The Dictator observations thread.

Politics and other such topical creams.
Dr. Medulla
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Re: The Dictator observations thread.

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Kory wrote:
07 Jan 2021, 6:27pm
My brain explodes with the thought of all these people that have a philosophy of individualism and personal freedom, but they throw their entire identities behind ONE GUY that they basically want to be their king.
I encourage you to read about Ayn Rand! I've always been amused by the fact that her inner circle, whom she demanded total obedience, was called the collective. I've said many times, take these assholes back a hundred years, and they're Bolsheviks—hating democracy, lusting for violence, suckers for a personality cult.
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

Dr. Medulla
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Re: The Dictator observations thread.

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For history nerds, the story of how the New York Times got the Pentagon Papers is not how we believed: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/07/us/p ... eehan.html

Basically, reporter Neil Sheehan stole them from Ellsberg.
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

Low Down Low
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Re: The Dictator observations thread.

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Dr. Medulla wrote:
08 Jan 2021, 8:08am
For history nerds, the story of how the New York Times got the Pentagon Papers is not how we believed: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/07/us/p ... eehan.html

Basically, reporter Neil Sheehan stole them from Ellsberg.
A really fascinating piece and will, i'm sure, make a riveting movie in the right hands. Always admired Sheehans reporting on vietnam but can't help having a bit of sympathy for Ellsberg in that telling as i can only imagine the risks he was taking at the time. Always meant to get round to reading Ellsbergs book, just never found the time yet.

Dr. Medulla
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Re: The Dictator observations thread.

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Low Down Low wrote:
08 Jan 2021, 11:07am
Dr. Medulla wrote:
08 Jan 2021, 8:08am
For history nerds, the story of how the New York Times got the Pentagon Papers is not how we believed: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/07/us/p ... eehan.html

Basically, reporter Neil Sheehan stole them from Ellsberg.
A really fascinating piece and will, i'm sure, make a riveting movie in the right hands. Always admired Sheehans reporting on vietnam but can't help having a bit of sympathy for Ellsberg in that telling as i can only imagine the risks he was taking at the time. Always meant to get round to reading Ellsbergs book, just never found the time yet.
Ellsberg's memoir Secrets is quite good. And if you've never read Sheehan's A Bright and Shining Lie, a highly recommend it. It's a long bastard, but it's a mesmerizing account from the perspective of an obsessive critic but proponent of the war.
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

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Re: The Dictator observations thread.

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Dr. Medulla wrote:
08 Jan 2021, 11:19am
Low Down Low wrote:
08 Jan 2021, 11:07am
Dr. Medulla wrote:
08 Jan 2021, 8:08am
For history nerds, the story of how the New York Times got the Pentagon Papers is not how we believed: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/07/us/p ... eehan.html

Basically, reporter Neil Sheehan stole them from Ellsberg.
A really fascinating piece and will, i'm sure, make a riveting movie in the right hands. Always admired Sheehans reporting on vietnam but can't help having a bit of sympathy for Ellsberg in that telling as i can only imagine the risks he was taking at the time. Always meant to get round to reading Ellsbergs book, just never found the time yet.
Ellsberg's memoir Secrets is quite good. And if you've never read Sheehan's A Bright and Shining Lie, a highly recommend it. It's a long bastard, but it's a mesmerizing account from the perspective of an obsessive critic but proponent of the war.
Both those have got to be towards the top of my list for 2021, especially the Sheehan tome. I see it's on the shelf in my local library, just got to wait for the damn thing to reopen!

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Re: The Dictator observations thread.

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Dr. Medulla
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Re: The Dictator observations thread.

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Applicable to most every event!
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"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

Dr. Medulla
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Re: The Dictator observations thread.

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We need to modify how capitalism works, says expert who doesn't understand the root function of capitalism.
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/spark/pandemic ... -1.5729646
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

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Re: The Dictator observations thread.

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The idealist curmudgeon Steve Albini and Oxbow's Eugene Robinson on various non-music subjects: https://eugenesrobinson.substack.com/p/ ... ces-wsteve
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

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Re: The Dictator observations thread.

