Apologies for not replying sooner, this is the first time i`ve been on LT for a month or two.

As I was telling Eurydice recently, my wife and I moved from Nottingham to Heanor (a small former mining town on the Notts/Derbys border) around 18 months ago for many reasons, but big ones being the availability of cheap good quality housing and easy access to the Derbyshire countryside. It also has the advantage (to us, if not the community as a whole) that the old collieries have been turned into nature reserves and country parks - the nearest (a former open-cast mine) is literally 10 minutes walk from our front door, the largest (Shipley Park) is ony a little further.

Can quite understand how you feel about missing Clarke/Andy. I recall once having to miss Ernest Ranglin due to work commitments - can`t think I`ll ever see him now.

Actually, I did have some news that might interest you. when I was younger, there were three main reggae bands in Nott`m - Positive Vibes (never recorded), Far Image (released one single) and The Naturalites/Realistics, who recorded quite a bit and went on to act as backing band for various acts of the day, notably Sanchez. John Peel was a big fan I recall and played their single Picture on my Wall a lot. Cutting a long story short, one of my friends saw an ex-Naturalite live recently and said he was still in good voice. I`d assumed they had given up years ago - well, one was a session musician last I heard - but apparently not. If we hear any more of them I`ll let you know.

posted by nickhoonaloon at 5:00 am (EST) on Jul 17, 2008

Sorry I`ve not been in touch for a while. I don`t know why but I must admit that since my dad`s death I find myself not wanting to spend time on the computer except for work. There`s so much more to life than sitting in front of a screen !

Seen any bands lately ?

Nick

P.S. Was interested to see the messages below about third party votes. As you may know, in the UK, the Labour vote in it`s traditional strongholds all but collapsed at the recent local elections. Where I live neither the Conservatives (traditionally the party of the right) or the Libdems (the former centre party) have the slightest chance of getting elected and unfortunately the collapse of the `traditional` Labour vote allowed the far-right British National Party to win seats from them.

In nearby Derby, Labour voters punished their candidates for entering into a Labour/Conservative alliance by giving their votes to the Libdems.

Of course, the southern-based media saw the entire thing in terms of the respective fortunes of the Labour and Conservative parties !

posted by nickhoonaloon at 11:21 am (EST) on Jun 15, 2008

Dear Tony,

No, I wouldn't really compare the book to the film, per se. The film seem to be a documentary on Chomsky and his media battles, whereas the book is the research he and Herman did. I only hope that the viewers on You Tube pick up the book of the same title.

Well, looks like Gravel is out of the presidency race, BUT he is NOT going away; he will continue to campaign for Citizen Power, and the National Initiative for Democracy. =)

He has recently re-issued the book, Citizen Power, and the forward was written by Ralph Nader.

posted by sweetdissident at 11:09 pm (EST) on May 26, 2008

I am just happy that you found it all so inspiring. =) I do, too.

A vote for a third party is not a spoiled vote, I think there is something on You tube where Chomsky talks about this. But, many believe it is. Easy to see their logic; I understand. It's only a spoiled vote if you really are undecided between two candidates, one with privilege, and one without. Then, sure, vote for the privileged one, he/she has more of a "shot," I suppose. But if you dislike any of the privileged candidates, a vote for a third party candidate is at least a vote against the others. That's one way to look at it. =)

Wow, what a "democracy" we have here in the states, huh? BTW, loved the Manufacturing Consent videos! My boyfriend even watched a lot of it with me, w/o prodding from me! I do hope people don't forget to read the book, however, which is even more convincing.

