Some is better than none.

17,000 or so people, mostly but not all Cambodians, entered a small high school in downtown Phnom Penh, in the second half of the 1970's. The three main buildings of relatively equal size in a U-shaped layout, are a couple of blocks off a main avenue. The three or four stories had balconies connecting the doors to the rooms facing the court yard enclosure of the buildings on three sides, the street on the fourth.

They weren't students; they were prisoners. They didn't ask questions, but were asked them. They didn't write; instead, they dictated long personal histories, transcribed by others who were not teachers. Not taught, these "confessions" were elicited by torture; there was no exercise, except that of the others who were not teachers, in its administration.

They didn't paint, but years later one man would. That man was made to sculpt the image of another man, Pol Pot, over and over again. Because of this, the artist, Van Nath, would be one of the dozen or so who would live through the reign of the Khmer Rouge. Still, some is better than none.

Look familiar? Indeed, it should. The above is one in a series made by Nath of the varied tortures used in Tuol Sleng, as the school became known, referring to the once school as "poison." It is a depiction of a man being waterboarded. Looks like torture to me. Apparently it felt like it as well to Christopher Hitchens, who allowed himself to be waterboarded by ex-military trained in the practice. You can watch the video here. He lasted a only few seconds. But, some is better than none.

Today, the former head of the prison, Comrade Duch, will go on trial, more than 30 years after its opening. This represents the first major figure in the Khmer Rogue to ever be put on trial. Pol Pot, the Stalin/Mao figure of Cambodia was allowed to die in the same jungle from which he waged his campaign of terror.

No wonder: the democratically (sort-of) elected, current and long-time Prime Minister of Cambodia was himself a high-ranking comrade in the Khmer Rouge. For this and other reasons, some in the country say this will be the only trial of a top official to be allowed to take place. In custody, waiting for trial sit a handful of other top Khmer Rouge. And, still, some is better than none.

Here at home, there are similar calls for justice for some of past Administration. At least a "truth and reconciliation," if not criminal charges for Rumsfeld, Cheney, Bush, et al. There doesn't seem to be much interest for this in Congress, from the press, or from the President. But, who knows, maybe they'll get Colin Powell on knowingly lying to the U.N. or Condi Rice on her incompetence as National Security Advisor before 9-11 (hm, funny, they're both black.) My vote is for George "slam dunk" Tenet, or some other higher-up at the CIA; less for the bad intel concerning Sadam's (lack of) WMDs and more about the Company's failure to alert the FBI--or someone--to their knowledge that the 9-11 hijackers were in the country.

Now, even 30 years down the line, some would be better than none.

Curiouser & Curiouser

Wanted to share this really cool site, Curious Expeditions, for those of you who into all things interesting and a bit weird--historically, anthropologically, etc. You know, those of us who get off on museums and dusty books, filled with the minutia of worlds past.

I was drawn to the place by a post about a once hidden tunnel running along a good length of Atlantic Ave. One of the first major commercial hubs in the bustling city (later turned borough) of Brooklyn in the mid to late 1800's, just past the courts and politicos of Downtown and what was once the New York's main waterfront, in DUMBO and the Navy Yard, it remains so today (and finally with our very own Trade Joe's). Just beneath the surface, apparently, is what was for a short time the worlds first underground subway tunnel. Less built to save the Irish immigrants of the neighborhood that were being mowed down by the senior Vanderbilt's trains fairly regularly--interestingly, the story goes that originally the famous baseball team's full name was the the "Brooklyn Trolley-Dodgers," which were as much a hazard throughout the city--and more to avoid the costly delays resulting from the accidents.

Pictured here, from the site as well, this curiosity rather strikes me somehow as pertaining to the dance now engaged in by government and the economy and, of course, the rest of us. I'm not sure if what the fox represents is big finance or perhaps the new fangs barred by Congress and the Administration's new legislation to get a hold on things. But, I must admit, these days I think we're all feeling a bit like the duckling, no?

I'm proud of my country.

According to Brian Lehrer, on WNYC, President Obama's address/news conference the other night was viewed by more people than "American Idol"--if that's not Change We Can Believe In, I don't know what is. Way to go America.

A confidence game.

If it's really true, as I've always felt, that certain "free" markets--financial "instruments" and money maneuvering, things other than banks lending money--are a racket, then it gives one pause: the thought that feeding the injured pit bull might not be the best thing for the rest of us.

Sure, tax breaks to those that will spend or create jobs; infusion into infrastructure and incentivize technological research. But blindly recapitalizing institutions that screwed us once (really more than once) already? Well, then, doesn't it seem a bit counter intuitive to let them do it again? Why can't we just take them over? We're the only game in town now, seemingly, anyway.

