Saturday, December 31. 2011
Popcorn Sutton: The Last One
Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton (October 5, 1946 - March 16, 2009) was an American Appalachian moonshiner originally from Maggie Valley, North Carolina.
Sutton's career in bootlegging - and getting caught for it - extended back to the 1970s. In 1999, Sutton published Me And My Likker, an autobiography and guide to moonshine production.
Sutton considered moonshine production a legitimate part of his heritage, being as he was Scots-Irish and descended from a long line of moonshiners. In January 2009, after an ATF raid led by Jim Cavanaugh of Waco fame, Sutton was sentenced to eighteen months in a federal prison for illegally brewing spirits and possession of a firearm as a felon. Sutton, 62 and recently diagnosed with cancer, pleaded with the U.S. District Judge Ronnie Greer to let him serve his sentence under house arrest. Several petitions were made in attempts to reduce or commute Sutton's sentence, to no avail. He committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning on March 16, 2009, apparently to avoid the federal prison term due to begin a few days later.
He was a short, skinny fella, who always wore his hat - that was kind of his claim to fame, his hat that he always wore. And his bib overalls - he always wore bib overalls. Even when he came to federal court, he was wearing bib overalls. He was a friendly fellow, and of course every time you would talk to him, he would say, "Ray, I've run my last run of moonshine, I'm not gonna do it anymore, I'm just getting too old to be doing this stuff." - Ray Snader.
In 2008, Popcorn Sutton was featured in Neil Hutcheson's documentary The Last One. (Demonoid torrent download).
Wednesday, December 7. 2011
Orbiter Space Flight Simulator
Tuesday, December 6. 2011
Ade In Britain
Comedian, actor, writer, musician and general all round prolific person, Adrian Edmondson, takes a culinary road trip around Britain revealing the eccentricities and character of each region through their most celebrated dishes. Indulging in his love for both cookery and British culture, Ade takes to his Mini to meet the producers and farmers behind many famous local delicacies. He also takes part in regional traditions and customs from Morris dancing to shin-kicking along the way. Each of Ade’s funny and insightful journeys culminates in a scrumptious feast whipped up on his trusty mobile kitchen to celebrate each area’s unique food heritage. Also worth checking out is his band The Bad Shepherds, who play punk songs using traditional folk instruments...
Fuck knows why they stick this on the goggle-box at 4 in the afternoon. It's not like there isn't enough shit on at prime time that could easily be wiped off the schedule for something as wonderful as this. (ITV Player video streams).
Thursday, November 10. 2011
In Our Time: The Moon
'Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the origins, science and mythology of the moon. Humans have been fascinated by our only known satellite since prehistory. In some cultures the Moon has been worshipped as a deity; in recent centuries there has been lively debate about its origins and physical characteristics. Although other planets in our solar system have moons ours is, relatively speaking, the largest, and is perhaps more accurately described as a 'twin planet'; the past, present and future of the Earth and the Moon are locked together. Only very recently has water been found on the Moon - a discovery which could prove to be invaluable if human colonisation of the Moon were ever to occur.
'Mankind first walked on the Moon in 1969, but it is debatable how important this huge political event was in developing our scientific knowledge. The advances of space science, including data from satellites and the moon landings, have given us some startling insights into the history of our own planet, but many intriguing questions remain unanswered.' (BBC Radio 4 audio stream).
Sunday, October 30. 2011
Moon Machines
Moon Machines is a Science Channel documentary miniseries consisting of six episodes documenting the engineering challenges of the Apollo Program to land a man on the Moon. It covers everything from the iconic Saturn V to the Command Module, the Lunar Module, the Space Suits, the Guidance and Control Computer, and the Lunar Rover.
The miniseries features interviews with around 70 of the 400,000 engineers who reportedly worked on the Apollo program during the 1960s and early 70s. These interviews are intercut with archive film, sourced by Footagevault from NASA's various film archives stored at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, the Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio and from the National Archive in Washington. It is narrated by actor Bill Hope. (Isohunt torrent download part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6).
Saturday, October 29. 2011
Occupy Wall Street: Outing The Ringers
Tuesday, October 18. 2011
Seeking Major Tom
William Shatner's new album is out and it's pretty damned good.
