‘Other than Honorable’

May 27, 2013 ~ Patrick O'Grady ~ 35 Comments

We’re all about the sweetness and light here at Mad Blog Media, as you know. In that spirit, it being Memorial Day, we present “Other than Honorable,” a special report from Dave Philipps and photographer Michael Ciaglo of The Gazette.

I’d not read the series until I heard a report on it from Amy Goodman at Democracy Now! But I have now, and you should, too.

Other bits worth considering today:

• “Americans and Their Military, Drifting Apart,” from retired Gen. Karl Eikenberry and professor emeritus David M. Kennedy at The New York Times.

• “Is PTSD Contagious?” from Mac McClelland at Mother Jones.

• “On Memorial Day, Remember the Sequester,” from Alison Buckholz at Time.

Add your own reading, viewing or listening recommendations in comments. Peace.

Arise, ye workers from your slumber

May 1, 2013May 1, 2013 ~ Patrick O'Grady ~ 21 Comments

It’s International Workers Day, comrades! If you can’t make your local Smash the State rally (there doesn’t appear to be one in Bibleburg, surprise, surprise), then sing along with Alistair Hulett and Jimmy Gregory. And a-one, and a-two, aaaaaand. …

While we’re awaiting the inevitable proletarian triumph over the slavemasters of Wall Street, let’s have a list of your favorite working-class anthems in comments. Here are a few of mine:

• “Joe Hill,” by Paul Robeson.

• “Which Side Are You On?,” by Billy Bragg.

• “All You Fascists Are Bound To Lose,” by Woody Guthie.

• “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?,” by Tom Waits.

• “The Red Flag,” by Jim Connell.

• “The Sergeant and Arthur McBride,” by Paul Brady.

• “Hallelujah, I’m a Bum,” by Utah Phillips.

• “Christmas In Washington,” by Steve Earle.

• “I’m Changing My Name To Fannie Mae,” by Arlo Guthrie.

The sky is crying

April 26, 2013April 26, 2013 ~ Patrick O'Grady ~ 6 Comments

Huh. All those hours wasted marching in the streets, trying to end war, poverty and injustice. Turns out all we had to do to get the government’s attention was stand in line at the airport for a bit. Who knew?

• Editor’s note: In all fairness, it could simply be that their babies wrote them a letter.

Fetuses have Second Amendment rights too

April 17, 2013 ~ Patrick O'Grady ~ 23 Comments

Do you suppose a mass shooting of fetuses might move the Senate to action on gun control? Naw, they’d just vote to station armed guards in American wombs.

Herself and I sent the usual NastyGrams® to our senators, for all the good that does. Two more mutts yapping. You don’t even hear it after a while. I’ve lived next to runways and railroad tracks, crack houses and frat houses, and if I’ve learned one thing it’s that a fella can learn to sleep through any kind of godawful racket, even me screaming at you over the phone.

If the killing of 20 children in Newtown can’t motivate “our” elected representatives, I don’t know what can. Oh, yeah, right — money. How silly of me.

The National Rifle Association spent $500,000 on Wednesday alone, for advertising critical of “Obama’s gun ban.” Of course, this is above and beyond what they’ve already invested in the best Congress money can buy.

Further on down the road

March 19, 2013March 19, 2013 ~ Patrick O'Grady ~ 25 Comments

Was it really 10 years ago today that I wrote this?

It shouldn’t be any surprise that on the evening Junior decided to launch his war — a war that is not, repeat not, for oil — the local ABC affiliate’s “news” half-hour featured ads, in rapid succession, for various Chevys and Fords, the Hummer H2, Jeep, Hyundai, Subaru, Pontiac and Honda. Semper finance, with easy monthly payments.

How time flies, etc. Those “easy monthly payments” sure have turned out to be a bitch, though, eh? Especially in this economy. Maybe it’s time to trade the old heap in on a new model.