Web links related to the Back of the Book program of October 1, 2001
It's Sunday afternoon 10/14/2001 15:56:48 and this page is done. Hell, I'm already working on tonight's program! At least we got on the air this time. This was a somewhat difficult program, owing to the attacks of September 11th, et sequelae. The last program was about the 15th anniversary of Back of the Book, and this one can't avoid talking about what may or may not be a new world, and not necessarily a better one. On this program I talked about the events of September 11th, and subsequently, and then I read through a bunch of the mail. Owing to the backlog, all of that mail of course came from a time before the World Trade Center was destroyed. As always there are differences of tense between what I wrote before the program and what I'm writing now. The E-mail I read on the air is included, and this page is now declared finally finished.
Here is the latest on the theft of Pacifica.
Here's my take on the current WBAI and Pacifica crisis.
And remember, there's still a gag rule at WBAI.
There have been some developments in the listener lawsuits, as well.
Some listeners are convinced that only open elections will provide a long range cure for the Pacifica Crisis. Here's an election proposal.
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Our colleagues from Off the Hook have a RealAudio streaming web cast operating. For a while they were trying to provide a new, permanent MP3 stream but the link to the MP3 stream now just gives you the RealAudio stream. At 7:33 PM last night this feed was working.
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Of course I'm going to talk about the events of September 11, and beyond. I didn't get to do a program two weeks ago, but there was a page for the non-program.
I know that some folks are marching for peace and some want no military action to be taken against the groupings that perpetrated this largest mass murder in American history. To me, this is insane. Those groupings are still out there. If they're not stopped they'll do something like this, or worse, again. And if they can do it other groupings will be emboldened to do it. Something must be done to stop these guys, and I've never in my life seen a bully stopped by reasonable arguments.
It looks like civil liberties are going to be under serious attack pretty soon, the National Lawyers Guild has an on line pamphlet you might want to look at regarding your rights. A lot of arrests have been made, and there may be even more powers given over to the Federal Emergency Management Agency on top of the enormous power it already has.
Right now the United States of America is supposedly trying to make the country of Pakistan an ally in this “war on terrorism.” I really have qualms about thinking of the military dictatorship of Pakistan as an ally. They've got lots of people demonstrating in the streets calling for the destruction of America. A few months ago the military dictator of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf, had to back down from the mullahs in Pakistan over an issue. Maybe there's something here that I don't see, but it sure doesn't look good so far.
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During this program I did read the Franz Kafka story “Before the Law,” which I traditionally read on my anniversary programs. I had forgotten the book I have the story in on the September 3rd, 15th anniversary program.
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Well, we got through a bunch of the mail on this program. We start out with some missives from Susan From Long Island. In the first one, however, in the time between when she sent the E-mail and the time when I read it on the air the site has added a lot of mortgage ads and bothersome screens for chat rooms. They also want some information from you that might be used, along with their cookies, to really track you down as you move around the Web. So I recommend caution with this one. The second one, it turns out, just doesn't translate out of the E-mail Susan sent, so I've included the text, which is all we can get from it.
Subject: Baby Pix
Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2001 03:27:17 EDT
From: Susan From Long Island
To: rpm@glib.com
>According to our records,
>we have reason to believe that your baby pic
>is stored ONLINE! It may be in your best
>interest to NOT assume that this is some
>sort of prank or practical joke.
>
>PassThisOn.com has retrieved and stored over
>90 million baby pics with the help of hundreds
>of participating hospitals and several other
>sources.
>
>After 28 months of preparation, this breakthrough
>website has finally been released, and YOUR baby
>pic may be among the millions of other baby pics
>stored in our extensive web database.
>
>Access is completely free.
>
>Simply click on the link below. Then follow the
>directions to pass this site along to all of
>your online friends, family and co-workers to
>see if their pics are available too!
>
>
http://PassThisOn.com/babypics
>
>Have a terrific day :)
>
> -Your pals at PassThisOn.com
Susan From Long Island.
Subject: (no subject)
Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2001 05:36:42 EDT
From: Susan From Long Island
To: rpm@glib.com
Concentration
Uncover all the blocks by successfully matching the image pairs. Click the Timer button below to start a new game whenever you want.
And of course you don't see any blocks. Oh well.
Next we have a missive, ironically, from Susan who is not from Long Island. She's referring to my remarks during the June 11, program when Pickles of the North and I arrived at 120 Wall St., where WBAI's studios are located, to find on the lobby desk a package marked “Human Eyes - Keep Refrigerated”. The lobby desk is not refrigerated.
