Politics

THE NDAA & THE NEW TERRORISM: ARE YOU A SUSPECT?

By Willee Roberts

Last Wednesday marked the 10th anniversary of operations at the Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp. Bush-era fear tactics rationalized the creation of the military prison despite its defiance of Geneva Convention protocol against torture. In Obama’s early days in office, he attempted to follow through on his campaign promise to close the camp and return terror suspects to US soil. Gitmo remains open, with 171 prisoners still confined to living in its inhumane conditions. Obama is not soft on terrorism.

Beware America: Osama is dead, but terror lives on. This time, it does not wear turbans or live in a cave. It wears 99% buttons and lives in a tent. But these new terrorists want the same thing as the old, to dismantle the structures that allow capitalism and “western values” to colonize and oppress.

Obama is not soft on terrorism. On the eve of the new year, 2012, our president signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act for 2012 (NDAA), a piece of legislation which, among other things, grants the federal government the authority to indefinitely detain anyone suspected of terrorism.

January 29, 2012

| B. Williams | Life, News | Tags: Knowledge, Politics | 7 Comments

CONGRESS’ ONLINE PIRACY ACT & THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

Here at Wine & Bowties, as is the case with a lot of sites who offer content like ours, we’ve always been aware that we operate in a sort of legal grey area. Among other things, we see ourselves as a vehicle for promoting the creative endeavors of others, and as facilitators of a particular experience for the folks around us. Part of that is sharing music, and sharing it in the way that we, as consumers of media ourselves, like it to be made available. Naturally though, not everyone’s in favor of music being made available, without the consumer paying first. It’s understandable. It’s a debate that’s been going on since Dre and Lars Ulrich brought on the downfall of Napster a decade ago.

Now, in 2011, two pieces of legislation, The House’s Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and The Senate’s Protect IP Act, would give the government the opportunity to intervene, in the interest of protecting intellectual property. Rather than merely punishing an individual, or issuing a warning about a particular piece of content, however, the twin bills would allow the Attorney General to blacklist sites completely, who were found to be hosting “illegal” content.

The legislation, according to The New York Times, would allow the Attorney General to block traffic to any given site (from internet juggernauts to fledgling startups) from “Internet service providers, search engines, payment providers and advertising networks, all without a court hearing or a trial.” As you might expect, a sharp divide has formed regarding the proposed legislation, with the old guard (the Chamber of Commerce, the American Federation of Musicians, The Motion Picture Association of America) on on side, and the internet gods on the other (Google, Facebook, Yahoo, Twitter). Needless to say, this could have a severe impact on our ability to provide content, but more importantly, it sets what many see as a dangerous precedent in the limits it could put on freedom of speech and freedom of expression.

November 18, 2011

| B. Williams | Music, News | Tags: Knowledge, Politics | 3 Comments

ROBERT MONTGOMERY & THE ART OF DÃ‰TOURNEMENT

Living in a big city, it’s easy to get disillusioned or disenfranchised. I mean, some folks feel like a constant stream of stupid advertising is occasionally annoying. Others find it easy to ignore. But then there are those of us who feel it’s actually oppressive in its own way — who feel that being bombarded with propaganda about products or TV shows you never asked for might actually be worth rebelling against.

Dazed & Confused publisher Robert Montgomery, equipped with a poetic, subversive sense of humor, and inspired by the Situationist Movement of 1960s France, found a way to channel that frustration into public works of art. Drawing on the artistic tradition of dÃ©tournement, Montgomery hijacks advertising space, turning billboards into poetic, abstract reflections and critiques on capitalism and the modern lifestyle. Turning a vehicle of mindless capitalism into something intellectually engaging and challenging? Seems like something we can get behind.

September 26, 2011

| B. Williams | Art | Tags: Culture, Politics | 4 Comments

THE HEART OF BLEAKNESS: CONGO’S CONFLICT ECONOMY

A few years ago, I was offered a spot in a teaching program in the Congo. I was told I’d be teaching basic logic, a sort of cursory introduction to philosophical ideas, to children who worked in mineral mines there. In theory, the idea was pretty thrilling. A few weeks later, I read up a bit on the most recent military conflicts in the country, and when I was told there was no guarantee that I’d be able to leave if and when shit hit the fan, I declined. Looking back on it, I wonder what I missed. Stories like this one remind me that there are entire corners of the world that most of us don’t even consider visiting, sometimes with good reason and sometimes without.

I guess that’s part of why Vice‘s foray into international journalism has been so inspiring to me. Danger and turmoil don’t just make for a good story. They literally compel them into action, giving them firsthand experience with some of the most extraordinary places the world has to offer. VBS’ latest, the upcoming Vice Guide to Congo takes a look inside The Democratic Republic of Congo, the legacy of Belgian colonialism, and the conflict mineral economy, fueled by our insatiable appetite for cell phones and other techonology. Fascinating is an understatement.

