:: BLOG NATION aka BlahBlahBlog ::

:: 11.18.2004 ::

:: Bushwhacked Nation ::

FCC Crackdown Could Spread
From Wired News
With more conservatives in power, the Federal Communications Commission may become more forceful about indecency fines. The agency may even try to expand its jurisdiction into cable TV, satellite radio and the internet. By Randy Dotinga.

posted by me
:: Mr. TRONA 4:23 PM [+] ::
...

:: Bingo Handjob Nation ::

REM: Angels in America
From The Independent UK

It didn't work, did it? Prior to the election, REM took to the musical hustings in a valiant effort to make their country vote Democrat. A lot of good it did. So where does that leave the most serious-minded rock band of their generation? Craig McLean wonders if it's time to turn out the lights. Michael Stipe has other ideas...

The inspiration for the song ("The Outsiders") came at a Radiohead concert in New York last year. It was a small theatre show, before a select audience. Everyone stood in reverent silence for the duration. Apart from one lyric in "No Surprises": "the Government, they don't speak for us". Everyone bellowed that line. Stipe thought that was "awesome".

"I felt that the tipping point had occurred. For me in New York, with New Yorkers who, having been through 9/11, having felt what I call The Great Quiet, with this administration and the choices that they made, where people couldn't raise their voices - at that moment, that changed for me. I realised it was shifting rapidly. And I see the result of that now. I see the ripple effect is moving through the country..."

As we now know, it didn't move far or deep enough. Eight days after the US Presidential election, I speak to Mike Mills on the phone. He's in Toronto, nearing the end of the North American leg of a world tour that presently runs until next July. Of the Bush victory, he says he feels "sad and disappointed in the American people". He is "angry at the tactics used by the Republicans," mentioning their use of the gay marriage issue and the "terrorist threat" as ways of scaring up support. Was the Vote For Change tour a waste of time?

"Not at all. There's no question it motivated a lot of people to volunteer to give their time to work and get the vote out. And it probably changed a few people's minds into voting for Kerry."

Prior to the tour hitting the UK in February next year, Iraqi elections will have (in theory) taken place and Dubya just been sworn in. It'll be another tense period on the world stage. Will the band's political position have hardened by then? "No, as much as I think the opposition should solidify, I don't want to increase rancour. We want people to leave our shows more happy than angry."

According to contributors to fansite Murmurs.com, on stage over the last week Michael Stipe has been silent on Kerry's defeat. The in-your-face declaration was never the point of REM. That's what made them so magical. "There's very little political talk from the stage," concurs Mills. "At this point. We're letting the music speak for itself for the most part."

Enter, into REM's current setlist, a clutch of pointed old songs such as "Exhuming McCarthy", "Welcome To The Occupation" and "World Leader Pretend". And cue, in New York two days after the election, a show that began with "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)", followed up by their rousing, revolutionary, rip-it-up-and-start-again anthem "Begin The Begin".

"While we're all really stunned and disappointed, you can't lie down," notes Mike Mills. "That'd be the worst thing you can do that at this point."

Maybe there's bite in the old dogs yet.

Read the nentire piece here.

posted by me
:: Mr. TRONA 7:23 PM [+] ::
...