As always, thanks for the heartening dialogue, Tony! =)

posted by sweetdissident at 10:18 am (EST) on May 17, 2008

Wow! I am so glad that learning about Gravel has had such an effect!!
If only the same were true on ZNet. =(
The folks there do not seem open to discussion re: Gravel, or even the National Initiative! I can't even get a reply as yet from Chris Spannos re: The National Initiative. The poeple on Z Forums only pay attention to the semantics of Party politics, and do not seem to care to explore Gravel any further. They refer to his switching to the Libertarian Party as "ominus," and ignore anything else about him. (sigh). I am truly delighted in your interest!! Thank you, Tony!! And thanks for the support, any thing we can do to get the word out re: Gravel or the National Initiative is terribly important!! =)

posted by sweetdissident at 8:27 pm (EST) on May 14, 2008

LOL! re: Chomsky would tell people not to vote for him. That's exactly what I hear him saying!! Well, he does come as close as Chomsky will ever get to "endorsing" someone on a You Tube video where he was asked about the primaries. He "applauds Gravel," the video title shouts. It's on my channel there as a favorite. =) Ironically, in my state anyway, there is only a two party choice during primaries, which we can change through the national initiative if it gets enough votes, or signatures.

Oh 17 videos is nothing, I will watch it anyhow!! I was just gonna ask you for the link!! So thanks! All the Gravel videos, especially his "musical" ones are a scream! Seen any of those?

Ta~ta for now,
Ginny

posted by sweetdissident at 4:54 pm (EST) on May 13, 2008

Oh, thank you, Tony, for taking a look!! I just knew you would love it!! Glad you found it inspiring as I did. LOL, I was thinking the same thing: Mr. Smith!!

I saw another where he said if he were president he would have Chomsky as an advisor!

Gravel '08!

posted by sweetdissident at 12:12 am (EST) on May 12, 2008

Hey, Tony!

I just had to write and tell you about Mike gravel. I know this may seem to have little to do with a citizen of Ireland, but. . . Just as Chomsky excites the imagination with his scholarship and ideas, so does Gravel, this unlikely American candidate for presidency in '08. You know I wouldn't mention it if I didn't think you would find it facsinating beyond belief!! Take a look at You Tube. This man's ideas on social transformation and foreign policy are encouraging and insightful. Speaking of Dr. Strangelove; you know I've oft fanticized what it might be like to have a president like Merkin Muffley. . . . Gravel is such a man. He's like Chomsky, only instead of writing,(well, Gravel also writes, but not like Chomsky)teaching, and lecturing (also needed and appreciated) he's taking action!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_OBslG2A...

Take a look!! Especially about 20 minutes in (you can fast forward by dragging the little button horizontally to the right).

I would love to know what you think as a person not in America.

posted by sweetdissident at 3:54 pm (EST) on May 8, 2008

I can't wait to see the film. It's on my "to do" list. I once saw an interview w/ Chomsky on You Tube, where he says he himself has never seen the film, lol!

There are probably many collected essays of Trevor in book form, or collections of his stories. The one I have is titled after one of the stories in it: Beyond the Pale.

I wonder if my friend doowatt34 (that's her library thing name)has the Thomas book in her library? She has an amazing collection of African American history.

Yes, Arundhati Roy wrote The God of Small Things, glorious fiction (check out my cover & description of the book in my catalogue here). I didn't know she wrote non-fiction until I met a friend who told me about War Talk! Lol! I have since read all of her books, but I will always love TGOST. Her fiction is noteworthy for its imagery & word play.

Now, Zinn, a propagandist? This is one debate on ZNet; weather facts are slanted one way or another. I think facts simply are, and one may have emotional reactions to them. For instance, to say that the U.S. has engaged in terrorist attacks in Iraq, and aided and abetted terrorist attacks on Lebanon and Palestine, is factual. One may dislike the fact of it, but there is nothing perjorative in calling hegemonic murder what it is; terror. I feel there is lots of propaganda, intentionally meant to mislead us, in our media. When Zinn writes the history of white European conquests, he isn't lying, or telling half-truths, or making thinmgs up. So although it is shocking to us white Europeans, it is, nevertheless, true. What do you think? =)

posted by sweetdissident at 6:18 pm (EST) on Apr 30, 2008

Tony, I will have to see that film!! So far, only read the book Manufacturing Consent.

Lol, re: "propaganda" beside Zinn's name!! The enemy is careful to label their adversaries with their own sins.

