Monday, January 30, 2006

Ay Mi Estomago!!

I promised myself and all of you that I would not pollute my Blog with self-indulgent crap like my misadventures with various women. I guess I lied. I feel stupid because this world is going to shit and our generation is doing hardly anything about it and I am here complaining that I'm 30 and still single. But you know what, I'm just a regular shmoe just like the 10, 000, 000 other bloggers out there, so fuck it. At least I will spare you the details.

On a much more important note please join people who give a fuck at Times Square tomorrow. Don't stay at home listening to lies. Go out and take our streets and make our voices heard. No torture and occupation in our name. Fuck Bush and all he stands for. Make your voice heard!!!!

So here's a mixed up playlist by a mixed up guy

ciao

Candombe Apertura 2:02 Dusminguet
Oyster 2:38 Jawbreaker
Don't Take Me for Granted 3:47 Social Distortion
Can't Stand It 3:57 The Pietasters
Lazy Woman 3:28 The Slackers
Corazón Aerodinámico 3:45 Estopa
Pura Sangre 4:07 Jarabe De Palo
Bittersweet Me 4:05 R.E.M.
Better Decide Which Side You're On 2:52 Tom Robinson Band
Resistance Is Futile 3:00 Jets To Brazil
Love & Hope 4:24 Ozomatli Street Signs
lean back (remix) 4:13 immortal technique ft sizzla
What You Say 3:34 Outernational
Revolution Rock 5:33 The Clash
Armagideon Time 5:08 Willie Williams
War 3:21 Edwin Starr
La Vida ( La Vida Me Da Palo ) 2:41 Mano Negra

Thursday, January 26, 2006

Rooting for Religion?

I wouldn't go that far, but I was rooting for Fatah to lose today (or was it yesterday already?). Fatah was the atypical rotten to the core third world puppet organization. Nepotism, bribery and repression have been doled out to Palestinians for generations, as if being treated as a prisoner in your own land by the 2nd most powerful military in the world was not enough.

Sure, you could say Hamas has a defined current of evil flowing thru its organization; but this is not the whole story. There has been many articles on the charities it funds and how they are seen as "pure" whereas Fatah was being exposed for the gangsters that they are.

The point that many people are missing here is no matter who is in power in the Palestinian territories the real power lies in Tel Aviv. Hamas (if the Palestinian vote is to be allowed to enshrine it self in law) will not have power over Water. They will have very limited authority over border crossings (from West Bank into Gaza) and would essentially be closed in by a religous superstate. So what this has all boiled down to is, as of right now, Palestinians have voted for a new set of prison guards. The warden has stayed the same.

Also all this talk about the USA refusing to speak to Hamas because it is a terrorist org is making me sick. How many govenments has the US coddled in Central and South America that have had genocidal policies toward its indigenous and/or suspected left wing sections of its population.

If this blog entry piques your interest you must see Paradise Now. I wrote a small review for it online no biggie but it captures what I was feeling right after I came out of the theatre.

BTW

How's this for my two bits on the Palestinan/Israeli conflict?:

The Middle East needs less states that are based on religion, be they Islamic or Jewish. These states need to be reformed. Israel (and Saudi Arabia) could be a start.

Incorporate the West Bank and Gaza into Israel, an Israel whose goal is not a Jewish State but a real democracy. Give full citizenship rights to all, be they of Palestinian origin or Eastern European origin. Give all the citizens in this New Israel equal rights under the law. Have both Muslims and Jews in the Army, Police, and yes even the Mossad. Make marital law, restriction of movement and discrimination in housing illegal. Give the Palestinians a future and a stake in the new state. This will rob the fundamentalists (be the Islamist or Zionist) of their base. Who will strap bombs to themselves if they have hope?? Perhaps down the road the voters in this new state will choose to rename the state to what is was called for centuries, Palestine. Or not. Whatever the name of the state, life would be better. Not perfect though. There will still be clashes, bombings, but a majority would being to feel human again. Maybe, who knows.

To keep political theme going I have selected a playlist full of Rebel Roots and Culture.
(Don't I always)

ciao

Candombe Apertura 2:02 Dusminguet
Queremos Paz 5:16 Gotan Project
Charla Town 4:58 Gnawa Diffusion
The Equaliser 5:46 The Clash
Blood on the Streets 4:30 Outernational
Ghetto 3:57 Akon
lean back (remix) 4:13 immortal technique ft sizzla
Crazy Baldheads (Alternate Album Mix) 3:08 Bob Marley & The Wailers
No More Trouble 4:00 Bob Marley & The Wailers
Welcome to Jamrock 3:22 Damien Marley
Sufferer's Time 3:55 The Heptones
Love & Hope 4:24 Ozomatli
GIRATUTTO(Urban) 4:09 Macaco
Ghetto Defendant 4:44 The Clash
Clandestino 2:26 Manu Chao
Orange Sky 6:19 Alexi Murdoch (From "Paradise Now")

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Africa Unite

The Earth (in it's cradle) is celebrating it's most beautiful sport. In my humble opinion it's a big deal. So here's a playlist dedicated to Africa and it's continental competition, the African Cup of Nations. Sure it sucks that it's happening the same year as the World Cup (hopefully this never happens again, it shows FIFA's lack of respect for Africa and it's players) but it's happening.