Subject: Thanks For The Helpful Consumer Tip?
Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2001 06:46:13 -0700 (PDT)
From: Susan Not From Long Island
To: rpm@glib.com
Well, I can't say I haven't been warned. Thanks to another informative broadcast I now know I need to check on the “freshness” of any cornea they may decide to give me this Wednesday. Although, I guess that's better than something I once heard a WBAI caller say about the harvesting of corneas from murdered Brazilian street kids.
Hey, I slept through most of the rest of the show, and I don't even know if the web cast was functioning.
But I did hear some of your show. Pickles is right. Go swimming! Who cares what other people think. It never bothers me.
If I make it to that “special meeting” on July 1, I may not even tell them that looking down isn't a political protest.
Take Care,
Susan
I never did go swimming this Summer.
Next, Fernando makes really really really sure that we have the correct address of his Web site.
Subject: Fw: A Correction
Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2001 10:43:51 +0800
From: Fernando
To:
rpm@glib.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Fernando
Sent: Mon, 28 May 2001 14:07:18 -0400 (EDT)
To: RPM@glib.com
Subject: A Correction
Hi, R.
I know. I'm breaking my pledge to you already! Ha Ha. I just wanted to give you another link in case the link to my site did not work.
http://www.megadv.com/Pages/pgs_Special/showcase/pgsRuiz/Ruiz1.html
If this still does not work, the following will get you there:
www.megadv.com
Click on logo to enter.
Click on SPECIAL
Click on SHOWCASE and then you should see my name, Fernando Ruiz, and just click on that.
I hope you enjoy it.
All my best,
Fernando
Florham Park, N
This next E-mail is apparently from someone who also went to high school at St. Francis Preparatory School, where I went. I'd previously spoken about Brother Benignus, who taught religion and who was, in complete opposition to the Latin meaning of his name, a holy terror!
Subject: INRI = I'm Nailed Right In
Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2001 14:27:23 -0400
From: Patrick
To: rpm@glib.com
The above was the first lesson Brother Benignus taught my religion class @ St. Francis Prep, N. 6th St. Williamsburg Sept. 1962. After football, track & field (coached by Brother Owen), beatings by bro. SEAN & MARIUS, (observing) child molesting & drumstick beatings by Mr. ..donavan? The world geography teacher. Hope I didn't confuse the name w/ frosh French teacher, who was OK. The monster of world g. would call the smallest boy in the class to the front of the room to read & then molest him. Every time the kid would move away, the teacher would strike him w/ the drumstick. One of the 2 boys I remember witnessing this crime being perpetrated upon was a teammate on the frosh football team. Now I'm haunted by our lack of action to protect our teammates. We should have kicked Donavan's ass right in class.
I only lasted 'til Feb. '63. Left the Prep: & eventually the church. Thanks for listening Patrick
Oh, “the Benign one” was refering to the true meaning of the initials on the crucifix.
Next we have Fernando, again, suddenly not saying that I'm in favor of child molestation when he hears about a case where someone might go to jail over an allegation of possession of child pornography.
Subject: A Missive Of Agreement!
Date: Mon, 2 Jul 2001 21:38:21 -0700 (PDT)
From: Fernando
To: rpm@glib.com
Dear R.,
I apologize for not haven written you in a while but I went on vacation and I enjoyed myself very much. I went with this guy I know.
When I returned. I discovered my e-mail service was being “upgraded.” I don't know what this means but I have been unable to access my e-mails in over a month! Is this normal? What are they doing to me, R. Paul? I do not understand anything anymore. I have complained to the mail server many times but their response is always to tell me to be patient. Well, R. I am out of patence and I have abandoned my previous account. I have opened a new one instead. I hope it is nice.
In my last missive, I sent you a link to my web site. Did you get it, R? Did it work for you? If not, I can try to send it again.
On to the reason I was compelled to write to you. Normally you and I disagree on many things. A huge difference between us in particular is how you defend child molesters which absolutely baffles me. At any rate, Paul, I believe we may be on the same page regarding an incident which was reported in my local newspaper.
A man in his thirties here in New Jersey allowed a worker from the phone company into his home to perform a service. The phone man, while there, found that this man had child pornography in his house. The phone man reported him to the police who immediately arested the man, the pornography, and all electrical equipment used to produce the porn. I'm assuming this equipment was the man's computer since the article reported that porn in question were images he had downloaded from the internet.
The man was released on twenty-five thousand dollars bail and he is looking at, according to the article, a possible ten years in jail.