July 10, 2011

| B. Williams | Life, News, Technology | Tags: Culture, Politics | 3 Comments

PAINTINGS BY JAYSON SCOTT MUSSON

Pretty much any time you can combine art and humor, you’re winning. The overall tone of artist Jayson Musson‘s work is playful and unassuming, and the result is work that’s as clever as it is simple. His largest collection of work, entitled Miscellaneous Things That Resemble Paintings, consists largely of single sentence observations, satire and sex jokes. Another, the Flaming Lips-referencing Barack Obama Battles the Pink Robots pokes fun at the deification of Obama, depicting him saving kittens, rescuing Jesus Christ and battling giant terrorists. All in all, just quality work all around. Check out Jayson’s full catalog of work here.

July 3, 2011

| B. Williams | Art, Laughs | Tags: Barack Obama, Politics | 1 Comment

$20 BILLION A YEAR ON AIR CONDITIONING?

I kind of did a double take when I first read this number. The exact breakdown of how and where tax dollars are distributed isn’t all that clear of a picture for me, but $20 billion is a lot of money, any way you look at it. According to NPR, the annual military budget allotted for air conditioning in Iraq and Afghanistan totals around $20.2 billion. To put it in perspective, as NPR explains, that figure is greater than NASA’s entire budget, or alternatively, it’s more than a quarter of the federal education budget. I’ll spare you my opinions for the time being, but however you feel about these wars, or war in general, some perspective is always valuable. As usual, your thoughts are welcome. Full story below.

June 28, 2011

| B. Williams | News | Tags: Politics | 1 Comment

CORNEL WEST COMES TO UCLA

I think it was Mar that originally introduced me to Cornel West. Or maybe it was Bill Maher. In any case, there are few pop philosophers who offer as singular a perspective on race, gender, religion and politics as Dr. West. Well, I guess there are pretty few pop philosophers in general. Having authored numerous best-selling works, most prominently Race Matters and Democracy Matters, West’s status as an author is pretty unquestionable. Watching him speak, however, is a different experience altogether.

Luckily for us, Cornel West and lifelong revolutionary Carl Dix, a founding member of the Revolutionary Communist Party USA, will be coming to UCLA’s De Neve Plaza Lecture Auditorium, tomorrow night, giving us just that opportunity. Centered on creating the future for America’s youth, the discussion will tackle key issues like education, incarceration rates and economical concerns, among others. Seating is first-come, first-serve, and doors are at 6:30. More info here.

April 28, 2011

| B. Williams | Life, News | Tags: Knowledge, Politics | 3 Comments

THE NEW HUMANISM: ON REASON & EMOTION

By David Brooks

Over the course of my career, I’ve covered a number of policy failures. When the Soviet Union fell, we sent in teams of economists, oblivious to the lack of social trust that marred that society. While invading Iraq, the nation’s leaders were unprepared for the cultural complexities of the place and the psychological aftershocks of Saddam’s terror.We had a financial regime based on the notion that bankers are rational creatures who wouldn’t do anything stupid en masse. For the past 30 years we’ve tried many different ways to restructure our educational system — trying big schools and little schools, charters and vouchers — that, for years, skirted the core issue: the relationship between a teacher and a student.

I’ve come to believe that these failures spring from a single failure: reliance on an overly simplistic view of human nature. We have a prevailing view in our society — not only in the policy world, but in many spheres — that we are divided creatures. Reason, which is trustworthy, is separate from the emotions, which are suspect. Society progresses to the extent that reason can suppress the passions. This has created a distortion in our culture. We emphasize things that are rational and conscious and are inarticulate about the processes down below. We are really good at talking about material things but bad at talking about emotion.

March 19, 2011

| B. Williams | Life | Tags: Culture, Knowledge, Politics | 7 Comments

UPRISING IN THE MIDDLE EAST & THE QUEST FOR DIGNITY

The world is changing fast. I wonder if Zuckerberg even could have fathomed a world where social networking factored into the overthrow of an authoritarian dictatorship that had ruled with iron fist for almost a quarter century. If you’ve been keeping an eye on the news lately, you’ll notice that the tides are turning in North Africa and the Middle East, as protesters are taking to the streets from Tunisia to Cairo, and making their voices heard.

Let’s not kid ourselves. We have a lot to be thankful for out here. Not all our readers live in the States, but I think it’s safe to say most of us have enough to eat, clean water to drink and a spot to stay (not to mention an internet connection). Yeah, an Oscar Grant case happens every once in a while, and of course there’s room for improvement. But in general, I think there’s a pretty basic understanding of our own rights and freedoms that we tend to take for granted. Looking at the images below, or the demands of the protesters involved lends some perspective to the situation. In his op-ed piece below, from this morning’s New York Times, David Brooks discusses the quest for dignity, and what these uprisings can teach us about human rights in a globalized world. Thanks to The Big Picture, as always, for providing the visuals to help us understand the situation.

