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by Rep. Ron Paul, Republican
black males age 13
who have been raised
on the streets
and who have joined
criminal gangs are
as big,
strong,
tough,
scary
and culpable
as any adult,
and should be
treated as such.
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This poem was originally published as an article by Ron Paul in his own newsletter in the 1980s/1990s.
"I think Jefferson or George Washington would have rather strongly discouraged you from growing marijuana and their techniques with dealing with it would have been rather more violent than our current government."
---------------------------------------------
Many conservatives are under the falty impression that Newt Gingrich is a particularly bright fellow.
Newt's own statements suggest otherwise.
by Rep. Ron Paul, Republican
Were there,
as some people now say,
two bombs
that went off in the building?
And might the government
have the wrong man?
Who doubts
the possibility
that the government –
which lied
about Waco and Ruby Ridge –
may also be covering up
true information
and planting
false information
about the Oklahoma bombing?
---------------------------------------------
This poem was originally published as an article by Ron Paul in his own newsletter in the 1980s/1990s.
Do you think there will ever come a time when conservatives will stop trying to claim that America is solely "their" country and will stop telling other Americans with whom they disagree to get out?
I don't.
"Take your message of economic dependency, take your message of enslaving the entrepreneurial will and spirit of the American people somewhere else. You can take it to Europe, you can take it to the bottom of the sea, you can take it the North Pole, but get the hell out of the United States of America." - Rep. Allen West, Republican, Florida [source]
The proper response? Make me.
Allen West is a moronic douchebag who should resign. He's an embarrassment to Florida and to the United States House of Representatives (and that is saying A LOT).
"I want to say to the elite of this country—the elite news media, the liberal academic elite, the liberal political elite: I accuse you in Littleton… of being afraid to talk about the mess you have made, and being afraid to take responsibility for things you have done, and instead foisting upon the rest of us pathetic banalities because you don’t have the courage to look at the world you have created."
---------------------------------------------
Many conservatives are under the falty impression that Newt Gingrich is a particularly bright fellow.
Newt's own statements suggest otherwise.
by Rep. Ron Paul, Republican
What happened
at Waco was
a human rights violation
as serious as any
that occurred
in the waning days
of the Soviet Union.
---------------------------------------------
This poem was originally published as an article by Ron Paul in his own newsletter in the 1980s/1990s.
by Madam 8-Ball
IS IT TIME TO BEGIN REOCCUPYING?
AQUARIUS: Most likely.
PISCES: My sources say no.
ARIES: Reply hazy, try again.
TAURUS: Outlook not so good.
GEMINI: My reply is no.
CANCER: You may rely on it.
LEO: Reply hazy, try again.
VIRGO: Ask again later.
LIBRA: Very doubtful.
SCORPIO: Outlook good.
SAGITTARIUS: Most likely.
CAPRICORN: Ask again later.
Specialty Bonus Sign
OPHIUCHUS: Without a doubt.
by Benn Ray
The Fresh & Green's market that replaced the bankrupt Superfresh on 41st St. in Hampden has come a long way since I first began reporting on its opening this past summer.
In fact, it had almost become a favorite place to shop for me since there were never any customers there and always multiple cashiers waiting to ring me up.
But now, Fresh & Green's seems to have come full circle, with employees and customers wondering just what the hell is going on and shelves looking bare.
I noticed things were amiss on Sunday, January 22 when I stopped in after the disappointing Ravens game to pick up some supplies.
The produce section looked a little wiped out. My initial thought was that a lot of people were having gameday parties and making food, but we're talking about football fans. Let's face it, folks weren't making refreshing salads for the big game. So gameday wasn't really any explanation at all.
The situation in the produce section proceeded to worsen. Tonight, just one week later, there's hardly any produce in the store.
And the situation has spread to other parts of the store as well.
The meats section also seems to be out of food.
The juice and dairy sections also looked unstocked.
So what's going on at Fresh & Green's? That's the question everyone who relies on the market for food wants to know.
According to reports, even the staff and management don't know what's going on. The manager has evidently still been placing orders, but the food hasn't come.
If the store was trying to reduce inventory to make room for the renovations promised on the side outside as you enter the market, it seems reasonable to assume they would tell the managers to adjust orders accordingly. But if orders are placed and vendors aren't delivering, that suggests an issue with accounts payable -meaning vendors may not be getting paid (an indicator of a financial issue).
I have contacted Fresh & Green's corporate offices and inquired about the state of the market, and its future, but at this point, they have not gotten back to me.
