Welcome! "The Evening Blues" is a casual community diary (published Monday - Friday, 8:00 PM Eastern) where we hang out, share and talk about news, music, photography and other things of interest to the community.
Just about anything goes, but attacks and pie fights are not welcome here. This is a community diary and a friendly, peaceful, supportive place for people to interact.
Everyone who wants to join in peaceful interaction is very welcome here.
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Hey! Good Evening!
This evenings music features delta blues musician Kansas Joe McCoy, brother of last night's featured artist, Papa Charlie McCoy and husband of Memphis Minnie. Enjoy!
Kansas Joe McCoy - Evil Devil Woman Blues
“They're so broke that they've actually cut essential services. In many places, they've cut policemen, because, who the fuck needs them? Or firemen, son of a bitch, it's much more fun watching something burn down.”
-- Lewis Black
News
Will Taxing the Rich Deepen the Recession? - The "Fiscal Cliff" is a Scam
NATO mulls missiles for Turkey
NATO foreign ministers were set on Tuesday to approve Turkey’s request for Patriot missiles to counter any threats from neighbouring Syria after the United States issued a blunt warning to Damascus against the use of chemical weapons.
Officials from the 28-member alliance meeting in Brussels have said that the US-made missiles, to be deployed along Turkey’s border with Syria, would be for purely defensive purposes. ...
More than 41,000 people have been killed in violence across Syria since the outbreak of an anti-regime revolt in March last year, according to the Observatory, and several hundred thousand have fled into neighbouring countries including Turkey. ...
Against this backdrop, Syria dominates the two-day NATO meeting in Brussels, with a decision on Turkey’s request for Patriot batteries to defend itself against any Syrian missile attack top of the agenda. ...
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Monday that any deployment of Patriot missiles would only add to tensions and possibly widen the conflict.
The Hypocrisy of US Defense of Israel's Gaza War
Iran captures US drone over Gulf waters
Iran has “captured” an unmanned US drone over Gulf waters after it entered Iranian airspace, the Revolutionary Guards said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The unmanned US drone patrolling Persian Gulf waters, performing reconnaissance and gathering intel, was captured as soon as it entered Iranian airspace,” the elite unit’s naval forces said, cited by state broadcaster IRIB.
Drone Poster Artist Arrested, NYPD Does Not Find Satire Amusing
Essam Attia, 29, was hit with 56 counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument, grand larceny possession of stolen property and weapons possession after allegedly having an unloaded .22-caliber revolver under his bed at his Manhattan apartment when he was arrested early Wednesday.
Authorities said Attia planted dozens of ads in display cases around the city between Sept. 14 and 16. Many of them even used his artist signature, “ESSAM.” ...
He posted bail, which was set at $10,000 bond or $2,500 cash, and is due back in Manhattan Criminal Court on Dec. 3.
NYC artist imprisoned for criticizing police surveillance program
The “drone caucus” sped up domestic drone use
A new report found lawmakers received drone-related campaign funds and pushed through an agenda despite problems
The proliferation of drones in domestic law enforcement and beyond has been boosted on Capitol Hill by a 60-representative strong, bipartisan “drone caucus,” according to an investigative report by the Center for Responsive Politics and Hearst newspapers.
Pushing an agenda to hurry surveillance drones into the domestic market, even though many questions about the ethics and safety of their deployment remain unanswered, has earned members of the House Unmanned Systems Caucus $8 million in drone-related campaign contributions, the investigation revealed.
First ever presentation by Bradley Manning's attorney David Coombs
Los Angeles mayor warns trade hub strike cannot go on
A strike disrupting cargo through a key US trade gateway with Asia is about to enter its second week, with no progress reported in negotiations, and warnings about the economic fallout.
Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has called for round-the-clock bargaining to end the strike at the ports of Los Angeles and nearby Long Beach, where strike action began last Tuesday.
“This cannot continue,” Villaraigosa said in a message to union leader John Fageaux Jr. and employers’ chief negotiator Stephen Berry, warning that the labor dispute is “costing our local economy billions of dollars.” ...
The action by clerical staff started at a terminal in Los Angeles port last Tuesday but spread to six other terminals and Long Beach on Wednesday. ...
The port in Los Angeles and the one in neighboring Long Beach constitute the seventh busiest commercial harbor in the world, handling more than 40 percent of ocean-shipped US imports from Asia.
Holding Chevron accountable
In Doha, Lead US Negotiator Plays Down Expectations of Climate Action in Obama's Second Term
Historic 'Super Typhoon' Bopha Smashes Into Philippines
Historic and potentially catastrophic Super Typhoon Bopha has made a direct hit on the southern Philippines on Tuesday morning, raising fears the impacts of the storm may be far worse than a much weaker 2011 storm that killed over 1200 people.