'Seeking Major Tom is a fourth studio album by William Shatner. It was released October 11, 2011 by Cleopatra Records. The album features many noted musicians, including Sheryl Crow, John Wetton, Patrick Moraz, Ritchie Blackmore, Alan Parsons, Peter Frampton, Nick Valensi, Zakk Wylde, Mike Inez, Chris Adler, Steve Howe, Michael Schenker, Dave Davies, Johnny Winter, Brad Paisley, Bootsy Collins, and Toots.'
Monday, October 17. 2011
Julian Assange At Occupy London
'The founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, attended the protests in London that are part of a worldwide action against corporate greed and austerity measures. Assange said that he was there to show his solidarity with the Occupy London movement, which was inspired by the Occupy Wall Street protests in the US. Assange traveled to London from his friend Vaughan Smith's country mansion in Suffolk, eastern England. Assange is living there on bail as he fights extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning over allegations of rape and sexual assault made by two women.'
Monday, October 10. 2011
Occupy Wall Street
'Occupy Wall Street is an ongoing series of demonstrations in New York City based in Zuccotti Park, formerly "Liberty Plaza Park". The protest was originally called for by the Canadian activist group Adbusters; it took inspiration from the Arab Spring movement (particularly the Tahrir Square protests in Cairo, which initiated the 2011 Egyptian revolution) and from the Spanish Indignants.
'The participants of the event are mainly protesting against social and economic inequality, corporate greed, and the influence of corporate money and lobbyists on government, among other concerns.'
Thursday, September 15. 2011
From The Earth To The Moon
'Originally broadcast in April and May of 1998, the epic miniseries From The Earth To The Moon was HBO's most expensive production to date, with a budget of $68 million. Hosted by executive producer Tom Hanks, the miniseries tackles the daunting challenge of chronicling the entire history of NASA's Apollo space program from 1961 to 1972.
'For the most part, it is a rousing success. Some passages are flatly chronological, awkwardly wedging an abundance of factual detail into a routine dramatic structure. But each episode is devoted to a crucial aspect of the Apollo program. The cumulative effect is a deep and thorough appreciation of NASA's monumental achievement. With the help of a superlative cast, consistent writing, and a stable of talented directors, Hanks has shared his infectious enthusiasm for space exploration and the inspiring power of conquering the final frontier.' (The Pirate Bay torrent download).
Friday, August 12. 2011
Cockney Geezer Tells It Like It Is
Saturday, July 30. 2011
John's Phone: Subversive Mobile Technology
Saturday afternoon and I’d been sitting in my local pub for at least an hour drinking the remains of my second pint of beer. The local clientele were doing their usual: scrutinising their hand-held devices as though they were personal life-support machines requiring constant tweaking and attention.
Meanwhile, on the pub TV, the sordid details of News International’s phone hacking scandal were unfolding live before my very eyes.
“Jesus H. Christ!” I exclaimed out loud. “This isn’t just affecting a small cross-section of the population, this is a goddamned epidemic of massive proportions!”
The fat lawyer sitting in the corner briefly glanced up at me from his iPhone with an expression that suggested a mixture of contempt and confusion, before taking another quick swig of his drink and refocusing his attention on his brightly lit touch screen.
“Whatever happened to coming to the pub to engage in social interaction!?” I exclaimed.
There was no response.
I looked out of the window at the multitude of passers-by, all of whom seemed to be preoccupied with whatever was on their cell phones.
“Another beer?” asked the barmaid as she punched in a few characters on her smartphone.
“What exactly are you all fucking doing?” I asked somewhat irritably.
“I’m on Twitter,” she said without even looking up.
“And I’m on Facebook,” remarked the fat lawyer – his beady little jaundiced eyes looked up again briefly, as if attempting to burn holes in the back of my inner skull.
“Yeah,” I remarked sarcastically, “cos, so much interesting shit is going down in here right now that all your friends need an update.”
“Do you want a beer or not?” asked the barmaid impatiently – her podgy little pink thumbs sliding over the touch sensitive device.
“No thanks,” I said getting to my feet, “I’ve got walls at home I can stare blankly at.”
Suddenly I felt a vibration in my pocket as I vacated the pub.
Christ, I thought whilst taking my phone out of my pocket to check it, this state of constant connectedness is even starting to affect me now.
