling under the weather the past few days and haven't been getting as far as the computer. I seem to be back in the game so please stay with me as we peel back the cover off of whats really going on out there, as seen from my corner of the sandbox. da DAH!

Does Ignatieff support a Canadian energy strategy?

You make a good point Michael. This is well and truly an absurd situation. Front-burner stuff.  

In his Globe and Mail column today, Lawrence Martin asks how much sense it makes that "energy-abundant" Canada imports 40 per cent of its oil from foreign markets. He also reports that Liberal Michael Ignatieff is wondering the same thing.

Does Ignatieff support a Canadian energy strategy?
Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:16:48 GMT

Canadian Colonialism Now (Part Two)

Second part of article included here earlier. By Robin Mathews

Canadian Colonialism Now (Part Two). The Political World - Vive