Here is my humble dedication to the Motherland. You will hear some of my favorite artists like Rachid Taha and Gnawa Diffusion (Algeria via France). Also some classic and contemporary Afrobeat.

Also featured are songs from the album Musica de Futebol which is a companion to the book Futebol, soccer the Brasillian way by Alex Bellos. Thanks Chris for the book!!

PS

One of my favorite Bush moments involves Africa and Brazil so I might as well include it, no? "Do you have Blacks also?"

Peace

Africa Unite!!


Candombe Apertura 2:02 Dusminguet
The Willing 4:12 Ty Feat, Tony Allen
Hey Anta 4:30 Rachid Taha
En Retard 4:56 Rachid Taha
Tabla Motown 5:46 Rachid Taha
Non Non Non Multinat. Version 4:10 Rachid Taha
The Time Is Now 7:00 Maw Feat, Wunmi
Jungle Fiction 4:03 Rachid Taha
Touradas Em Madri 2:37 Carmen Miranda
O Rei Pelé 2:04 Jackson Do Pandeiro
Samba Rubro-Negro 3:00 Joao Nogueira
Pelé (Remixed By Ballistic Brothers) 7:22 Aracatuba
Caravane 5:02 Amparanoïa
Gudfella 4:39 Gigi
Che Che Cole 4:51 Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra Feat. Mayra Vega
Yay Boy 4:01 Africando
Malemicita 4:25 JJC & 419 Squad
Gin-Go-Lo-Ba 3:24 Olatunji
Heat 3:41 Common
Politic Amagni (La Politique, C'est Pas Bon) 4:56 Amadou & Mariam
Afrikaan Beat 2:56 Lester Sterling
Ya Laymi 5:49 Gnawa Diffusion
Algeria 6:53 Gnawa Diffusion

Monday, January 16, 2006

(In a french accent) You still alive mate?

Wow celebrating your birthday for a whole month can really fuck you up. I'm all in pain. In good happy pain.

This wknd should be the best though. I'll be doing my regular thing at the Raven after 10p. You know it peoples cheap drink, cheap girls, good tunes. I know, being fed free alcohol for 6 hrs and also being paid to play music for that time period might seem like a breeze, enviable even, but alas it is hard work. That's bullshit, it's what i look foward to every month. So show your ass up and buy me some shots. I would like to carried out to a cab that night.

Of interest:

1. I almost recieved the best birthday present a boy could get. From God no less. Sharon almost kicked the bucket on Jan 5th. Last I heard he will probably be a vegetable. Oh a bit harsh? How many tears did you shed when Arafat died? None here.

2. I discovered this really lame Venezuelan Music TV channel called Puma. Most of the music on this channel is indie and most of it sucks. For some odd reason I have it on my favorites list, I'm a strange man sometimes. Anyways, lo and behold Chavez is looking back at me giving a speech to his parliment or whatever it's called down there. It's was a rather interesting mix of rhetoric and truth and plain hot fire. Boy does this guy get mad. If you think about it there is alot to be mad about. Like 3 hr long speeches. I watched almost 2 whole football matches and he was still going. A bit too much for me.

3. Finally got to see Paradise Now and it is simply one of the best movies I have ever seen. I never watched a movie that left me shaking and short of breath, and no it was not crack induced-thats what I keep telling myself anyways.

4. Looks like blogspot is going down soon so im outtie. Check out some songs that I have been listening to for the past year. Peace and see you guys sat 10p

Candombe Apertura 2:02 Dusminguet Go
Métropole 5:42 Gnawa Diffusion Souk System
Ave. B 2:57 Gogol Bordello East Infection
Penas Con Rumba 3:12 Estopa ¿La Calle Es Tuya?
Cada vez (original album version) 4:51 Negrocan
Emitiendo 3:42 Macaco
Babalu 4:28 Ska Cubano
Tékitoi? (Who Are You?) 3:07
Vamos Farrear 2:53 Pinduca
La Grip 4:33 Xerramequ Tiquis Miquis
I Wasn't Born to Follow 2:55 Social Distortion
60 Revolutions 2:58 Gogol Bordello
Ready for War 3:58 Clash 2
Global A Go-Go 5:55 Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros
Sénégal Fast Food 4:19 Amadou & Mariam
President (Reggae Version) 3:38 Wyclef Jean
The Only Redeemer 6:18 Noiseshaper
Camaleon 3:54 Amparanoia
Castaneda 5:06 Skampida
Bassar (Spanish Car Service Special) 3:31 Gogol Bordello vs. Tamir Muskat J.U.F.
Pushing on Through 4:09 Outernational
Helno est mort 3:36 Manu Chao
Ban Ban 3:11 Joe Arroyo Echao Pa' Lante
Que Lío, Compáy Andres 3:49 Eliades Ochoa
El Preso 4:53 Fruko & Sus Tesos
Compositor Confundido 4:31 Ibrahim Ferrer
Beleza 4:26 Trio Mocoto
George Bush Doesn't Care About Black People Legendary KO3:47
Ghetto (Remix) 3:54 Akon, Miles Solay, Koba, Bob Avakian
Cocaine in my brain 2:46 Dillinger
What You Say 3:34 Outernational