I glanced at the screen.
Nothing.
A phantom phone vibration I realised. A condition brought on by modern living. A syndrome I had heard media theorist Douglas Rushkoff talk about, where our nervous systems have maladapted to expect real-time communication at any given moment. An electronically induced nervous tick, if you like, that doesn’t even require the device to do anything electronically other than just sit in one’s pocket awaiting an incoming announcement of no or little value.
It was the final straw for me and a much needed match tossed into the proverbial gunpowder barrel. Whatever happened to using a phone as just a phone?
Continue reading "John's Phone: Subversive Mobile Technology"
Friday, July 29. 2011
Lemmy: The Movie
'This two hour film celebrates the life and rock 'n' roll philosophy of Motorhead frontman and bassist Lemmy.
'Lemmy became the bass player in Hawkwind and sang their biggest hit 'Silver Machine' before forming his own hard rockin' metal trio Motorhead in the mid-70s, blending punk and primal rock n roll into a foot to the floor, hard driving rock n roll aesthetic which resulted in monster hits like 'Ace of Spades' and the live album, 'No Sleep Til Hammersmith' in the early 80s and to which he has remained constantly steadfast.
'Still touring, still enjoying the rock 'n' roll lifestyle, still inspired by Little Richard and The Beatles, Lemmy remains the ultimate unredeemed and unrepentant rock 'n' roll star. Joining Lemmy and members of Motorhead to celebrate his life and times are Hawkwind's Dave Brock, Metallica's James Hetfield, Dave Grohl, Alice Cooper, Peter Hook and Jarvis Cocker.' (The Pirate Bay torrent download).
Wednesday, July 20. 2011
News International 'Deliberately' Blocked Investigation
'Rupert Murdoch’s News International company has been found by a parliamentary committee to have "deliberately" tried to block a Scotland Yard criminal investigation into phone hacking at the News of the World.
'The report from MPs on the all-party home affairs committee will be released on Wednesday morning. Its publication has been moved forward in time for a statement on the scandal by the prime minister, David Cameron. The report’s central finding comes a day after Rupert and James Murdoch testified before the culture, media and sport committee. The home affairs committee report marks an official damning judgment on News International’s actions. It finds the company "deliberately" tried to "thwart" the 2005-2006 Metropolitan police investigation into phone hacking carried out by the News of the World.
'The investigation came at a time when Andy Coulson was editor. Coulson went on to be chosen by Cameron to be his director of communications, before resigning.' (Guardian article).
Tuesday, July 19. 2011
Adam Curtis: Rupert Murdoch - A Portrait Of Satan
'Rupert Murdoch doesn't like the BBC. And sometimes the BBC doesn't seem to like Rupert Murdoch either.
'Following the principle that you should know your enemy, the BBC has assiduously recorded the relentless rise of Rupert Murdoch and his assault on the old "decadent" elites of Britain. And I thought it would be interesting to put up some of the high points. It is also a good way to examine how far his populist rhetoric is genuine, and how far its is a smokescreen to disguise the interests of another elite. As a balanced member of the BBC - I leave it to you to decide. (BBC article).
Tuesday, July 12. 2011
The Occultist Who Took On Murdoch's Empire
With all the current sordid revelations emerging concerning the appalling criminal practices conducted by Rupert Murdoch's News International, I am reminded of an account my late friend and mentor, Gerald Suster, gave about the deceitful way in which a News Of The World "journalist" ruined his career back in 1989.
Suster, who was working at the time as a history teacher at Boarzell College in Sussex, had been approached by a NOTW hack called Chris Blythe about his life-long interests in the occult and, most notably, his book The Legacy Of The Beast - The Life, Work & Influence Of Aleister Crowley (which had just made the front cover of Publisher's Weekly).
What transpired back then is very much comparable to the kind of practices that we are hearing about today, and whilst there were no mobile phones around to get hacked into back then, it is clear that the methods and motivation News International employ to get a sensationalist story have changed very little in the last twenty-odd years.
In the Autumn 1996 edition of Talking Stick magazine, Gerald gave an account of how a News Of The World article cost him his job, home and salary in the blink of an eye.
