Thursday, August 21, 2008

Aug. 22: Michael Moore guests on Meet the Bloggers

From filmmaker Robert Greenwald:

Friday, August 22, 1:00 pm

Michael Moore on Meet the Bloggers

Meet the Bloggers is very pleased to announce that Michael Moore, the Academy Award-winning activist filmmaker of SiCKO and Fahrenheit 9/11, will be the special guest this Friday, August 22 and again on August 29.

Moore will be joined by bloggers Liliana Segura (AlterNet) and Cheryl Contee (Jack & Jill Politics), as well as nationally syndicated author and blogger David Sirota.

Watch Mike talk with host Cenk Uygur about issues he covers in his new book, Mike's Election Guide 2008.

If you're reading this on Facebook, to see video commercial for Moore's new book go to


"With John McCain admitting that he has no idea how to use a computer," Mike said, "we'll be providing Sen. McCain a step-by-step tutorial on how to turn one on, log onto the internet, and send an e-mail."

As if having Michael Moore on two shows (Aug. 22 & 29) wasn't exciting enough, Meet the Bloggers is also featuring a special one-on-one segment of the show on August 22 in which Robert Greenwald will talk to Mike about the progressive impact of his films and books.

And to top it all off, you can suggest text question below or video questions for Mike and enter our contest. The best questions for Mike will win a special prize of one of Mike's trademark hats (signed by Mike himself!), or an autographed copy of his new book Mike's Election Guide 2008, a funny and informative tool for progressives.

Check out Liliana Segura's pre-show post at AlterNet: Michael Moore Dares to Ask: What's So Heroic About Being Shot Down While Bombing Innocent Civilians?

If you are having problems with the audio or video, you may need to install the latest version of Flash.

Submit questions for Michael Moore:
You can also send a video question!

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Democracy Now! expands to two-hours during party conventions

Breaking With Convention: War, Peace and the Presidency

Democracy Now! will expand to a two-hour broadcast during the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. Amy Goodman and the Democracy Now! crew will travel to Denver and St. Paul to cover the 2008 conventions from the ground.

DNC two-hour broadcasts: August 25th–29th
RNC two-hour broadcasts: September 1st–5th

Please contact your local radio or TV station for local expanded listings,
or watch/listen to the whole broadcast on democracynow.org.

Volunteer to spread the word about Democracy Now! during the RNC and DNC:

Democracy Now! is looking for volunteers to help spread the word about the show and the expanded two-hour broadcast during the conventions. If you live in Denver or St. Paul or just plan on attending the conventions and want to help out, please email outreach@democracynow.org

Volunteer as a Cameraperson:

Democracy Now! is also looking for volunteer camerapeople with their own equipment during both the DNC and RNC. If you are available please email: conventions@democracynow.org

Volunteer as a Transcriber:

As you know we transcribe every show on our website everyday, but with the two-hour expansion we need more help. DN! is looking for volunteers to transcribe 15-minute segments right after the show. Note that transcribers do not need to be in Denver or St. Paul and can help from anywhere. If you are available please email: transcribe@democracynow.org

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

McBush hypocrisy on Russian invasion of Georgia

The New York Daily News headline Tuesday read:
Get Out Now!
the sub-head read:
Angry Bush demands Russia halt 'brutal' Georgia invasion.
The paper goes on to say:
President Bush warned Russia against a 'dramatic and brutal escalation' [surge?] of its onslaught in tiny Georgia yesterday, telling the Kremlin it's jeopardizing its relationship with the West.
Bush continued:
Russia has invaded a sovereign neighboring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people. Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st century.
Does any of this, as well as McClone/Lieberman's typical sabre rattling response, seem as supremely hypocritical to anyone else? It is, however, true that Bush is the one who should be able to recognize how an invasion might "jeopardize its relationship with the West."

It seems as long as you add "democratic" to the name of any nation it suddenly becomes protected from invasion. But if you are spreading democracy throughout the world you can invade any sovereign nation (especially if it has oil). That is after all the Bush Doctrine. I wonder what the neo-cons in Russia think about all this.

I never thought I would agree with Bush/McClone but I do say: "Get Out Now!"

Monday, August 11, 2008

Aug 14: Film on Chile under Pinochet

Aug. 14

Film: The Judge & the General

At Walter Reade Theater,
Lincoln Center.

The Judge & the General will also be shown on the PBS series "POV"
Aug. 19


A Chilean judge uncovers long-buried secrets during a six-year investigation of former dictator Augusto Pinochet and, in the process, must confront his own role in that dark past.

As filmmakers and journalists, Elizabeth Farnsworth, Patricio Lanfranco and Richard Pearce have — in film, video, and newsprint — covered the horrors and heroism of Chilean history since the election of President Salvador Allende in 1970.

That history raises the most basic questions of our times: why do human beings believe that they are doing the right thing when they torture and murder in the name of some higher goal? And what can be done to atone for those crimes and provide some measure of justice to victims?

Friday, August 08, 2008

Should we watch the Beijing Olympics?

AP/Yves Logghe
OK, so I'm watching the Beijing Olympics. Should we not watch it because it's in China, a nation with one of the worst human rights records. I think if the Olympic spirit meant anything today, Beijing would not be the site of these Olympic games. But we didn't award China the games. The Chinese government suppresses freedom inside the country and supports genocide outside its borders (Sudan). By attending the Opening Ceremonies heads of state like Bush are legitimating the behavior of the Chinese leadership. No matter what they say. Had they wanted to condemn China's behavior they would have not appeared there and told the world why. I have never believed - once the International Olympic Committee awards the games to a nation that the athletes should be punished by a boycott. But heads of state like Bush don't have to indulge themselves and enhance the prestige of the host country by attending. But, as we know, human rights have never been at the top of Bush's agenda.