BTW just finished "Wicked; the Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West," by Gregory Maguire. Delicious!!!

posted by sweetdissident at 5:56 pm (EST) on Apr 27, 2008

You're right, re: ZNet, BUT it is still an important place to connect for activists, and still a wealth of information to be had there. Sure, some are snobby college kids (present company excluded) who just want to show off the new words they learned in class yesterday, or take the simplest subject, and apply every socio-economic theory they have ever heard of to make it as tiresome as possible! Lol. But there is always lots of good information on the site; I find it invaluable to that particular end. And c'mon, you know as well as I do that it is fun to see Chomsky correspond w/ others, or to correspond w/ him yourself! =)

BTW so glad you picked up Zinn's famous tome!! Can't wait to get a hold of it myself. He is a very, very darling human being. Have you seen his review of "A Violent Cartography?" It's on ZNet, as well. He has a blog on ZNet.

Cheers!
~Ginny

posted by sweetdissident at 10:16 am (EST) on Apr 20, 2008

Apologies for long delay in continuing our chat about music. Unfortunately my father died recently, so other stuff had to take a back seat.

As regards Culture w/ Joseph Hill, I saw them twice IIRC, once circa 1981 - might have been their first ever UK gig, though might have remembered that wrongly. I recall that they had an equipment malfunction and did Holy Mount Zion as an acapella number while it was fixed. A great moment ! The other time was quite a few years ago now (2000 ?)- they did a lot of numbers from One Stone as I recall.

My friend Paul tells me it`s the Max Romeo/Lee Perry tracks he likes. I do have one on a compilation, a collaboration between Perry, Romeo and `Niney` Holness. I don`t much like it myself.

Anyway, must go,

Best,

Nick

posted by nickhoonaloon at 11:51 am (EST) on Apr 19, 2008

Sorry for ltnw, my computer was down for a while =(.

Yes, an escape I suppose (I call it a "balance"), but still nice to have some shared values as well. =)

There is some interesting discussion re: propaganda on Z Net forums, plus I'll put a link here I think you will LOVE~ from Howard Zinn:

http://www.zcommunications.org/znet/view...

Wow!!

posted by sweetdissident at 6:47 pm (EST) on Apr 10, 2008

Lol!! oh I know how you feel!!

I was trying to be extra cheerful and hopeful in that last reply =), and now today, well. . .

Last night I was simply pointing out the self-agrandizing propaganda in American Hollywood films, and my bf was disgusted with me, and couldn't begin to understand that Henry Fonda's character in "Fail-safe" is portrayed as a determined heroic one, whereas his Russian counterpart has to be "shown the light" by Fonda's character... even though it was a mild example. I was only trying to get him to see that propanganda is inbred into us in every imaginable way, making us suspicious and un-loving toward our neighbors.

I pointed out that Merkin Muffley, the president in "Dr. Strangelove," had more humility. He said "It's only a movie!"
(sigh).

He asked me if I was ever going to "lighten up," or "chill." I asked him if he thought it was ever a good time to "chill" regarding social injustice. (sigh). Propaganda perpetuates injustice, in my opinion.

And yes you are an intellectual.

posted by sweetdissident at 4:43 pm (EST) on Mar 27, 2008

It is so dear to have a sympathetic ear!!

Well, one thing I can say is my boyfriend tends to balance me and reminds me to have a sense of humor, and not take everything so seriously.

Very difficult for me, when I am a nuevo-budding-intellectual who is so passionate about injustice and hatred. Perhaps we can take solace in the fact that our mates are open minded enough to understand that we need to communicate with like-minded people about our activism and ideas. =) He did introduce me to Dr. Strangelove, after all.

Democracy Now! is one opener for us. He actually watches it with no prodding, on occasion! He respects Amy Goodman, and that may be a start, for example, when he sees it one day, and they are talking about the next horrid imperialistic act of violence, perhaps it will "sink in," so to speak. My fingers are crossed.

posted by sweetdissident at 7:22 pm (EST) on Mar 26, 2008

Yes, it was hilarious!! You had me for a minute, but me & my boyfriend love the movie so much, I caught on pretty fast, lol!