For those of you who still doubt the level that Murdoch and his ilk will stoop to in order to line their pockets and manipulate public perception, I have scanned in the relevant documentation here for your own scrutiny.
Devil Teacher - News Of The World (April 16th 1989)
Gerald Suster's Own Account - Talking Stick (Autumn 1996)
High Court Of Justice Documentation (October 18th 1991)
Looking over this material again today, and viewing it in the context of recent events, I am reminded of the final interview that dramatist and playright Dennis Potter gave to Melvyn Bragg just before his death in 1994.
He said: "As a writer, you will know that one of the favourite fantasy plots is where a character is told: you've got three months to live (which is what I was told) - who would you kill? I call my cancer - the main one in the pancreas - Rupert, because Murdoch is the one. I've got too much writing to do, and I haven't got the energy, but I would shoot the bugger if I could. There is no one person more responsible for the pollution of what was already a fairly polluted press, and the pollution of the British press is an important part of the pollution of British political life, and it's an important part of the cynicism and misperception of our realities that is destroying so much of our political discourse."
Sunday, July 10. 2011
John Pilger In Conversation With Julian Assange
Pilger: The arrival of WikiLeaks coincides with almost a sense of permanent war. The term "permanent war," or "perpetual war," is constantly used now in the United States. We have two wars running together, and other secret wars. In the information that you have revealed on WikiLeaks about these so-called endless wars, what has been the real high-value material that has come out that has given people - ordinary people if you like - the kind of information upon which they can then act?
Assange: Looking at the enormous quantity and diversity of these military or intelligence apparatus inside the documents, what I see is a vast, sprawling estate: what we would traditionally call the "military-intelligence complex" or the "military industrial complex." And that this sprawling industrial estate is growing, becoming more and more secretive, becoming more and more uncontrolled. This is not a sophisticated conspiracy controlled at the top, this is a vast movement of self-interest with thousands and thousands of players all working together and against each other to produce an end result.
Sunday, June 26. 2011
Chris Hedges' Endgame Strategy
'The unrest in the Middle East, the convulsions in Ivory Coast, the hunger sweeping across failed states such as Somalia, the freak weather patterns and the systematic unraveling of the American empire do not signal a lurch toward freedom and democracy but the catastrophic breakdown of globalization. The world as we know it is coming to an end. And what will follow will not be pleasant or easy.
'The bankrupt corporate power elite, who continue to serve the dead ideas of unfettered corporate capitalism, globalization, profligate consumption and an economy dependent on fossil fuels, as well as endless war, have proven incapable of radically shifting course or responding to our altered reality. They react to the great unraveling by pretending it is not happening. They are desperately trying to maintain a doomed system of corporate capitalism. And the worse it gets the more they embrace, and seek to make us embrace, magical thinking. Dozens of members of Congress in the United States have announced that climate change does not exist and evolution is a hoax. They chant the mantra that the marketplace should determine human behavior, even as the unfettered and unregulated marketplace threw the global economy into a seizure and evaporated some $40 trillion in worldwide wealth. The corporate media retreats as swiftly from reality into endless mini-dramas revolving around celebrities or long discussions about the inane comments of a Donald Trump or a Sarah Palin. The real world - the one imploding in our faces - is ignored.
'The deadly convergence of environmental and economic catastrophe is not coincidental. Corporations turn everything, from human beings to the natural world, into commodities they ruthlessly exploit until exhaustion or death. The race of doom is now between environmental collapse and global economic collapse. Which will get us first? Or will they get us at the same time?' (Adbusters article & audio stream).
Tuesday, June 21. 2011
Raymond Wiley On The Georgia Guidestones
Former Out There Radio presenter Raymond Wiley delves into the mystery of the Georgia Guidestones, a massive granite monument located in northeastern Georgia.
Marked by engravings written in twelve languages, the Guidestones are the creation of one R.C. Christian - an individual whose real identity remains unknown. Join Raymond for a tour of the Guidestones and a look at the controversy surrounding the monument and (some say) its apocalyptic messages to humanity.
Raymond and KT Prime are authors of the forthcoming book Georgia Guidestones: America's Most Mysterious Monument. More information here.
