Mark
Pucci’s
Online Reviews
Page Twelve
Was the United States in a rush to go to war?
Was the government prepared for the aftermath?
Were Americans hook-nosed into war by a misleading Iraqi exile?
And if not, did the government purposely pick and choose the intelligence
most favorable to its own agenda?
What is most important about this documentary is that it
demonstrates the dire situation of Iraq. It
shows the realities of a war which so far have not been represented to the
American public. The general
distance of geography seems to have caused a general disconnect.
It will probably be years before we as a country understand the effect
this war has had on our troops, as well as on the people in that region, yet
this documentary conveys that this war was just as brutal and horrifying as war
can be. Yet President Bush’s
declaration of the end of the Iraqi war does not declare the end of the danger
that many of the troops face on a daily basis.
This is to say nothing of the casualties, the disruption of the lives and
the deaths of many of innocent Iraqi civilians.
For many the fighting is not over.
Empirical reality for them is a gunfight, a death, an explosion, while
most of us, including myself, forget or have not seen or may never will see what
many have experienced.
But what were the real reasons for this war?
Did ideology get its foot stuck in the sand of some distant region?
And if so, did bureaucracy cause it to sink still further?
Listen to key interviews from military and government advisors as they
explain what was going on behind the scenes.
Watch the documentary right from your computer.
Watch: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/truth/view
Synopsis: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/truth/etc/synopsis.html
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Democracy 2004 is a project of The
Independent Progressive Politics Network. Its
purpose is to strengthen the progressive movement while uniting a number of
groups with the same objectives. The
goal is to make an impact in the 2004 election.
By registering many like-minded, progressive voters across the country,
the hope is to create a common cause for effective change.
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Democracy for America is Howard Dean’s new
organization to help John Kerry get elected and make significant change in
America. With his incredible
grassroots support and the amazing success of harnessing the Internet to
energize disenfranchised voters, Howard Dean has proven that he has the ability
to create enthusiasm and affect voter turnout.
http://www.democracyforamerica.com
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The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) is seeking to
register two million voters in the next six to nine months.
This is a great organization. It
has truly shown the power of activism through a multitude of organizers, artists
and sponsors. There are so many
people involved with HSAN that they are too numerous to mention, but a few of
the people on the Board of Directors include Russell Simmons, Damon Dash, Sean
‘P. Diddy’ Combs and Jermaine Dupri.
What HSAN has accomplished since its inception in 2001
is incredible. It has energized, as
well as united, millions of young people through the mass appeal of music and
its artists. It has been very
successful in its efforts of advocating education and empowering young voters.
HSAN is an organization that is rapidly gaining attention for its ability
to rally people to its causes. It
is grassroots activism in the Hip-Hop arena.
http://www.hiphopsummitactionnetwork.org
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Get a more humorous
approach to your daily news. Check
out Daniel Kurtzman’s site highlighting the political humor of the day.
From George Bush’s political gaffes to Jessica Simpson complimenting
the Interior Secretary’s interior decorating skills, you will find many
comical stories. Kick back and
enjoy a lighter side of politics.
http://politicalhumor.about.com
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Urban Outfitters has done it again.
Here is an article that summarizes the latest episode involving the
clothing retailer. At least this time they are not offending racial minorities
or stereotyping Jewish women. Rather
instead they are encouraging the youth of this country not to vote with an
emblematic T-shirt adorned with the words “Voting is for Old People.” Now we respect the right of Urban Outfitters to encourage
whomever they want to not vote, but here at The Blacklisted Journalist our view
is diametrically opposed to this position.
We would like to encourage people to vote this election year.
In all fairness to Urban Outfitters, they have pulled
the shirt from their shelves, but even more intriguing is their inability to
admit the intent of their marketing perspective.
The claim is that the shirt has been misinterpreted and actually was
meant to draw attention to the growing gap between youth and political
representation. The real irony is
that these guys actually sound like politicians.
Pure sophistry!
If the intent of the motto on the T-shirt is to be
understood the way the designer claims, then it is ambiguous at best.
If not, Urban Outfitters is marketing political apathy.
We will let the reader decide how to interpret this one.
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1485150/20040218/index.jhtml?headlines=true
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Music
Reviews
Natalia
Paruz
Natalie Paruz is a musician who plays a variety of
novelty musical instruments including the musical saw, 4-in-hand hand bells,
American bells and cowbells. Her
website, which she has done on her own, is absolutely impressive.
We guarantee you will like this site.
With an extensive amount of information (over thirty pages) that include
her busker’s memoirs, a composer’s manual, sound clips and detailed
descriptions of the instruments, Natalia’s site provides a fascinating
landscape delineating her craft. Natalia
has been in movies, appeared on television and radio programs, as well as
concerts and theatre. You will
truly enjoy visiting her website.
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This is a great cd.
I am so very glad that Steve sent it to me requesting a review just
because I have gotten to add it to my music collection.
First off, Steve has a great voice.
His guitar playing has that cool bluesy feel that has a rugged,
midwestern appeal to it. His songs
are original and the lyrics unique. Songs such as Brother-in-law and The Lonely Tonight
demonstrate Steve’s songwriting capabilities.
There are so many different influences to which one could compare his
style, yet I think it is best to declare Steve’s his own.
Taken collectively he has a signature sound that is all his own.
It is one of those packaged compositions so eclectic and varied, unique
and full of melody that you could keep it in your car stereo for weeks. It is good the whole way through, and that I think is the
great litmus test for music – something you can listen to over and over.
To find out more or contact Steve write or e-mail:
EXPEDITIOUS PRODUCTIONS
P.O. Box 109 Dewitt, MI 48820
E-mail: expeditiousproductions@yahoo.com
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