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April 22, 2006
law and justice in Bolivia
Bolivia is about to get a new Justice Minister.
Casmira Rodriguez isn’t a lawyer. She’s a 40-year old former maid. The National Association of Bolivian Lawyers is demanding that she resign.
Ms. Rodriguez says:
“I know the laws and all their articles, but life has forced us to also live injustice, and we can feel the pain and thirst for justice of every Bolivian sister and brother.”
KIW's legal department wishes Minister Rodriguez all the best.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer; 22 April, 2006; p A8; “Former maid now fighting injustice from the top”
Posted by williamfrick at 11:23 AM | Comments (0)
April 15, 2006
Old Neil is alive and kickin'
Neil Young has a new record on the horizon. The recording, tentatively titled 'Life in War' was put together in just nine days.
This funny and readable post from a former record company executive tells us what we can look forward to.
'New Neil Young album - Life in War - won't provide any campaign ditties for Bush', Friday April 14, 2006
Posted by williamfrick at 10:26 AM | Comments (0)
We kind of like this woman . . .
"Not that long ago, it was the right that was angry and the left that was, at least comparatively, polite. But after years of being the targets of inflammatory rhetoric, not only from fringe groups but also from such mainstream conservative politicians as Newt Gingrich, the left has gone on the attack. And with Republicans in control of Washington, they have much more to be angry about."
This is from a Washington Post profile of Maryscott O'Connor, a 37-year-old housewife who runs a Web Log titled My Left Wing. Ms. O'Connor's father was killed at age twenty-five while serving in Vietnam.
"The Left, Online and Outraged, Liberal Blogger Finds an Outlet and a Community" by David Finkel, Washington Post Staff Writer, Saturday, April 15, 2006; Page A01
Posted by williamfrick at 10:05 AM | Comments (0)
April 12, 2006
Bruuuuuce (and Popeye)
The mighty Bruce Springsteen has a new video.
And a song that (according to KIW's renowned Cultural History Department) draws some inspiration from the equally legendary Popeye the Sailor.
Clearly, Bruce and Popeye are two cultural icons that represent the best of America.
You can watch the video here
Posted by williamfrick at 11:39 AM | Comments (0)
April 9, 2006
the saintly Rachel Corrie
Recently one lone member of KIW’s vast staff was called to respond to this attack on the memory of the late Rachel Corrie.
Corrie was a young American woman who was callously killed by the Israeli Army five days before the beginning of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003.
In response to an organized series of attacks on Corrie's memory, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer published this tiny blow against the empire of misinformation directed at Corrie.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer; 6 April, 2006; p B9; “Saintly young woman deserves to rest in peace”
See also: The Guardian; 18 March 2003; 'Rachel's war'
Posted by williamfrick at 2:17 PM | Comments (0)
April 8, 2006
and speaking of the stones . . .
The Rolling Stones are set to play China. For the first time ever.
The price of a ticket is close to the monthly salary for the average Chinese. On top of that, the Chinese government won't allow the band to play several of its songs. Songs with lyrics that the government deems immoral.
As usual, Keith Richards puts it all in perspective:
"I feel like Marco Polo," he says.The Guardian, April 8, 2006, "Jagger damns Chinese with faint praise for banning songs"
Posted by williamfrick at 10:55 AM | Comments (0)
April 1, 2006
Mr. Jones
Before Jimi Hendrix or Janis Joplin or Jim Morrison or Mama Cass, or Kurt Cobain.
Before any of these talents died from rock star excess, there was Brian Jones.
Brian founded the Rolling Stones.
Yes. Before Mick, before Keith. Before Charlie or Bill. Long before Mick Taylor or Ronnie Wood, Brian Jones was the real Rolling Stone. The band’s driving spirit.
Some spirits aren’t meant to last long. Their strength isn’t in survival but in creating a blinding flash of brilliance that others will envy and then emulate. Perhaps Mr. Brain Jones was such a spirit.
The entire staff of KIW recently viewed the new film, Stoned – all about the life and death of the mystical Mr. Jones.
It’s a film worth seeing – about a life worth examining.
Here is a review of the movie Stoned by a supercilious Seattle Post-Intelligencer film critic.
Posted by williamfrick at 11:21 AM | Comments (0)