Devotchka - the last beat of my heart

Saw them with Gogol Bordello last year. Truly an under appreciated group.

The Resonating Words of Fighting Bob

"We are slow to realize that democracy is a life and involves continual struggle"

Fighting Bobfest is moving to the Alliant Energy Colesium in Madison on Sept. 17th. Check here for future details.

Oppurtunity To Oppose Walker In Fort Atkinson

Soon to be ex governor Scott Walker blew in and out of Fort Atkinson and was greeted by a 100 or so citizens somewhat less than happy to see him. Mrs. WINston smITh provided the above documentation. Interestingly while Opportunities supposedly provides the "disabled" a chance to work at minimum or less wages chances are unless someone will drive them at least 20 miles they will be unable to obtain documentation for voting anywhere locally as the local DMV office is being closed in keeping with voter suppression rules.

Olga Arefeva Night In October Ольга Арефьева Ночь в Октябре

A world of music beyond our door.

Republican Economics Explained Or Help the Koch brothers bust the unions in Wisconsin

A coherent explanation of our current dilemma both on a state level and nationally.

Gov Walker Unwelcome At The Welcome Center

In case anyone had doubts about Governor Scott Walker's detestabilty quotient, this video of his visit to a state Welcome Center on July 18th outside of Beloit should settle the issue. A similar reception awaits him in Fort Atkinson on July 28th, where he is scheduled to dedicate a building used to improve the lot of the disabled, a group he is normally attempting to render even more destitute through his policies. Anyone interested in unwelcoming the governor can do so starting around 5:00 PM at 100 East Cramer in Fort Atkinson. His Highness is scheduled to speak at 7:00PM

messer chups --- Crash live in st.Peterburg

The weekly serving of Messer Chups and Russian Surf.

Putin's Army

As the Russian election looms a new twist, Putin's Army, willing to do anything though, as per The Global Post, just what isn't exactly clear:

"One group that has managed to find an enemy is Putin’s Army, a collective that formed on VKontakte, Russia’s version of Facebook, last week. In a video calling on “young, smart and beautiful girls” to join their ranks, the narrator points out “those who would throw dirt on him,” their beloved leader. She then announces a contest calling on young women to “tear something” for Putin (before tearing her own tanktop in two) — but the double meaning of the Russian word she uses (porvat) also implies the threat of vicious revenge.

About 20 members of the group gathered in a central Moscow square on Friday evening to “tear for Putin.” Tottering on heels and wearing t-shirts emblazoned with their hero’s image, they didn’t quite know what to do. First, they strutted down a makeshift catwalk — three times. Then, they decided to march, like soldiers, to show their support of Putin.

“I didn’t think it would be such a popular thing,” Maria Utkina, a 19-year-old Putin’s Army leader, said. “Maybe then I wouldn’t have called it an army.”

“We’re ready to do a lot for Putin — we just have no idea what,” she added.

The group, and a similar one called I Really Do Like Putin that formed on VKontakte this month (they’ve already held a Blueberry Hill sing-along and a bikini-clad car wash), have all the hallmarks of Nashi, the Kremlin-connected youth group. But both Putin’s Army and Nashi deny any connection. The racy Putin’s Army video went viral after appearing on Schitov’s blog but he also denies that his Youth Guard movement is involved.

“Any national leader has a huge number of supporters and this is normal,” Nikita Borovikov, the leader of Nashi, said. “Some of his supporters are young girls, this is also normal — they are citizens like any other person.”

Polar Ice Melting At Record Rate

According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center the polar ice cap is melting at record rate this summer surpassing the record set in 2007:

"Arctic sea ice extent declined at a rapid pace through the first half of July, and is now tracking below the year 2007, which saw the record minimum September extent. The rapid decline in the past few weeks is related to persistent above-average temperatures and an early start to melt. Snow cover over Northern Eurasia was especially low in May and June, continuing the pattern seen in April.....

"Arctic sea ice extent declined rapidly through the first two weeks of July, at a rate averaging nearly 120,000 square kilometers (46,000 square miles) per day. Ice extent is now tracking below the year 2007, which saw the record minimum September extent."

Messer chups -Shandor Diabolikov

Late night Russian surf-lounge musika.