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Dr. Medulla wrote:
04 Mar 2021, 7:55am
The idealist curmudgeon Steve Albini and Oxbow's Eugene Robinson on various non-music subjects: https://eugenesrobinson.substack.com/p/ ... ces-wsteve
Is Albini the one that hates Replacements Let It Be?

Regardless, that was a good read. Never sure about the curmudgeon schtick, but I appreciated him shitting on Joe Rogan.
Look, you have to establish context for these things. And I maintain that unless you appreciate the Fall of Constantinople, the Great Fire of London, and Mickey Mantle's fatalist alcoholism, live Freddy makes no sense. If you want to half-ass it, fine, go call Simon Schama to do the appendix.

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Re: The Dictator observations thread.

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matedog wrote:
04 Mar 2021, 10:57am
Dr. Medulla wrote:
04 Mar 2021, 7:55am
The idealist curmudgeon Steve Albini and Oxbow's Eugene Robinson on various non-music subjects: https://eugenesrobinson.substack.com/p/ ... ces-wsteve
Is Albini the one that hates Replacements Let It Be?
I've never heard that but I could believe it. He's pretty firm in his rejection of anything vaguely smooth or slick.
Regardless, that was a good read. Never sure about the curmudgeon schtick, but I appreciated him shitting on Joe Rogan.
He can be a bit one-note in his bile but he's never abandoned core punk values in what he does.

edit: Also, your avatar makes me think you're Heston. :naughty:
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

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Re: The Dictator observations thread.

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Dr. Medulla wrote:
04 Mar 2021, 7:55am
The idealist curmudgeon Steve Albini and Oxbow's Eugene Robinson on various non-music subjects: https://eugenesrobinson.substack.com/p/ ... ces-wsteve
The Big Black chapter in This Band Could Be Your Life was a sloooooog to get through. I'm a curmudgeon myself, but that guy is annoying as hell.
"Suck our Earth dick, Martians!" —Doc

Dr. Medulla
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Re: The Dictator observations thread.

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Kory wrote:
04 Mar 2021, 2:34pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
04 Mar 2021, 7:55am
The idealist curmudgeon Steve Albini and Oxbow's Eugene Robinson on various non-music subjects: https://eugenesrobinson.substack.com/p/ ... ces-wsteve
The Big Black chapter in This Band Could Be Your Life was a sloooooog to get through. I'm a curmudgeon myself, but that guy is annoying as hell.
He's mellowed quite a bit since the 80s, but I'm still not sure I'd actually want to hang out with Albini.
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

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Re: The Dictator observations thread.

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Dr. Medulla wrote:
04 Mar 2021, 7:55am
The idealist curmudgeon Steve Albini and Oxbow's Eugene Robinson on various non-music subjects: https://eugenesrobinson.substack.com/p/ ... ces-wsteve
This was great. I never think of Albini as one of my all time punk guys, but he really low key is. Just a tremendous ethos and both his bands and his production work feature heavily in my music collection.
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Re: The Dictator observations thread.

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Dr. Medulla wrote:
04 Mar 2021, 11:18am
matedog wrote:
04 Mar 2021, 10:57am
Dr. Medulla wrote:
04 Mar 2021, 7:55am
The idealist curmudgeon Steve Albini and Oxbow's Eugene Robinson on various non-music subjects: https://eugenesrobinson.substack.com/p/ ... ces-wsteve
Is Albini the one that hates Replacements Let It Be?
I've never heard that but I could believe it. He's pretty firm in his rejection of anything vaguely smooth or slick.
Regardless, that was a good read. Never sure about the curmudgeon schtick, but I appreciated him shitting on Joe Rogan.
He can be a bit one-note in his bile but he's never abandoned core punk values in what he does.

edit: Also, your avatar makes me think you're Heston. :naughty:
Yeah from the Replacements bio:
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BF96BE2D-40FA-428B-9965-C4308C2EDBA2.jpeg
Look, you have to establish context for these things. And I maintain that unless you appreciate the Fall of Constantinople, the Great Fire of London, and Mickey Mantle's fatalist alcoholism, live Freddy makes no sense. If you want to half-ass it, fine, go call Simon Schama to do the appendix.

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