Hello, this is a music/radio show page, but there's also some more pressing concerns right now too. Please keep yourself informed as well as entertained Music stuff below, but first...
From the Drinking From Puddles broadcast for 04/09/08:
A Missive From No One
In our society, especially here in the United States, we are often taught to fear an enemy. Be that enemy real or perceived. We had the “threat of†Communism, which led to the rise and fall of McCarthy-ism, and the persecution of innocent Americans based on hearsay or nominal connections. It is now recognized as an embarrassing chapter in our history, along the lines of the Salem Witch Hunts in America’s infancy. Yet at the time it was portrayed as patriotic and right, and dissenters were vilified and subsequently also labeled as “communistâ€. Though in speaking out against McCarthy-ism, they were actually the true patriots, making use of the rights guaranteed in the Constitution and not being intimidated to letting things happen that they knew were not right, and based on a fraudulent thesis.
Now we are told to be afraid in this country again. And although I do not condone ANY terrorist action(s), past, present or future. That includes those acts of terrorism being implemented by our government, outside of the rule of law, as laid out in the Constitution of the United States, the Writ Of Habeas Corpus and the Geneva Conventions. Those I have documented for you on this radio show before, as well as have many of our Public Affairs and News programs on this station. I am far from the first person to draw this parallel, yet what seems like a very clear correlation to me still does not get play in the mass media. Would people knowing what we know today with the hindsight of history still support Senator McCarthy’s quests, or drowning women to prove they are not evil? How come the “War On Terror†is still occurring, even though it has long been proven that it is only creating so-called “terrorists†in places and peoples where or who there were not before. And in adopting the practices of our enemies how are we then different than those in which we decry foul? Is a unjust death any less detestable because it’s perpetrator was born within our borders?
Our current system and government has been abducted by self-serving corporate and political criminals that use God as both a shield and a weapon, while only serving special interest and dedicated only to the Upper Crust. Our country, and our system is broken, and in need of an overhaul. We need to get back to the basic principals and laws that this country was founded on, or start anew, with safeguards built in to protect this kind of financial hierarchy and misuse of power and resources. We need to protect both the rights of the individual, while simultaneously moving to cushion our impact on our planet and it’s resources. We should still be able to reward ingenuity, creativity, forward thought and invention, without concentrating all wealth and power to a minority elitist class. We need a system that caps wealth and power regardless of position, while suppling the basic necessities to all. As the worlds’ markets are intertwined, and a one-world economy seems to be the new manifest destiny, we need to implant a system of equal opportunity (even if not equal wealth) and equal rights. Supposedly we stood for (and had) something akin to that already, but looking around this country and the world, it is obviously not the case.
And although I’ve touched on all these topics here before, very few people listen to me...because I am a nobody. I make little money (nothing here at the station, and little elsewhere). I have not achieved fame in the worlds of politics, sports, entertainment or in the craft of faith twisting. I represent no party, no team, no studio, no civic group, no church and no state. I am proud to be a nobody, and am proud to be among the group of nobodies that represent almost all of you listening. We are together in our nothingness, and our non-allegiance to pre-conceived and marketed, “with us or against us†mentalities. So nobodies we may be, but we out-number the somebodies of this world thousands and thousands to one. So I ask you: How long can they keep our lives in mortgage? Literally and figuratively. How long can they keep us incarcerated, indebted, invisible and ineffective?
How long before our collective frustration, anger and fatigue over the present state of affairs and vision for a potentially better tomorrow (for humans and all creatures) leads us to action? Is it not our duty as the reigning dominant species of this orb to change the destructive path down which we’ve been deceitfully led? To stop being swayed by corporate sponsored propaganda and demand a reckoning for those who have done the world wrong?
Until we balance the scales of justice, and one way or another restore the type of checks and balances that our Constitution demands, we will continue to slide towards our civilizations and our planets destruction.
So with the power invested in me as a nobody of these not-so United States, and the world forum I here-by deputize every one of you as an equal Nobodic Emissary for you to spread the call for truth and fairness. Rise up my fellow status-quo ciphers, for our government today no longer represents us in any way, shape or form. It no longer adheres to the ideals on which it was founded, and in doing so dishonors those who sacrificed their lives to maintain them, both in previous and existing conflicts.
If it could ever be said that a war is justifiable, our present one clearly never was. We’ve seen and heard the lies. We know where they’ve borrowed their fascist tactics, dogma and doctrine. They have replaced the stripes for which we stand. No longer red, white & blue, they are now bands of oligarchy, crony-ism and Nazi-like propagandism.
We, the nobodies of this world, now need to call upon ourselves. To spread the truth to all who will listen. Because us nobodies, are almost everybody. And it is in our numbers that we have our real strength. For if the meek shall truly inherit the earth, then the time has come today.
For Drinking From Puddles, I’m Brandon...thanks for listening.
Please check out previous front page statements concerning the Iraq War, Bush, and the 09/11/ aftermath and why we should help George Tabb and other victims of the current administrations dishonesty and cover up (via the EPA), now posted in my blog section. Feel free to subscribe.
Hello! Welcome to the page for the Radio Program out of Portland, Oregon called Drinking From Puddles!