It should be noted that the Fresh & Green's never managed to regain the customers lost after the switchover from Superfresh.
If this market fails, as an anchor store, it will continue to provide a lack of stability to the once bustling shopping plaza. At one point, a local, well-respected liquor store tried to move into the plaza but was blocked by community interests. This too could have provided much-needed activity in the plaza.
And then, should the rumors about Giant moving from the Rotunda into the Fresh & Green's location (which seems unlikely to me at this point), prove true, then that destabilizes the Rotunda by removing its anchor. And that will make things slightly less convenient for the senior communities who rely on the Giant for food.
But that leaves one nagging question - what's happening at the Fresh & Green? And at this point, no one seems to know for sure.
TOP I TOLD-YA SO'S OF 2011
by Benn Ray
1. 25th St. Station Lowes Pull-Out
One of many concerns I and other critics of the 25th St. Station development in Remington had when the project was first announced was we did not want, in the heart of North Baltimore, another Port Covington - the failing retail concrete bunker in South Baltimore that now houses only a Wal-Mart despite the promise of retail activity and jobs, jobs, jobs. If the developers were able to break ground when they wanted, back in 2010, it now really looks like the chances are pretty good we'd have another Port Covington as Lowes, due to its own financial issues, pulled out of the development. So, to supporters of the project I say, "I told ya so."
2. Belinda Conaway Ouster
This is also tied in with the controversial 25th Street Station development. Before then-City Council Representative Belinda Conaway introduced the PUD legislation to the Baltimore City Council to begin the process of the 25th St. Station development, I said that if she introduced the PUD, she would get a primary challenge and I would do as much as I could to make sure she is no longer our city council rep. I was even considering running against her until I was redistricted out of her area. Well, Belinda got that primary challenge and lost the primary, and then lost her write-in attempt in the general election. My point was that if an elected official is going to support developments that, as I see it, are detrimental to the greater community's interests, there needs to be a political cost for that. To those who supported Belinda and her backing of this development, I told ya so.
3. Baltimore Grand Prix Fiasco
Baltimore was pretty divided over this Grand Prix nonsense. Many of us saw this as an unwelcome intrusion in our lives for the entertainment of out-of-towners at the expense of Baltimore city. Supporters of the Grand Prix thought it was going to be a fun party and argued that the city was going to get rich. And while it may have been fun, financially, it sure looks like things didn't pan out the way the Grand Prix boosters promised. In fact, it's devolved into a fiscal fiasco, with, it seems, Baltimore City getting the short end of the stick. To those supporters of the Baltimore Grand Prix, I told ya so.
4. E-Books Price Gouging
Fans of electronic "books" like to argue convenience and affordability. I have argued that e-books are not going to be affordable and are only subjectively convenient. Supporters say, "Oh but look at how much cheaper they are than books." And I have argued they won't stay that way. In fact, I said, that e-books will end up costing you just as much as a real book very soon. Why? Remember how CD prices were supposed to go down but never did because labels saw that the retail price threshold was much higher? It's the same thing here, only worse. It's worse because not only are you going to be paying the same price for an ebook as you would a real book in most cases in 2012 (according to this Wall Street Journal report), but there's no reason for it. Publishers are cutting out distributors and even booksellers, so they are getting a higher percentage of that cover price (which also makes it in their interest to pursue ebooks at the cost of regular books). Plus, unlike a real book, you're left with a product that has no resale value in the used (or collectible) book market. So ebook users, you're dooming yourself, and I told you so.
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A GENERAL BEST OF 2011
by Joseph Kang
Here's my list. It's in no particular order and it's not restricted to any particular subject. It's basically just a list of the things that I really enjoyed from this past year.
1. The Smiths "The Complete Smiths" (Rhino)
I still remember the first time I heard the album "The Queen is Dead". It was some time in 1986. My first year of high school. It was my introduction to The Smiths. I fell instantly for that album and there was really no looking back. I had managed to get my hands on the 2008 vinyl remasters and they sounded great compared to the original CD versions released back in the day. The versions contained in this box set sound even better than the 2008 versions. They don't sound louder (though they are). They also sound more expansive. This set also includes what I believe are the first remasters of the live album "Rank" as well as the compilations "Louder than Bombs" and "The World Won't Listen". Plus, a newly remastered edition of "Hatful of Hollow". It's a stellar set of material all packaged in CD-sized reproductions of the original LPs including any printed liner notes, lyrics, and, in the case of "Rank", the originally included poster.