Now, R, I believe this is very steep. As an artist, I am downloading all sorts of pictures and images to use for reference. Some of these pictures may be considered weird. I don't think this man should be persecuted for possession of this material. There is a huge difference in possessing questionable material and actually acting in accordance to the imagery in that material. Are you with me on this, R? I think this is a very scary situation. I am the first to execute molesters and their accomplices, but this situation is not necessarily indicative of a dangerous personality. If the man is indeed a pervert, then I don't think the police can do enough to him.
I hope everything is going well. My vacation did not interfere with your broadcasts. I was back in time to listen to you. Semper Fi, R!
Sincerely,
Fernando
Florham Park, NJ
Next, North American Shirley reminds us of an event which has now passed, although the next occurrance will be on November 1.
Subject: upcoming event
Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 06:02:53 EDT
From: North American Shirley
To: rpm@glib.com
We would like to remind you of this upcoming event.
Full Moon
Date: Thursday, July 5, 2001
Time: 12:00AM EDT (GMT-04:00)
I'm not even really sure about the meaning of this next E-mail.
Subject: (no subject)
Date: Mon, 9 Jul 2001 19:29:20 EDT
From: LGiorgino
To: rpm@glib.com
Dear R. Paul:
When are you going to learn to stop worrying and learn to love the people who you are not supposed to speak about on the air?
Here's one of those things that gets passed around the Internet. Some of these are okay, and I figure we could all use a good laugh.
Subject: Fwd: FW: Proverbs
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 16:58:28 -0700 (PDT)
From: Zigman
To: ....
CC: rpm@glib.com
To R.Paul: please read this on the air.
How true are these!!! HOW TRUE!!!!!
Subject: LESS FAMOUS PROVERBS
> > > >
1. He who laughs last, thinks slowest.
2. Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film.
3. A day without sunshine is like ... night.
4. On the other hand, you have different fingers.
5. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
6. I just got lost in thought. It was unfamiliar territory.
7. When the chips are down, the buffalo is empty.
8. Seen it all, done it all, can't remember most of it.
9. Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't.
10. I feel like I'm diagonally parked in a parallel universe. (How very true!!!)
11. You have the right to remain silent. Any-thing you say will be misquoted then used
against you.
12. I wonder how much deeper the ocean would be without sponges.
13. Honk if you love peace & quiet.
14. Despite the cost of living, have you noticed how it remains so popular?
15. Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.
16. It is hard to understand how a cemetery raised its burial cost and blamed it on the cost of living.
17. The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong.
18. It is said that if you line up all the cars in the world end to end, someone would be stupid enough to try and pass them.
19. You can't have everything, where would you put it? (I'd find a place!)
20. Latest survey shows that 3 out of 4 people make up 75% of the world's population.
21. The things that come to those who wait are usually the things left by those who got there first.
22. A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.
23. It was recently discovered that research causes cancer in rats.
24. I wished the buck stopped here, as I could use a few.(In reality, QUITE A FEW!!!)
25. I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it.
26. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak. (Is this referring to the Usurper George W. Shrub????
And, finally, something from North American Shirley; unfortunately I don't think we can elucidate with link to a New York Times Magazine which is that old.
Subject: newsflash
Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2001 11:54:30 EDT
From: North American Shirley
To: rpm@glib.com
the cabbage has been sadly underrated, according to the New York Times magazine section (7/22/01)
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There are a lot of issues that we can't talk about on the air at WBAI. But there is an Internet list called “Free Pacifica!” which you can subscribe to, and these issues are discussed there. If you subscribe to it you will receive, via E-mail, all of the messages which are sent to that list. You will also be able to send messages to the list.
If you want to subscribe to the “Free Pacifica!” list just click on this link and follow the instructions, and you'll be subscribed. Could open your eyes a little bit.
The above list has occasionally produced a high volume of E-mail because of the attention that these issues have drawn. If you would prefer to subscribe to a low volume list that only provides announcements of events related to these issues then subscribe to the FreePac mailing list.
Another list that's sprung up is the “NewPacifica” mailing list. This one is very lively and currently includes over 400 subscribers coast to coast. Being lively, of course, it sometimes also gets a bit nasty. All sorts of things are happening on this list. With that warning in mind, you can look at the NewPacifica list here, and you can join the list from that Web page too, although you'll have to deal with Yahoo! to do so.
There is also the more WBAI specific “Goodlight” Web based message board. This one has a great many people posting anonymously and there's also an ancillary board that's just totally out of hand.
The “Goodlight” Web based message board has expanded to cover all Pacifica stations.
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The contents of this Web page and subsequent Web pages on this site are copyright © 2001, R. Paul Martin
