ArvinHill

Just because I'm surrounded by Fascists who would just as soon put me on a train to a death camp as write love letters to Sarah Palin, complain because Obama's predator drone strikes aren't killing enough people, and dig up Ronald Reagan's waxy corpse every few days... that doesn't mean there aren't enlightened folks around, too. The Thin Line Film Fest runs February 15-20, 2011, in good old Denton, Texas. It's a DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL, which is a really great thing since Nobody Does News Anymore. "But, but, but... documentaries aren't 'objective'!!!" says the Knobby Boot Crowd, torches and pitchforks in hand. The irony is rich. Who wants popcorn?

The world is full of douche bags, and only about a third of them are artists.

The Gourds are an Austin, Texas, band that has to be seen live to fully appreciate their songcraft and musicianship, although their recorded work is plenty impressive on its own. Their sound, contrary to the usual labels and libels, is an amalgamation of genres encased in a glistening, decadent, freshly fried pork rind served up with an ice cold beer and as many bong hits as a fool can handle. From semi-acoustic slow-burn to raging wildfire, they perform with an incendiary passion for the love of a good time. This is parlor music for The Damned, and The Gourds are highly skilled in the dark art of collecting souls. They got a bunch of 'em tonight at Dan's Silverleaf in Denton, Texas. Not a band you want to miss.

Basic is good. And very much appreciated.

Generally speaking, people run for the hills anytime I mention Christ Consciousness. This is a brilliant essay which explains the nature of Christ Consciousness... and why those people I was talking about run for the hills.

Nice not to hunt through 5,000 links to find what I need.

The collapse of Labor as a force for positive social change achieved a great result for the institutions it once held in check: the widespread impression that "being informed" constitutes activism. It does not. At some point, it should become obvious - yet, rarely does - it doesn't matter what activists *know* if they are incapable of leveraging information into effective action. Notice I said "effective" action. It isn't enough to know or talk or write or react or make flaccid appeals to the perpetrators and passive enablers of social oppression. Effective action occurs when like-minded activists COMMIT to work within networks capable of marshaling individual skills toward a common objective. A group of bloggers talking to each other, no matter how *informed* they may be, doesn't constitute effective activism (although I know from experience it can make one "feel better" about essentially doing nothing). PUBLIC GOOD is described as a *research* and *education* NETWORK illuminating conflicts where democratic values are being challenged. If PUBLIC GOOD was an organization committed to challenging democracy rather than defending it, it would be generously funded by plutocrats and oligarchs the world over. It would probably be a full blown think tank with a vast network of committed activists. Sadly, American liberals would rather be Taser'd and jailed than support an effective, organized network capable of challenging the status quo. It's much easier to offer up dim suggestions like "What the Democratic Party needs to do is grow a spine." If that's the best you think you can do, allow me to offer an alternative - something The Fascist Right learned many years ago: Learn how to FUND and FUNCTION within ORGANIZED activist networks. George Soros is not the f*%king answer, my friends. WE ARE. Every dollar you can contribute will not only be appreciated, but put to good use. If you want to LEARN what activism is, and APPLY IT ACCORDINGLY, don't be reluctant to support THE PUBLIC GOOD PROJECT. If there is anything the last forty years of American politics has demonstrated, it is this: GET ORGANIZED or GET LOST. Right now, we're still lost. We don't have to be.