2. Elderscrolls: Skyrim (Bethesda Softworks; 360)
The latest chapter in the Elderscrolls RPG saga is the first I've played since "Morrowind" on the original Xbox console. I didn't really enjoy that game so I passed on "Oblivion" (probably to my detriment). Skyrim is a gorgeous expansive game. It's got its issues (various minor glitches), but they're easily overlooked once you start playing. I think I'm about 60 to 70 hours in and I still haven't seen or done everything. Much like the recent Fallout 3 (also from Bethesda), I expect I will lose a sizable amount of my free time to this game.
3. Rocksmith (Ubisoft; 360)
Rocksmith may be the closest to what I'd dreamed would happen when I first played Guitar Hero 2. A game that would be more like playing a real guitar than what GH and Rock Band could ever accomplish. Though I will say that RB3 in pro mode with the specialized Fender Squier Strat came awfully close, too. Unfortunately, that implementation prevented you from actually playing a guitar along with the music without fiddling with how the Squier Strat is set up out of the box. Rocksmith is not a rhythm game. It is as close to guitar instruction software as I've had the chance to experience. It has its imperfections. The dynamic ramping difficulty can lean toward the punishing in some instances. But, actually playing, say, Queens of the Stone Ages' "Go with the Flow" with my PRS Hollowbody 2 instead of with a shrunken plastic facsimile makes it all worthwhile.
4. Krallice "Diotima" (Profound Lore)
5. Wolvhammer "The Obsidian Plane" (Profound Lore)
6. Disma "Toward the Megalith" (Profound Lore)
Profound Lore continues to be one of my favorite labels in recent days. The bove three albums are all worthwhile for those interested in metal. Plus, there was that completely unexpected new album by Leviathan.
7. Negative Plane "Stained Glass Revelations" (AJNA Offensive)
Reverb-drenched US black metal.
8. Kuedo "Severent" (Planet Mu)
I was a huge fan of dubstep duo Vex'd and their album "Degenerate". It's definitely one of my top faves of that genre. When I got into metal and started exploring that more, I kind of lost interest in where dubstep was heading. So, I was surprised to hear that half of that duo were coming out with an album that was influenced by Vangelis' soundtrack to "Bladerunner". For whatever reason, it caught my interest. After reading Pitchfork's review, I was sold. It's a gorgeous album.
9. "Assassins Creed: Brotherhood" (Ubisoft; PS3) "Batman: Arkham Asylum" (Eidos; PS3); "Uncharted 2: Among Thieves" (SCE; PS3)
These were by no means new games but they were games that were on my "must play (eventually)" list and, while attempting to use a store credit from an attempted Xbox 360 repair, I found all three used for pretty cheap. It just so happened that they were all for the PS3, too, which wasn't a bad thing since my PS3 doesn't get as much use as my 360. All three were stellar games in their own ways. If I had to pick a favorite from this trio, I would have to go with the Batman title. In the past, I'd avoided most licensed super hero video games as they never seemed to live up to the character(s) as you would imagine them. Not so with this title. Playing as Batman is exactly the way you would expect it to be. I loved being able to silently repel upside-down over an enemy and silently, yank them up and take them out of the game. I couldn't get enough of that. When fighting seemed unavoidable, it was responsive and "felt" right. The AC and Batman titles are also available for the 360 and if you haven't played them, they would most likely be worth your while. The entire "Uncharted" series remains a PS3 exclusive.
10. A$SAP Rocky "LiveLoveA$AP"
Quite possibly the only new rap/hip-hop release that got repeated listens from me this year (aside from "Gucci-Gucci"). "Peso" is probably the standout track for me. Second favorite would be "Purple Swag".
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2011 THINGS
by Matt Selander
I could easily write a best of list for the categories of....new music, record reissues, concerts, movies, tv shows, meals, protests, craft beer, bourbon, books, naps, rainbows, internet memes, youtube cats, local earthquakes, animated gifs... etc etc. So instead here is a random list of things 2011 “related” that made the year slightly less crushing.
BEST BIZARRE YOUTUBE CLOWNING OF HERMAN CAIN
The funny thing is, that dude could say any of those things at any moment.
BEST NEW BAND OF 2011
Doomsday Student! ¾ of Arab on Radar making a racket that is equal parts early AoR and late AoR.
BEST ENTERTAINMENT NEWS!
Party Down movie to begin filming in the summer of 2012. If you have not seen party down DO SO NOW! Its online,its on DVD...NO EXCUSES! If you have been stoned at your shitty day job while dreaming of taking your electro funk band on a world tour this show is for you. Also, recommended for fans of laughter, drug abuse and Steve Guttenberg.
runner up...news of the return of Arrested Development
BEST REVIVAL!