Thursday, June 16. 2011
Julian Assange Being Treated 'Like A Caged Animal'
'After six months under virtual house arrest, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange acknowledged Thursday that his detention is hampering the work of the secret-spilling site. His supporters accused Britain of subjecting him to "excessive and dehumanizing" treatment.
'The 39-year-old Australian is living at a supporter's rural estate as he fights extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning over claims of rape and sexual molestation made by two women. Assange's bail conditions require him to observe an overnight curfew, wear an electronic tag and report to police daily.
'His supporters released a video to The Associated Press condemning the conditions. In it, WikiLeaks associate Sarah Harrison accuses authorities of treating Assange "like a caged animal."
'British prosecutors, who initially opposed bail, say the strict conditions are necessary because the claims against Assange are serious and he is a flight risk.
'The video also claims police have set up surveillance cameras near the house to record license plates of visiting cars.' (ABC News article).
Wednesday, June 15. 2011
Charlie Veitch: Scots Will See Parasite Monarchy End
'In an interview with Press TV, Charlie Veitch, political activist, elaborates on Queen Elizabeth II's recent comments that she may be the last royal head of state.
'Press TV: When the Queen of England is quoted as saying she's concerned about a UK break-up, what is she referring to?
'Veitch: She's referring to a 304-year-old union called the United Kingdom that was enacted in a document called the Act of the Union.
'The Scottish nobility eventually surrendered by corruption to the English crown. We're seeing a big campaign now in Scotland with the Scottish National Party [SNP] going to run a vote to see if Scotland wants to break away from England. I've just been in Wales over the last week and there's been a resurgent Welsh identity there.
'I think what we're seeing is a spread of the “Arab Spring” revolutions coming to Europe.
'You've just mentioned in your report that Spainish people are camping. Let's not forget that all royal families are a parasite upon natural order and upon natural law because we are all created equal under the eyes of God, the universe, or whatever you believe in.
'We are seeing the Queen, which is very nice, expressing her very rational fears that the slave ship that she and her parents helped create is about to crash into the rocks.' (PressTV article & video stream).
Tuesday, June 14. 2011
Generation OS13: The New Culture Of Resistance
Generation OS13 is an explosive insight into the attack on civil liberties occurring in western democracies and how artists, musicians, journalists and authors encourage the peoples' right to resist against Banker occupation.
Examining economic dictatorships, puppet regimes, tax havens, tax dodgers, and the debt based money system the film explains why you can not count on the law.
The new culture of resistance carves out a new ideological niche that is firmly critical of our present world order without falling into the trap of the old-fashioned socialist or communist clichés. After all, we need new critiques, new narratives, new inspiration.
For Generation OS13, the repression will not be tolerated.
Monday, June 13. 2011
Anonymous Declares War On The System
It's time to stand up. Anonymous is the idea that we are all one sharing the same idea of freedom and in that idea we are many.
We are Legion!
It's time to take the power back!
Spread the word, spread this message.
Friday, June 10. 2011
The Future Is Paraffin
I just invested in another Aladdin Blue Flame Paraffin Heater. So the power companies can fire up the price of gas and electricity all they goddamned want. Come the winter, they ain't getting a penny extra out of me. In fact I hope there's a major power cut and gas shortage! With all the paraffinalia I've amounted over the last few years, I'll be the warmest, most illuminated, smuggest bastard in town.
So take note, things are gonna get grim. But the future is bright. The future is paraffin!
Check this fascinating documentary about a guy lighting his Primus 5 Classic Stove. Trust me, every bit of this is fascinating, and the money shot at the end is well worth the wait...
Sunday, May 22. 2011
Apocalypse Not Now
Tuesday, May 10. 2011
Horizon - What Is Reality?
Sunday, May 1. 2011
The Royal Wedding Precrime Arrest Of Charlie Veitch
AVTM Royal Wedding Spectacular
'When you first start watching this episode, you might feel things like: confusion, angst, nausea… but don't worry. You're not alone. If you can stomach two and half minutes of Negative Neo-Con Nancy, you're in for an awesome show.
'Charlie Veitch of The Love Police joins AVTM fresh out of jail! Learn why Charlie was arrested for "conspiracy to commit a public nuisance" and Luke Rudkowski talks about the "royal" wedding also known as the "tax funded inbred auto erotic flatulation festival."' (RT video stream).