The government is the one thing that can give a sense of certainty, security for these "toxic" assets. Part of the reason they're worthless is because of the institutions that are holding them. Either off their heads (!) and replace them with new ones, or at least down with their salaries--they're bitching about the need for bonuses to be given and high salaries paid to keep these people on; why do we still want them?

But even for those who didn't take part in the bailout and still have had a bad year(s), what about the financial responsibility to the stock holders? What about stockholder responsibility, the risk involved in investing in the all this stuff, for that matter? Or those who choose to work in finance, in the first place. They're all geniuses who worked hard for all that money; but now that they've lost it all, it's not their fault? Capitalism when the economy's good and socialism when it's bad.

Seriously though, right now, it's just bad p.r. for any company or Wall St hack to seem too indulgent. And if you do take money from the government, serious money, than you have to show what it's going towards. And though, yes, you do have to spend some on salary, keeping people employed--it was a bad year! They're lucky to have a job at all. A lot of sectors of the economy are bad, at no fault of their own, but Wall St. actively took part in causing, nay creating this aggregate-mess.

All nationalizing has to be, and this is without heavy new regulation, is more stringent oversight. Until we get some people in there (the administration, regulatory agencies and Congress) that actually know what's been and is now going on, forget about being able to watch over people on Wall St. if we just throw a bunch of money at them, uninformed and unconditionally.

Paradoxically, that's exactly what you have to do if you're in the private sector, they say. It's called incentive. But if you're the government then it's pork; throwing good money after bad. You need to pay the most to get the best people, so it goes, but then why doesn't the government compete, and do the same? It shouldn't, it can't, they say. And they're right that it can't--but only because government has been handicapped from doing so by the very belief that it shouldn't.

No, the government will never do better than the private sector in recruiting talent unless it becomes cooler to be in government. And if that's not done through higher salaries, a sea change in the priorities and value systems of our "best and brightest" (like viewing public service on par with owning a Hummer) is needed to engender more competition with the private sector. It's possible.

At some point, the money involved in most of our lives become such abstractions that things like greed and values can become so too. Economic-greed is trope of American life, and as such is well ingrained. Though irremovable completely, competing narratives have and can actively shift the money-greed paradigm--see radicalism, cults and religions. To what? Maybe we'll find out.

Anyway, it seems to be the sentiment of the new guy, Geitner, that the TARP money was given out too casually the first time around, and he won't make the same mistake.

I know: some greed is good; needed for the financial system to work more efficiently. But, that only greed need be, or even should be the sole economic sphere of the culture, well, that's just too narrow a view.

People speak easily of patriotism. To me that implies belief in the at least the possibility that government can function for the benefit of people; and in a creative, inventive, proactive way, not just serve a restrictive, conservative function. Where's all that American ingenuity? This has to be about more than a bastion of freedom and liberty, abstract though still compelling ideas, that's even part of simple anarchy.

Institutions. Physical, problem-solving, groups of people, formed by a elected, representative government.

We're supposed to be about more than just a playground for the smart and strong and lucky--the rest be damned. Fuck that. People are pissed, like 1789-French style. Rich is going out of fashion. Maybe.

Privilege is fine; too much is not. How then is that to be determined? Well, I recommend not waiting until the mobs start tramping down the gates of private sub-divisions.

The Winter of Our Difficult Year (or: All Ginned' Up.)

Indeed. He totally ignored Ellen. Ellen! That lady's skin is literally falling of her bones. She was all like, bitch, you didn't even answer my question! Barack was all like, I don't hear you, and called on another reporter.

Obama was kinda pissy, but so have I, too. These Milton Friedman idolaters just don't get it. "The party is now over," Obama chastised grimly. "Doing nothing is not an option." The president spoke of "ideological baggage," still around after 8 years (more like 28 by my count) of "failed" policies. Obama made it clear he wasn't going to Stepin Fetchit for politics and Washington-cultura as usual.

In this way, Obama is a radical. Screw (hey, he said he "screwed up" the other day) seniority. The old boys club is closed. The yacht club clique is over. What, you're still here? You lost. "That's what the election was about." A referendum: out with the old and in with the new. Change. You're the reason we're in such a predicament! he complains, begging sympathy.

For that I do. But then, I don't like it when he points out, dramatically, that he "inherited" a "doubling of the deficit." Yeah, we know dude, no ones blaming you. Chill. Which he usually is, except tonight, he was fierce--kind of "on fire," so to speak.

Speaking of the regularly "cool" Obama, there's a really good SNL skit (yeah, Hulu) playing on how mellow, chill his demeanor is. Very jazz. Not jazz-hands jazz. Like Blue Note-jazz.

And so, round one to Obama.

He's a Professional.

Or so goes the new song by the Mae Shai inspired by and quoting and sampling from the now infamous Christian Bale tirade. I recommend listening. If only to hear how big a dick someone can be.