The return of the '90s! So I was away ahead on this on. All you flannel wearers... STOP SWEATING MY STYLE! Anyway, it's good to hear some grungy guitar bands getting some attention in this era of whimpy, ethereal indie rock. Also, the return of Beavis and Butthead! and HFS (wtf!) Not to mention a bunch of 20 year olds running out to buy Doc Martens is kinda crazy. Not sure if I should feel old or feel flattered. Now if I could only find my 10 hole Cherries to put on eBay.
please check out the following bands...Roomrunner, Broken Water, Purling Hiss
BEST BALTIMORE NEWS: FUN EDITION
A craft brewery is opening in Woodberry and a pinball museum/arcade is opening in downtown! Really is there anything better than beer and pinballl?
BEST NON-BALTIMORE MUSIC FESTIVAL: HOPSCOTCH IN RALEIGH, N.C.
Didn't have really high expectations for this and was completely floored. I was skeptical that a sophomore festival could pull off 100+ bands in 12+ venues without it turning into a complete clusterfuck. These guys delivered! Bands played on time, everybody was friendly and the line up was varied and amazing. Also, everything was walkable. Seeing The Necks, Swans and Rhys Chatham in an opera hall was impressive (and very,very loud). Oxbow played in an awesome set at a great little dive bar on 2 hrs of sleep (in 3 days) and absolutely destroyed the audience. Also, Guided By Voices and Superchunk played outside, in the middle of town under beautiful late summer skies. I cant recommend this fest enough.
BEST NON-BALTIMORE MUSIC FESTIVAL STONED EDITION :VOICE OF THE VALLEY NOISE RALLY IN PENTRESS,WV
Though this fest was more synth heavy then noisy it really was all about the energy of the place. Tucked back in the foothills northern WV (near Morgantown) and surrounded by trees, VotV brought together a great assortment of noise freaks,performance artist and general weirdos for 3 days of camping and music and...um...psychic voyages. Though the event was small (probably no more than 200 in attendance) the energy was more positive and exciting than most other music festivals I have been to.
BEST BAND I’M GLAD I SAW BEFORE THEY BECOME THE BIGGEST BAND ON THE PLANET: WILD FLAG
Wild Flag played there first tour last March before they even had a record out. Most of the dates sold out well in advance.We were lucky/smart to have purchased tickets in advance. I’m usually leery of “supergroups”, I’d rather have a root canal then hear a “Them Crooked Vultures” song. That said, the ladies of Wild Flag have quite a resume...Sleater-Kinney, Quasi, Helium, The Minders...how could this not be awesome? Not only was I not let down...I was blown away! WF has more energy that most of the 20 something indie bands. Plus the songs are great! I’m pretty sure by this time in a year they will have conquered the world.
THE OCCUPY MOVEMENT
I was in the streets of D.C. January 20th, 2001 protesting the stolen election, I was back to protest the invasion of Afghanistan later that year. I took it to the streets when baby Bush started dropping bombs on Baghdad and I was in NYC for the G.O.P freakshow/convention in 2004. After the 8 years the W. disaster and 2 ½ years of the Obama letdown I had almost given up hope. And then OWS happened! For the first time in my life there is a pissed off, sustainable grassroots movement in this country willing to stand up and say enough! Here is to hoping 2012 is the year things finally change and we wrestle the country back....we’ll see.
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TOP 10 STAR WARS TOYS OF 2011
by Rich Dolinger
1. Tusken Raider 12” action figure produced by Gentle Giant. The Tusken Raiders or Sand People were always my favorite characters from the original movie and I loved the OG figures so having it blown up to 12 inches tall is that much better.
2. Jawa 8” action figure produced by Gentle Giant. Like the Tusken Raider at #1, the Jawa is actually just as awesome and it comes packaged with a cloth cape or a limited edition vinyl cape.
3. Landspeeder vehicle produced by Hasbro. This latest version of Luke’s Landspeeder comes in a “vintage” style box and the shape and paint colors are way superior to previous releases.
4. Landspeeder action figure set DX Series 3 produced by Kubrick. Kubricks are the cute little Lego-inspired versions of the standard sized Hasbro figures. Very charming.
5. Bom Vimdim standard sized action figure produced by Hasbro. This is actually the best looking figure released this year by Hasbro but this Cantina scene character is so random that I can’t say it’s my favorite.
