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The first video is the destruction of the cooling tower at Yongbyon. Pretty cool hey? The second is the new City and Colour clip for Sleeping Sickness. Also pretty cool.
Seeing as I generally have been too tired/unmotivated to post anything substantial recently, I'm just going to list the reading I have/am/plan on getting done over the next couple of weeks. I would do amazon links like everyone else seems to do, but you can do that yourself.
Thomas Frank: Whats the Matter with Kansas. I read it for Uni, but interesting and probably worth reading independent of that anyway. If your interested in US domestic politics.
Graham Greene: The Quiet American. A really good novel, his melding of the personal and political is excellent.
Joseph Heller: Catch 22.
Rudyard Kipling: Kim.
Securing our Survival (SOS) from IPPNW/ICAN etc. I need to read this for my placement in a few weeks. Its seems really interesting, and also very relevant. Als o some prominent names involved in its writing.
Eric Hobsbawm: The Age of Extremes. Also for Uni, but I have read a little Hobsbawm before and he seems really good.
Hopefully post something more soon.
Out of the frying pan and in to the fire. Last exam was yesterday, and I started into full time work today, apparently. So the plan for more active posting may not come to full fruition. I do still plan for some blogging, and hopefully it will be better than this post. (Hey, it is Friday, I'm allowed to be shit).
The video is The Weakerthans 'Watermark'. Their new album doesnt have the same power as previous efforts, so check out their back catalogue if your interested.
I kind of don't want to bury my post on Rudd's nuclear commission just yet, but it is Friday.
In a virtual footnote in this article in todays Age, it is hinted at that Australia may pull out of the Globla Nuclear Energy partnership. Science Minister Jim Carr has apparently comfirmed that "cabinet would soon consider the Government's attitude to remaining part of the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership." Australia signed up under Howard, and it is a controversial program, essentially designed to stop the spread of enrichment and reprocessing technology beyond the current fuel cycle states, for the purposes of non-proliferation. Read their strategic plan here. It also aims to ensure a secure fuel garuntee (a big issue) and make the most out of nuclear energy reserves. It also therefore maintains the two-tiered nuclear technology system that I have mentioned before.
The clip above is Clann Zu's 'Crashing to the Floor' from their debut Rua. They were an amazing (semi)Melbourne band that broke up a few years ago. The animation is by the lead singer, also check out the video for '5000 more'.
Therefore time for a half-arsed post on disparate subjects that will only really interest me.
First of all, a quick comment on Rudd's new Asia-Pacific intergovernmental organisation idea. Clearly the EU analogy is purely that, because that sort of structure is unrealistic. The idea sounds good at first thought, as the current world bodies, such as APEC or ASEAN, are not very effective in outcomes and promoting wider cooperation. But is Rudd really blaming the international architecture when the real problem is a lack of political will? Linked to this, it seems way too optimistic that the US, China, Japan and India will all agree to be subject to an international body with real power over them.
Some links. The latest IAEA report on Iran, in case you hadn't had a look yet. The final text of the Cluster munitions convention. Tom Gabel from Against Me! also has his own blog, I feel sick to my stomach, hopefully he keeps it up.
The video above is Soobax, by Somali refugee K'naan. I was going to put the awesome 'In the beginning' up, but there are no good videos. Enjoy.
The First is the City and Colour show at Soundwave that I was stupid enough to miss (the soundquality is better in this one than others). the second is Phil Ochs in his prime: I aint marchin' anymore. Two seriously talented artists, if in differing ways.
I plan on having a substantial post tommorrow, probably mention the IAEA report on Iran, which ISIS has leaked (of course). also sme thoughts on the Dublin conference. Mayvbe also a comment on my continuing love of Christopher Hitches (pre-Iraq).
By the way, Indiana Jones was awesome, as expected. I was sceptical, but on the inside I always knew I would love it.
Also, If you want some amusement, watch Charlie the Unicorn one and two. Weird and hilarious.
Rage Against the Machine: Sleep now in the fire.
I saw these guys last night and it was awesome. I even caught Warren's drum stick!
Against Me! are one of the best bands out there, and they come to Melbourne pretty much every year! I'll be there again next year.
Thats right! I went and saw Bad Religion at Festival Hall last night and it was absolutely awesome. Im allowed to talk about it here because they are relatively political. The lineup consisted of MYC (who I missed) Strung Out (who were awesome) and my classic, almost nostalgic love, Bad Religion. They are getting old, with lead vocalist Greg Graffin in his mid 40s, but they still absolutely rocked the joint. Starting off with the classic "Fuck Armegeddon... This is Hell' they blasted through a 90 minute set list with a very welcome assortment of their best 80s songs, along with many newer ones. Their new album is pretty good, but we all know their best work was 1980-91. Despite age, and possibly some sort of throat infection in Bass/backup vocalist Jay Bentley, they still put on a great live show.
I recommend anyone who wants to get into them to listen to 'No Control', 'Suffer', and the reissue of 'How Could Hell be Any Worse'. The music is rockin' and the quality of the lyrics and ideas really expose the lack of a real political punk scene today.
I'm not normally a huge fan of Ben Lee, but when hes covering Against Me! its not that bad, particularly his folksy 'White People for Peace'.
Download it all here.
I Just downloaded (I mean purchased...) the album. This song is pretty rockin', check it!
Really cool political synth pop. check it !
