Global

When British author David Icke wrote his seminal work, The Biggest Secret: The Book That Will Change the World, published in 1999, he was not speaking metaphorically. When he detailed the “reptilian genetic streams” of “elite” families—human-reptile hybrids allegedly engineering global events—he meant it literally. To Icke, the world is not run by mere men, but by an interdimensional species operating just outside the visible light spectrum.

While many scoff at this as the ultimate apex of human gullibility, millions have found a dark comfort in Icke’s “wisdom”. According to a landmark 2013 poll by Public Policy Polling (PPP), roughly 4 percent of American adults—between 12 and 13 million people—believed that shape-shifting lizard people control our world.

Five films have received Oscar noms in the international category, including the French-sponsored Iranian drama It Was Just an Accident and the apparent front-runner, Brazil’s The Secret Agent.

Not on the final list is Iraq’s nominee for the honor—though it’s hard to say why, because the film is a gem.

The President’s Cake, written and directed by Hasan Hadi, is the alternately sad, funny and nail-biting story of Lamia, a 9-year-old girl who receives an unwanted honor: Thanks to a classroom lottery, she’s one of many citizens from across the country who are chosen to bake birthday cakes in honor of dictatorial leader Saddam Hussein.

What makes this task so difficult is that the tale is set in 1990, when Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait has made it the target of military attacks and economic sanctions. As a result, day-to-day survival is hard enough, and finding necessary ingredients such as flour and sugar is nearly impossible.

When Stephen A. Smith recently floated the idea of running for president, the reactions came right on cue. Some laughed. Some rolled their eyes. But the more interesting question isn’t whether Smith would be a good candidate. It’s whether the Democratic Party could ever allow someone like him to become one.

The Control Issue

For years now, Democrats have been telling themselves a story about democracy that they no longer quite believe. They still invoke “the voters” as a moral authority. But in practice, party leaders behave like a managerial elite that repeatedly narrows fields and coordinates outcomes in ways that limit how much real choice voters ever see. The result is a politics of containment: when insurgent choices gain traction, institutional tools redirect the outcome.

Stephen A. Smith is not a threat to Democratic ideology so much as he is a threat to Democratic management.

I saw New Edition, Toni Braxton, and Boy2Men at the Schott. I didn’t quite think about everything that entailed. I just thought: New Edition – I know I’ve liked New Edition’s music my entire existence. I liked Jesus Love You. I found Sesame Street. Parents played Dylan and the Beatles. New Edition existed at some point.

I jumped off the 1, and realized New Edition are Ralph Tresvant, Johnny Gill, Bobby Brown, Ricky Bell, Michel Bivens, and Ronnie Devoe. I’m attending a New Edition concert with potential of Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant, Johnny Gill, and Bell Biv Devoe songs.

Toni Braxton sold 70 million records and married Birdman. 

BOY2MEN I saw headline Dublin Fireworks.

I read Arthur Baker’s book Looking For the Perfect Beat. Hip Hop’s origins with pop stars were tangible. Arthur Baker produced Afrika Bambaataa’s Planet Rock and then New Edition’s first single. Later in the evening a dejay sequenced Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” with Too Short’s “Blow the Whistle.” I should clarify Bambaataa wasn’t involved with New Edition. New Edition weren’t in danger of molestation while Baker produced their music.

We start GREEP Zoom #257 with HEDY TRIPP's report from the ICE/Gestapo attack on Minnesota, with a preview of collective training now in progress.

From Oregon, with the help of MIKE HERSH, we get a follow-up from progressive activist DR. MELISSA BIRD on the ground with the realities of a vote-by-mail state.  

From Virginia’s Center for Common Ground the great ANDREA MILLER updates us on election results in their pivotal Governor’s race and the meticulous preparations for the fall mid-terms.  

From SUSIE SHANNON we get a direct report from the California Democratic Convention’s approach to ICE, and about its vastly disappointing planks on other truly vital issues.

Engineer STEVE CARUSO asks that the Emperor “put his clothes back on.”

From Santa Monica’s PAUL NEWMAN we hear a warning about ICE’s revival of the tactics of the old Ku Klux Klan.

Co-convenor MYLA RESON warns of the mis-use of the term “clean energy” for fossil/nukes.

From CHARISSE SEBASTIAN we are reminded that our elders often no longer have driver’s licenses for voter ID.

There’s a new push to pass the SAVE Act, requiring voters to produce a document such as a passport or birth certificate in order to register to vote. An estimated 21 million American citizens don’t have these documents readily available! 

Let’s be clear: The attempt to restrict the number of eligible citizens who can vote is an attempt to change the outcome of the elections. The SAVE Act must be stopped! 

• Make a call: Stop the anti-voter SAVE Act 
• Send an email: Tell Congress: Reject the SAVE Act  

A 19 y/o US citizen Nasralla Abu Siam was killed by Israeli settlers last Thursday in the occupied West Bank. He was shot and then got beaten by a club after he attempted to prevent Israeli settlers from stealing livestock in the village of Mukhmas, east of Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, as reported by Palestine Chronicle.

Siam later succumbed to his injuries. Five other Palestinian villagers who also came to defend the farmer were injured by the settlers according to residents and the Palestinian Health Ministry.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres promptly condemned the killing of Palestinian American teenager Nasrallah Abu Siam. However, President Trump only said he was "aware of" the settler killing a Palestinian American in the West Bank a few days earlier, but "Mr. America First" avoided condemning the murder or demand an investigation. This man will bow his head and bend his knees to the shithole in the Middle East no matter what!   

The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born; now is the time of monsters.” — Antonio Gramsci

The old world is dying—

you can hear it breathing in the walls.

The clocks still tick,

but time has grown uncertain,

as if even history

walks in circles.

Between the heartbeat and the horizon

there is a trembling—

a space where shadows learn to stand upright.

Now is the time of monsters.

They rise from unattended fears,

from wounds left to fester,

from stories repeated

until they calcify.

They wear familiar faces.

They speak in borrowed voices.

They promise shelter

while quietly counting bones.

But even monsters borrow their shape from light.

Somewhere beneath the rubble,

a stubborn seed splits stone.

Somewhere a hand reaches for another—

not to conquer,

but to steady.