6. Rebel Fleet Trooper standard sized action figure produced by Hasbro. I always wished Kenner made these guys in the 70s and now they are released on vintage-style cardbacks 34 years later!
7. Han Solo in Bespin Gear standard sized action figure produced by Hasbro. Not that exciting of a figure but I’ve waited a long time to get a decent looking version of this one. All the previous ones stunk.
8. Rebel Transport Speeder vehicle produced by Hasbro. Another toy that should have been made 34 years ago; not that exciting but it looks great in my dioramas. Yes, I have dioramas.
9. Luke Skywalker 12” action figure produced by Gentle Giant. Like the Bespin Han, this is not the most exciting figure but it is all nostalgia and the packaging is striking!
10. Stormtrooper standard sized action figure produced by Hasbro. Nothing special, just the most accurately sculpted Stormtrooper ever. Now I have to throw all my outdated Troopers away.
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10 OBSERVATIONS FROM FAMILY TRIP TO FLA
by Steve Messick
1. MIB ride at Univeral gave Kricfalusi work (yay!)
2. The Simpsons ride is the coolest ride I've been on but all the virtual rides I've been on are cool. They are the future of amusement parks, (from the last to say this department)
3. You can't jog or shop on Citiwalk, (only eat, drink, shop, and/or take a lot of stupid photos)
4. Amusement Parks can really suck if your kids is tired and/or cranky, also, the kids that work at the park seem to really enjoy seeing you have a lousy time
5. I was dragged to Margaritaville, where as I waiting to be seated I walked around the gift shop, they have blenders that they sell for $500-no shit, if I ever finally snap, this place would be a good candidate for my jihad
6. Dora has an entourage, and they will kick your ass if you get too friendly-no, it wasn't me that got too friendly
7. I was really impressed by the Hard Rock Cafe in that it has still remained the most inappropriately named place in the world, guys, cool gimmick you could offer, a decent bowl of chili advertised as always being exactly half of the minimum hourly wage, oh but that might draw the riff-raff and freaks, otherwise known as the people that most likely have ever written a decent rock song
8. The corporate line/inside joke was "ha ha, we're not like Disney" which is annoying and more false than true, and definitely not regarding the whole "racket", for example: They soak you on the water rides, (fine), but then charge people $5 to stand in a "dryer"
9. I'd rather walk around the rest of the day in wet denim than pay $5 for a bullshit stand-up dryer
10. you travel from the hotel to the park via river transport, always remember: Never get off the boat!
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And this concludes The Shank's 2011 Year End Wrap Up. Thanks for reading, and thanks to all those who were kind enough to take the time to compile lists for us.
by Benn Ray
I have long argued that those who say taxes are inherently prohibitive and have a dampening effect on business don't understand the nature of business. Where there is the potential for profit to occur, there will always be enterprise.
Corporate, Republican and Libertarian talking points have long held that only lower tax rates will result in enterprise and only that will generate more jobs and a healthy economy.
We even see this in local economies where special tax breaks are offered to entice large corporate entities to open big box developments which have a destructive and depleting effect on local business communities. If anyone can more easily afford the tax rates, it is the very same corporations who insist on them being waived before they'll even begin to consider bringing their wage-dampening, social safety-net straining jobs to an area.
But as the past few years of historically low tax rates and record breaking corporate profits and CEO salaries have shown, lower tax rates and big earnings do not result in a trickle down effect.
How many times to we have to keep proving that Trickle Down Economics don't work for those waiting for the trickle?
And those who continue to argue for this type of trickle down, free market, predatory corporate capitalism do not understand the nature of corporate capitalism - which is to maximize profits (or they are being disingenuous).
In this regard, corporate capitalism's interests can be at odds with creating a healthy economy as those at the top of the corporate chain are rewarded while those at the bottom - the weakest, the most replaceable, the most vulnerable - are exploited.
More people with a little more money make for a healthier economy. Fewer people with a lot more money do not. And we've been seeing the latter during the Great Recession.
But hey, don't take my word for it. Take Bill Gates and Warren Buffet's words instead.
Bill Gates: If something is a profitable activity, you're going to engage in it. Yes there are tax rates that are so high that people may work less, but you have to get up to the 50%-60% range before that's the case. ... Even as the economy improves and you end the wars, you're going to have to raise taxes and certainly whatever form it takes, and I'm not an expert on this, the rich should bear a larger increase than the rest. (on FOX News)
Warren Buffet: People like to make money investing. And they make it if the tax rate is 15% each year or if the tax rate is 30% each year. (ABC News)