Drinking From Puddles CDs 1999 Kill Rock Stars issue--technically "Out-Of-Print") are available here for $12.00 POSTAGE PAID WITHIN THE USA (International orders will be $15.00 U.S. Dollars including postage). Send us a message and include what country you live in, and we will send an invoice. We accept Paypal & U.S. Money Orders (No I.M.O.'s). All these songs were recorded Live-On-Air on the show, and are exclusive to this release. To view the back cover by artist Raymond Pettibon (Sonic Youth, Black Flag etc..) click on our additional photos.
You get:
1. Dance Hall Music - Murder City Devils
2. Hurricane - Come
3. Mr. Magazine Man - Hazel
4. Nobody Else - The Obituaries
5. Cacophany ..A - Prolapse
6. Butch - Geraldine Fibbers
7. Lucky Jim - Jeffery Lee Pierce (The Gun Club)
8. You're My Only One - Cadallaca
9. Fuck - Nicole Panter
10. Taken By Surprise - Poison Idea
11. Gazebo Tree - Kristin Hersh
12. Monsanto - Pleasant Gehman
13. Everybody Cares, Everybody Understands - Elliott Smith
14. Outta Money - Gilly Ann Hanner
15. Aquamarine - Cindy Lee Berryhill
16. Graveyard - Dead Moon
17. We Dance - Cat Power
18. Pacifica Blues - Roger Manning
19. Snowfell Summer - Madigan
20. Song For Lon Mabon - Crackerbash
21. Excerpt From Paradoxia: A Predator's Diary - Lydia Lunch
22. Sweet To My Soul - Soul Junk
Although most of the programs just feature recorded music, besides the 22 artists listed above, other bands/artists that have been on for live performances and/or interviews include: Joan Jett, Wanda Jackson, Joe Jackson, Diamanda Galas, Penelope Houston (The Avengers), Jarboe (Swans), Sleater-Kinney, Quasi, Miranda July, Lemmy Kilmister (Motorhead), Denis Tek (Radio Birdman), Ed Kuepper (The Saints), Greg Sage (The Wipers), Roger Miller (Mission Of Burma), Brix Smith (The Fall), Nikki Sudden (Swell Maps), Cherie Currie & Sandy West (The Runaways), Jane Wiedlin (The Go-Go's), The BellRays, Genya Raven, Tom Verlaine (Television), Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill, Le Tigre), The Gossip, Shannon Wright, Neko Case, Dave Allen (Gang of 4, Shriekback), Exene Cervenka (X), John Doe (X), Alan Sparhawk (Low, Black-Eyed Snakes), Pierced Arrows, Frightwig, Fifty Foot Wave, Generation (with Monica Nelson), Gordon Gano (Violent Femmes), Brian Ritchie (Violent Femmes), Jim Thirwell (aka Foetus, Clint Ruin), Half Japanese, Nick Saloman (aka The Bevis Frond), Magic Hour, Mirah, Calvin Johnson, Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter, Jack Grisham (T.S.O.L.), Three Leg Torso, Heavens to Betsy, Bratmobile, The Pattern, Barbara Manning, The Mountain Goats, Paula Pierce (The Pandoras), Sunsara Taylor (Worldcantwait.org), Greg Palast (Journalist), K. McCarty (Glass Eye), Daniel Ash (Bauhaus, Love & Rockets), Scout Niblett, LKN, Lydia Tomkiw (Algebra Suicide), Susan Stenger (Band Of Susans), Russell Simins (Blues Explosion, Butter 08), Shonen Knife, Sister Double Happiness (ex-The Dicks), Lynn Perko (The Dicks, Sister Double Happiness, Imperial Teen), Carrie Akre (Hammerbox), John S. Hall (King Missile III), Vanessa Briscoe Hay (Pylon), A Weather, John Shirley (Sadonation, author of The Crow), Mark Sten (Oblivion Seekers, Bop Zombies), Split Lip Rayfield, Sally Timms (The Mekons), Scarnella (Nels Cline & Carla Bozulich), Miss Murgatroid & Petra Haden, Richard Buckner, Naim Amor, Michelle T. Clinton, Seven Year Bitch, Mudwimmin, True West, Trumans Water, Azalia Snail, Kinnie Starr, Pat Todd (The Lazy Cowgirls), The Dt's, Consolidated, Barkmarket, Solex, Fuck, Strangers Die Every Day, Pete Krebs, Gas Huffer, M99, Sarah Dougher, Janitor Joe, Jane LeCroy (Spook Engine), The Dickel Brothers, The Stinky Puffs, The Triggers, Lanterna, Slim Moon, Rebecca Pearcy, Two Ton Boa, Cynthia Dall, New Bad Things, Sue Garner (Run On), Hillstomp, Drunken Prayer, David Rovics, Maxi-Badd, Lion Fever, Anna Waronker (that dog), Stolie, We're From Japan, Irving Klaw Trio, Pep Squad, Sissybar, Sissyface, Sid Merritt, Ovarian Trolley, Rube Wadell, Ringolevio, Suran Song in Stag, Pal Shazar (Slow Children), Teen Angels, The Third Sex, Shelly Doty, Torcher, Debbie Patino (Ringling Sisters), Braille Stars, Stillway & Bonham, Liz Janes, Royal Trux, Skeleton Key, Sno Bud & The Flower People, Flapjacks, Ben Ellis (Kurtz Project), and more!