Imagine If London Was Occupied by Israel

Wisconsin GOP Zombie Attack Turned Back

By large margins Wisconsin voters averted an insidious attack by republican zombies in areas scheduled for state senate recall elections in August. According to Dane 101:

"Democratic primary results from the six districts where Republican incumbents are up for recall have been called. The real Democrats defeated all of the GOP's handpicked zombie Democrats.

Wisconsin has an open primary system, so Republicans can vote in the Democratic primary. The Democrats defeated their opponents by a spread of more than 30 percent in all but one district suggesting substantial enthusiasm by opponents of one party rule for those recall races. Shelly Moore, a newcomer to politics, is challenging incumbent State Senator Shelia Harsdorf in District 10 and she came out eight points higher than Isaac Weix. While this doesn't mean there is less enthusiasm for Moore, it does suggest there is less of an enthusiasm gap in Harsdorf's district. Turn out was high on both sides with it being the only race where more than 10,000 votes were cast (as of this writing) for a fake candidate (see official numbers here)."

Kismet - Until The Next War

The United States is currently involved in conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen, and Libya. There are also the "wars" on terrorism and drugs. There was also the war on poverty which we gave up on.

Khodorkovsky Revisited

Why the West has latched onto the Khodorkovsky case is something known only the editors of The New York Times and other purveyors of misinformation about Russia. Living in Wisconsin these days my sympathy for downtrodden billionaires is wearing a little thin. Anatoly Karlin gives an interesting take on the Russian Billionaire As Victim Saga:

"Imagine the following scenario.

In the US, a black homeless man “robs” a bank. He only takes a single $100 bill out of the wad of cash offered, because he was hungry and had to pay to stay at a detox center. Regardless, he had the good graces to return the money the day after. Net financial loss to the bank? $0. Years he was sent down to the slammer for: 15.

In another country, a billionaire fleeces the state by using offshore companies to sell his company’s oil production (and sees nothing wrong with it). Politicians and businessmen who oppose him get this nasty habit of turning up dead. Net financial loss to that country’s treasury, and ultimately taxpayers? Many billions of dollars. Years he was sent down to the slammer for: 14.

Now imagine that one of these cases becomes the focal point of universal condemnation of that country’s brutal, lawless, and authoritarian human rights regime – from Amnesty International and PACE, the US State Department and the German Bundestag, and regular scathing editorials from the biggest media titans. The country’s own liberals work overtime to campaign for the case to be overturned.

Which case would you guess I’m talking about? Surely it would be Roy Brown, the indigent beggar right? No way, sucker."

Very nice blog BTW.

Messer Chups - Lipstick twang -

Slavery Introduced In Wisconsin

A working definition of slavery might be something like forced unpaid labor that normally would be compensated. By that definition the use of unpaid prisoners in Wisconsin to do work formerly done by union workers would seem to fit. From Truthout:

"While Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s (R) law dismantling collective bargaining rights has harmed teachers, nurses, and other civil servants, it’s helping a different group in Wisconsinites — inmates. Prisoners are now taking up jobs that used to be held by unionized workers in some parts of the state.

As the Madison Capital Times reports, “Besides losing their right to negotiate over the percentage of their paycheck that will go toward health care and retirement, unions also lost the ability to claim work as a ‘union-only’ job, opening the door for private workers and evidently even inmates to step in and take their place.” Inmates are not paid for their work, but may receive time off of their sentences.

The law went into effect last week, and Racine County is already using inmates to do landscaping, painting, and another basic maintenance around the county that was previously done by county workers. The union had successfully sued to stop the country from using prison labor for these jobs last year, but with Walker’s new law, they have no recourse."

Which begs the question did Walker's supporters know that introduction of slavery was part of the package? Another incentive for corporate investment in Wisconsin?

Tariq Ali - Obama, Pakistan and the US empire

The 4th of July is a good day for a history lesson and Tariq Ali gives a good overview of recent events in America and abroad.

Afrirampo 【PV】あふりらんぽ 《ミラクルラッキーガールズ》

Certainly not your average Japanese Girl Band fortunately.

Savage Republic - So It Is Written

One of my favorite groups from the 80s.

George Carlin -"Who Really Controls America"

The deepest and most critical thinkers in America are not politicians or pundits but "comedians".