February 1, 2011

| B. Williams | Life, News, Technology | Tags: Culture, Knowledge, Politics | Add a Comment

PAYING THE POOR: BRAZIL’S PLAN TO COMBAT POVERTY

I don’t want to oversimplify things here, but doesn’t it seem like the simplest solution is often the best one? Take Brazil, for example, which up until late in the last decade had the highest rate of income inequality of any country in the world. Instead of opting for say, tax breaks or a trickle-down stimulus bill, President Lula’s government decided to implement Bolsa Familia (The Family Grant), which delivered money to some of the country’s poorest families directly.

In addition to grants available to anyone in extreme poverty, Bolsa Familia allowed for specific grants given to those who kept their children in school, and to those who attended basic health classes. The goal? To fight poverty at its source, and to help break the cycle for future generations. Surprisingly enough, it’s working incredibly well. I don’t want to state the obvious here, but let’s just say this seems like a good idea. Read on for a piece from The New York Times‘ Opinionator Blog, explaining the concept behind Brazil’s plan.

January 4, 2011

| B. Williams | Life, News | Tags: Culture, Knowledge, Politics | 3 Comments

ZACH GALIFIANAKIS AND PROPOSITION 19

Ladies and gentleman, we’re on the verge of making history. November 2nd is two days away, and with that date comes the opportunity to legalize marijuana. Personally, I’ve never been too involved in the political process. I was juiced for Obama, and I’m juiced about the possibility of trees being legalized. Other than that, I’ve been pretty oblivious to what’s going on in the world of politics, which is why I need to step my game up as well. Nonetheless, this clip is pretty amazing, and Zach Gilliedakidtimbuck2 got a few swag points in my book after this. I think in a couple years this clip will be historic, depending on what happens on the 2nd. More than anything though, in the years to come it will be more and more important for us to become involved in the political process, because quite frankly, we’re about to be running shit. So we gotta stay informed. Our future depends on it. Here’s a little food for thought for those so curious, but more importantly, what are your thoughts? What do you think about Proposition 19? What will be the social and economic repercussions of it all? This is a big one, so all thoughts are welcome.

October 31, 2010

| Max Gibson | Laughs, Life, News, Videos | Tags: Culture, Drugs, Politics | 3 Comments

VICE VISITS THE SUDAN

I’m not sure when it was that Vice grew a social conscience, but I have to say the body of work they’ve put together in the past few years has been pretty amazing. Traveling everywhere from Liberia to North Korea, Vice takes a DIY approach to cultural journalism that’s genuinely refreshing. Instead of getting the edited, PC speeches from international news corporations, Vice co-founder Shane Smith gives his unbiased perspective on places he’s experiencing for the first time.

If there’s an element of Western tourism to it all, the firsthand approach is still pretty cool. After all, Shane’s out there on the front lines, and we’re not. In this piece from 2007, Vice took a look inside The Sudan, in an attempt to get a real picture of what the Darfur conflict is all about. As with anyone reporting, I think it’s crucial to stay critical as an audience. But suffice to say, you might be surprised by what you see here.

October 21, 2010

| B. Williams | Life, News, Videos | Tags: Culture, Politics | 2 Comments

ENGAGED OBSERVERS: DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY SINCE THE ’60s

If there’s any consistent theme to Engaged Observers, The Getty’s collection of photojournalism from the past 50 years, it seems to be that human existence can be both beautiful and terrifying. Sometimes at the same time. From Susan Meiselas’ look at the 1978 revolution in Nicaragua to Mary Ellen Mark’s portraits of runaway street kids in Seattle, the collections on display each offer a poignant look into a different culture and time.

October 18, 2010

| B. Williams | Art, Life, Vintage | Tags: Culture, Extraordinary, Knowledge, Photography, Politics | 3 Comments

DID YOU KNOW: THE WAR ON DRUGS EDITION

Drugs are always a hot button issue. There’s always something out there we’re not supposed to be doing, that lots of people like to do. And legislators and politicians are quick to shell out billions in taxpayer money to keep us scared of the consequences. At W&B, we don’t want to tell you what to think. But just stay critical, because everybody has an agenda. The government, the people making this video, and myself included. We’re living in a strange time and place, and the figures in this video are really a testament to that. Once again, the numbers are so staggering, it’s hard to know what to do about it all. But I do believe it’s better to be informed. As usual, all opinions are welcome.

October 15, 2010

| B. Williams | Life, Videos | Tags: Drugs, Politics | 1 Comment

INSIDE JOB: PULLING BACK THE CURTAIN ON WALL STREET

I’m just really intrigued by this one. I sometimes feel like in America we swim backstrokes in pools of our own ignorance, daily. Almost like we’re willfully naive to it all. While I feel like many of us can recognize that our nation is changing, I feel like it may be difficult to pinpoint how we got here. Hopefully this movie will shed some light on it. Produced and directed by Charles Ferguson, and narrated by Matt Damon, the film focuses on Wall Street’s hand in the erosion of the U.S. economy. In a way isn’t this a bit eerie? Hollywood painted this picture for us 23 years ago, and now it’s happening before our very eyes. Am I the only one that finds this unnerving?

October 7, 2010

| Max Gibson | Videos | Tags: Film, Knowledge, Politics | 2 Comments