Unlike the NBC commentators ( who, I believe, are under orders not to anger the host country) I thought the opening ceremonies were way over the top. They were too big, too loud and just too much. But the evening was saved for us by the parade of athletes. The best moment of the evening was when Chinese basketball giant Yao Ming walked in with a nine-year-old boy who had escaped the earthquake and went back to rescue his schoolmates. When asked then why he went back, he simply said: "I was a hall monitor and it was my responsibility." I hope he is China's future, not the monsters currently in charge. Yao Ming kept an eye on him (holding him up most of the time) the rest of the evening - it was a lovely sight.

Well it's almost time, let the games begin.

Monday, August 04, 2008

Aug 21: two films on abortion

Thursday, August 21, 7PM

Through the Lens Series
Abortion Worldwide: Two Documentaries

Bluestockings
172 Allen Street
(bt Stanton and Rivington Sts)
212.777.6028

Come out and hear from filmmakers Sarah Diehl and Angie Young

$5 Suggested

Diehl is from Berlin, and her film Abortion Democracy: Poland / South Africa, compares these two states abortion policies.

Young's film The Coat Hanger Project reflects on the current state of the U.S. pro-choice movement 35 years after Roe v. Wade.

Bluestockings is a radical bookstore, fair trade cafe and activist center in the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

Sunday, August 03, 2008

Aug. 6 (Hiroshima Day): film showing

Hiroshima Day update:

Wednesday August 6, 8:00 pm

Hiroshima Day Film Conviction

Hotel Gregory,
8315 4th Avenue (near 84th Street),
Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.
(Train: R to 86th Street)

Award-winning documentary film about three Dominican nuns convicted and sentenced to federal prison for their non-violent protest at a Minuteman III missile site in northern Colorado. This film evokes important conversations about faith-based political action, the role of nuclear weapons in national defense, and the role of international Law in federal courts.

Directed/Produced by Brenda Truelson Fox.
Approximate running time: 43 minutes.
Discussion will follow the film.
For more information visit: http://www.jonahhouse.org/UN.htm
Hotel Gregory, 8315 4th Avenue (near 84th Street), Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.
Train: R to 86th Street
Sponsors: Bay Ridge Interfaith Peace Coalition, Peace Action New York State, and Peace Action -- Bay Ridge
Endorsed By: Brooklyn For Peace

Tennis turmoil at the top

The men's and women's tennis tournaments (Men in Cincinnati, women in Montreal) are on the TV air. It should be fun.

There's a bit of turmoil at the top of each tour. Since Justine Henin unexpectedly retired no one on the women's tour has been able to hold onto the number one spot for more than a few minutes. After she won in Australia, Maria Sharapova was #1 for about 15 minutes (she is now out for the season - no Olympics, no U.S. Open - with what I believe is the tennis equivalent of a rotator cuff shoulder injury - remember baseball's Tommy John). She was replaced by Ana Ivanovic on June 9 after Ivanovic won the French Open. Venus Williams slipped in with a win at Wimbledon without unseating Ivanovic (not close enough in the rankings). Now although Jelena Jankovic lost Friday in the quarter finals to unseeded Dominika Cibulkova, Jankovich will move into #1 on August 11th. In today's Montreal final, my favorite Dinara Safina (Marat Safin's little sister) takes on still unseeded Cibulkova. But my advice is: keep an eye Dinara, she's going places. Good luck Dinara!

Spoiler update: Safina beat Cibulkova, 6-1, 6-2

Until the last few weeks, the rankings on the men's tour seemed stable. Roger Federer the men's equivalent of Henin had been #1 for about four years and seemed destine to continue dominating the sport (except on clay). But then suddenly he became vulnerable. He lost to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open, then lost to Rafael Nadal in the French Open (so what else is new?) and then, in a titanic match, lost to Nadal at Wimbeldon. Throughout all this he held on to his #1 ranking. But it was slipping away. Finally this week in Cincinnatti, after losing to Ivo Korlovic in the quarter finals Federer lost his #1 ranking to longtime #2 Rafael Nadal. Nadal will take over the #1 ranking August 18th. But irony stepped in last night, Djokovich beat Nadal in Cincinnati before Nadal could even take over #1. He still will, but the bloom is a bit off the Nadal rose.

We're rooting for Scotsman Andy Murray to beat Djokovich in the Cincinnati final that's on now. A long shot, but what the hell.

Update: Longshots sometimes come in. It's Murray 7(7)-6(4), 7(7)-6(5). The tennis irony continues. Nadal moves into #1, Djokovich beats Nadal, then Murray beats Djokovitch. Let's have a scotch to celebrate.

The real question is why is none of this mentioned on the network sports reports? None of these folks are American? National chauvinism, perhaps?

McClone whines about New York Times. So what else is new?

According to AP reporter Devlin Barrett,
McCain campaign spokesman Michael Goldfarb...compared the editors [of the New York Times] to a blogger:
sitting at home in his mother's basement and ranting into the ether between games of Dungeons & Dragons.
When they begin (continue) bitching about the media, they are usually in trouble. Although Barrett also points out that complaining about the New York Times usually gets you brownie points with the right-wing nuts. McClone seems to need that since his credibility outside that sphere seems to be eroding quickly. Oh, by the way, I've never played Dungeons and Dragons and my mother passed away quite some time ago.