I've been "lucky" enough to have heard a few--usually not directed at me--at some of my myriad jobs over the years. Listening to this I was flooded with sense memories of both anger and amusement. Mad that someone would treat someone else like that for what seems like a minor thing (walking around on the set of a movie, thereby distracting Bale?). But worse, and here is what I'm remembering, is the asymmetrical power dynamic of a guy who can get away with it, and another guy that essentially has to shutup and take it.

Brings out the rooting for the underdog thing, maybe. A good deal of movies from my childhood, now that I think about it, had a similar theme running through it. But, in the movies, the loser gets the girl and makes the jock look like the cock he always was--not in this movie. Or at least not on the set anyway. Admittedly, it is funny too, and, rightfully, deserves to be made fun of.



(Big ups to Brooklyn Vegan for the samples.)

TARP this. (or: I Wanna a New Drug)

Of course, it takes a comedian to speak truth to power. Like Lenny Bruce and George Carlin before him, Gary Shandling on Tavis Smiley, tonight, talked about the "culture of greed" and an "addiction to money" that has gotten the country where it is at the moment. He went to joke that instead of the TARP bailout, whats needed is an Alcoholics Anonymous for the greedy on Wall St.

"If you put a big pile of cocaine in front of a coke addict, they're not going to start sharing it and spreading it around to their friends and co-workers."

The funny thing (or rather, the other funny thing) is that, perhaps not so coincidentally, the metaphor actually isn't completely a metaphor--it's a long established part of Wall St. culture to indulge in the white stuff.

Thinking about Shandling's call for an AA-like group for greed, it occurred to me that there isn't a word for a catchy acronym. There's no adjective for a greedy person that would work well. Rapacists Anonymous? That's not even a real word. Sure, there's GA (Gluttons Anonymous). But that sounds like it's more for over-eaters.

Well, let's open it up: any suggestions? Best answer will get a big ol' pile coke (cans).

But have you ever won an olympic gold medal... on weed!?!

Apparently Michael Phelps has. Which less proves the amazing things that can be done as a pot smoker, and more so the unbelievable physical abilities of certain members of the species despite it. Don't get me wrong, I love the pot. But, I can barely get off the couch these days (which is not a bad thing occasionally) if I do indulge, forget about walking down the street to the Y and swimming a few laps. That said, I think this only makes Phelps an even more astounding athlete--and a cooler guy, that I'd want to hang out with (sorry, but it's true).

(Thanks to Vanity Fair for the image, my first rip-off from them. Does this mean I'm getting classier? Hope not.)

I just spit all over my screen

Because of this video. Holy crap. Off to grab a towel and wipe my MacBook down. Enjoy, and say thanks to FREEwilliamsburg.

Finally made it to the airwaves!

Was listening to NPR (yeah, don't all roll your eyes at once), Sound Check with John Schaefer as he was interviewing Iain Ellis about his new book, "Rebels Wit Attitude: Subversive Rock Humorists," about the history of humor in rock. Not the most obvious topic, but he made a good case. As usual, they asked for online comments. So I wrote:

[3] dan from bed-stuy January 22, 2009 - 02:18PM

I know this will probably show up in his Brit book, but Rob Halford of Judas Priest was himself one big joke, or rather he pulled off a joke on all his testosterone, hetero gay-bashing fans by getting them to sing along with essentially gay sex anthems. Heavy metal, heavy irony.

Schaefer chose to read it on air, struggling to hold back his laughter, while his guest--who is a Brit--laughed loudly and then said, "Brilliant! I couldn't agree more."

Born to Hulu

FYI, folks, in case you didn't know: today is a new era. An historical landmark, a new beginning, a breathe of fresh air has swept through the land--and it smells good. I'm talking about the change that has finally come, before our very eyes, and the hope engendered by the progress made on a journey started long ago. Of course, I'm talking about, none other than the freedom to watch The Daily Show with Jon Stewart without cable hookup, online, for nothing, and with even less commercials than there are normally. And who is to thank for this day to rejoice? No, not President of the United States, one Barack Hussein Obama (although something this good must have had him involved somehow), but something called Hulu. What does it mean? Who the hell cares. Now, you can watch the best fake news around. Yep, The Colbert Report, too. Happy day, oh happy day!

BTW: The first black president was inaugurated yesterday to much fanfare. That's right, a black guy is now the Man. These are indeed confusing times we live in. I heard Public Enemy's "Fight The Power" has become Rush Limbaugh's new theme song. I can die happy now.

Flashback to a cold water plane incident, Wash D.C.

Holy shit! A plane just crashed into the Hudson river: 151 people aboard, no word on rescues; though there is video footage of many being rescued. Strike that, it was an intentional landing, doesn't look too bad. But it's balls cold out there. Damn geese. Apparently that's what caused the need to land.