The powerful storm made landfall at 3:45 PM EST on Monday, 4:45 AM Tuesday local time.
The Category 5 Super Typhoon has sustained winds of over 161 mph - gusting to 195 mph - and is the most southerly typhoon ever recorded in the Western Pacific. AccuWeather reports it "is expected to bring life-threatening impacts."
Fossil Fuel Subsidies Five Times Greater Than Pledges To Help Developing Nations
An analysis by advocacy group Oil Change International and Earth Track, found that "fossil fuel subsidies in rich countries are, on average, five times greater than those same countries' pledges towards climate finance—support to developing countries to address climate change and its impacts.''
During the COP18 climate conference in Doha, Qatar, activists from less affluent countries have called upon G20 leaders to help poorer nations cope with climate change—in the form of compensation for their greater greenhouse gas emissions.
But according to the Oil Change International report released this week, fossil fuel subsidies in 2012 are likely to total $775 billion—although an exact figure will not be known because governments are "hiding their handouts to oil, gas and coal."
Check out this excellent eyewitness report from the Momcat about Occupy Sandy:
Rescuing the Volunteers of Hurricane Sandy
Over a month, New York City is still reeling from the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Many people are still without power, heat and far too many without a place to live. Volunteers are still needed in the hardest hit areas of Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. The last thing that the residents of these neighborhoods need is the heavy handed control tactics of Mayor Michael Bloomberg who likes to maintain the illusion that everything is going well and no more help is needed. Now all he needs is $32 billion in federal aid to repair Manhattan's damaged infrastructure and expand the subway system, not protect it. ... I went to Midland Beach to spend a couple of hours talking to the people and walking around the area. Despite the destruction, the dwindling interest of the city to help clean up and frusrations, the attitude is perseverance and determination to rebuild and stay in their home community.
[follow the link above for more]
Action Center
Occupy Sandy is planning a day of action on December 15th
Hurricane Sandy is an ongoing tragedy that for many people is only getting worse.
Residents, community organizations and city, state, and federal agencies must come together to address the IMMEDIATE crisis that is worsening as the weather gets colder.
A month after Hurricane Sandy, thousands remain without electricity, heat, water, healthy food, basic healthcare, adequate housing, or even temporary shelter.
Stay Informed and Take Action
From the start, Occupy Wall Street has always been a disaster recovery effort propelled by the power of the people to rebuild a better future. We, along with our many allies, have been dedicated to more than just addressing economic inequality. We believed, and continue to believe, that New York City can reverse its role as the capitol of economic inequality, homelessness and corporate control over our democracy, and become a model for addressing the needs of its residents while promoting their dignity and ability to help shape our future.
In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, yet again we see both an opportunity and a threat. As Hurricane Katrina showed, moments of devastation and rebuilding can lead to the return of the status quo, or worse — gentrification, displacement and continued privatization of basic services and jobs.
Further info on December 15 day of action, click here.
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Blog Posts of Interest
Here are diaries and selected blog posts of interest on DailyKos and other blogs.
What's Happenin'
Manning's Attorney Speaks Publicly For the First Time, Describes Manning's Torture
Rich nations subsidize fossil fuels at 5x rate they give to climate assistance fund for poor nations
Bradley Manning: a tale of liberty lost in America
Liberation Day
Drone Wars: A Very Tiny Victory.
A Little Night Music
Kansas Joe McCoy - Well, Well
Kansas Joe McCoy - Pile Driver Blues
Kansas Joe McCoy - What's The Matter With You?
Kansas Joe McCoy - My Babe, My Babe
Kansas Joe McCoy - I'm Alright Now
Kansas Joe McCoy - The World's A Hard Place To Live In
Kansas Joe McCoy & Memphis Minnie - Joliet Bound
Kansas Joe McCoy - Something Gonna Happen To You
Kansas Joe McCoy - One More Greasing
Memphis Minnie & Kansas Joe - Wild About My Stuff
Memphis Minnie & Kansas Joe - When The Levee Breaks
Remember when progressive debate was about our values and not about a "progressive" candidate? Remember when progressive websites championed progressive values and didn't tell progressives to shut up about values so that "progressive" candidates can get elected?
Come to where the debate is not constrained by oaths of fealty to persons or parties.
Come to where the pie is served in a variety of flavors.
"The smart way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable opinion, but allow very lively debate within that spectrum." ~ Noam Chomsky
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