Hey, Tony, are you a Z Net subscriber yet? They have forums w/ Chomsky Chat.

posted by sweetdissident at 6:13 pm (EST) on Mar 22, 2008

Did you ever see Culture with Joseph Hill ? I saw them twice, once as a youngster -circa 1981 I`d think, then just a few years ago.

Strange though it sounds, I don`t always enjoy seeing my favourite recording artists live, but I`m glad to say Culture were top notch both times.

Nick

posted by nickhoonaloon at 12:35 pm (EST) on Mar 21, 2008

LOL re: bodily fluids! I just now got that! Ha! Jack D. Ripper, lol.

posted by sweetdissident at 12:22 am (EST) on Mar 15, 2008

Dear Tony,

You know what is interesting, is that I just got a new pair of glasses, and when I responded to you yesterday, my boyfriend had to proofread because I couldn't see what I was typing, and well, I guess we see how much he cares, now don't we? Hmm, certainly will discuss that with him! You must have thought I'd gone mad! Oh well, now I have reading glasses again, so no troubles.

Yes I've read being there and can't wait to view the film. I have never seen it, but have read about it in one of Shirley MacLaine's books.

I should have known you'd be a Peter Sellers fan too!

Take care, ~Ginny

posted by sweetdissident at 12:19 am (EST) on Mar 15, 2008

Max Romeo next, then ? Don`t know much about him, though one of my friends is a fan of his. Have a good time !

Nick

posted by nickhoonaloon at 2:47 pm (EST) on Feb 15, 2008

Hey,

Nice to hear from you again!! I will have to give Marshall a read. I need more bookshelves, and I just keep buying books, but I need to stop and do some serious reading. I have made the spare bedroom a little "library" (yay!) and it is my favorite room in the house. (sigh). I think I told you I got "Inside Lebanon," and "Chomsky on Anarchism," as well as Said's "Orientalism." Still much reading to do. Have you read "Beyond the Pale" yet?

Fondly,

Sweet Dissident

posted by sweetdissident at 7:49 pm (EST) on Feb 9, 2008

Excellent. Very impressed with that. The Abyssinians in my opinion are one of the most important reggae bands and dserv a much wider audience.

`Scue hasty reply - bit pressed for time.

Best,

Nick

posted by nickhoonaloon at 5:41 am (EST) on Dec 14, 2007

You`re going to see The Abyssinians - it`s a good job i`m not prone to jealousy !!! I`m sure you`ll have a good time.

posted by nickhoonaloon at 4:59 pm (EST) on Nov 13, 2007

Thanks for your message. I am finding that other commitments keep me away from LT quite a bit now, but i intend to keep the group going as best i can. Look forward to seeing your contributions some time.

All the Best,

Nick

posted by nickhoonaloon at 2:01 pm (EST) on Nov 13, 2007

PS I ams ure you have slready checked out the official Chomsky site. Another mine of information.

posted by FourSeasons at 9:27 am (EST) on Aug 20, 2007

Hi four seasons. I'm new on library thing. I just had to comment to you on your profile, because we both love Chomsky so much. I was reading the blogs about "books that could change the world." You recommended Chomsky, and I couldn't agree more! I would have suggested Manufacturing Consent, co-authored w/ Herman, as well. I still haven't read all of Chomsky's writing on media reform and foreign policy, but have read Manufacturing Consent, The Fateful Triangle, and For Reasons of State. I wrote to Chomsky at MIT to tell him he is "an oasis of sanity & reason in a desert of apathy & misinformation." LOL! He replied too!

I look up a lot of his writings on Z Magazine web site, and www.democracynow.org. Democracy Now! has interviews w/ him in their features section; you'd love it if you don't already. =)

I made a "homepage" on aol, just to share MY list of books that might change some minds, if not the world, lol!

I think a link to it is on my profile here at librarything.

Enjoyed your profile & library. Look forward to future exchange of comments.
Thanks,
"Sweet Dissident"

posted by sweetdissident at 3:25 pm (EST) on Aug 16, 2007