Lee, Kevin. "Finding Freedom the Second Time Around: The Politics of Before Sunset." Senses of Cinema (October 2004)
Carlin, Dan. "Neutral Nets & Reform Bets." Common Sense #268 (January 20, 2014) ["President Obama floats some reform ideas for the gathering of data by the NSA and a judge strikes a blow against Net Neutrality. Dan has a few long-winded thoughts on both these subjects."]
serendipity \sair-un-DIP-uh-tee\
noun : the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for; also : an instance of this
EXAMPLES
We found the restaurant by pure serendipity, rather than careful research, but it turned out to be the best deal in town.
"Many young people today have never had the experience of getting lost.… They have not experienced the pleasure of wandering while lost and discovering by serendipity interesting new places." — From an op-ed by Katie Davis and Howard Gardner in the Seattle Times, January 7, 2014
In the mid-1700s, English author Horace Walpole stumbled upon an interesting tidbit of information while researching a coat of arms. In a letter to his friend Horace Mann he wrote: "This discovery indeed is almost of that kind which I call Serendipity, a very expressive word, which as I have nothing better to tell you, I shall endeavor to explain to you: you will understand it better by the derivation than by the definition. I once read a silly fairy tale, called 'The Three Princes of Serendip': as their highnesses travelled, they were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things they were not in quest of…." Walpole's memory of the tale (which, as it turns out, was not quite accurate) gave "serendipity" the meaning it retains to this day.
Democracy Now headlines for February 19, 2014:
Cox, Laverne and CeCe McDonald. "'Black Trans Bodies Are Under Attack': Freed Activist CeCe McDonald, Actress Laverne Cox Speak Out." Democracy Now (February 19, 2014)
Sustainable World Coalition. Sustainable World Sourcebook. Berkeley, CA: New Society Publishers, 2010.
Feldman, Karen. "Walter Benjamin and his 'Artwork' essay." Entitled Opinions (July 3, 2013) [They are discussing Benjamin's 1936 essay: "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction"
Anti-Oedipus was lobbed into the fray like an intellectual cluster bomb -- it had multiple targets, from the primacy of the signifier in linguistics to the dependency on lack in psychoanalysis, but its primary objective was (as Michel Foucault astutely points out in his highly influential preface to the English translation) to caution us against the fascist inside, the desire to seize power for oneself. The principle thesis of Anti-Oedipus, around which its many conceptual inventions turn, is that revolution is not primarily or even necessarily a matter of taking power. Insofar as taking power means preserving all the old institutions and ideas in which power is invested it could even be said that revolutions of this type are actually counter-revolutionary in purpose and intent because they change nothing essential. By the same token, Deleuze and Guattari were concerned about the allure of power, its apparent ability to drive us to desire to be placed under its yoke. The most important political question, as far as Deleuze and Guattari are concerned, is how it is possible for desire to act against its interest. (Buchanan, Ian. Deleuze and Guattari's Anti-Oedipus. NY: Continuum, 2008: 21.)
Benton, Michael Dean. "Notes on Anti-Oedipus: Capitalism and Schizophernia." Dialogic (February 20, 2014)
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
HUM 221: Contemporary Peace & Conflict Studies (Spring 2015)
[Gathering resources -- suggestions welcome]
Hedges, Chris. War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning. NY: Random House, 2003.
Klein, Naomi. Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism. NY: Metropolitan Books, 2007.
Solnit, Rebecca. A Paradise Built in Hell: The Extraordinary Communities That Arise in Disaster. NY: Viking, 2009.
Hedges, Chris. War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning. NY: Random House, 2003.
Klein, Naomi. Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism. NY: Metropolitan Books, 2007.
Solnit, Rebecca. A Paradise Built in Hell: The Extraordinary Communities That Arise in Disaster. NY: Viking, 2009.
Resources for February 18, 2014
Mador, Chase. "The Over-Policing of America: Police Overkill Has Entered the DNA of Social Policy." TomDispatch (December 8, 2013)
Copps, Michael. "Former FCC Commissioner Warns About Comcast-Time Warner Merger, "Mindless" Media Consolidation." Democracy Now (February 17, 2014)
Assange, Julian and Michael Ratner. "Julian Assange on Being Placed on NSA "Manhunting" List & Secret Targeting of WikiLeaks Supporters." Democracy Now (February 18, 2014)
Radack, Jesselyn. "Attorney for Edward Snowden Interrogated at U.K. Airport, Placed on 'Inhibited Persons List'" Democracy Now (February 18, 2014)
Radack, Jesselyn and Michael Ratner. "Spying on Lawyers: Snowden Documents Show NSA Ally Targeted U.S. Law Firm." Democracy Now (February 18, 2014)
Greenhouse, Steven. "Republican-Funded, Anti-Labor Campaign Succeeds in Tennessee As Volkswagen Workers Reject UAW Union." Democracy Now (February 18, 2014)
Mirrlees, Tanner. "How to Read Iron Man: The Economics, Geopolitics and Ideology of an Imperial Film Commodity." Cineaction #92 (2014)
Carlin, Dan. "The Challenges of Living Dangerously." Common Sense #269 (February 5, 2014) ["The death of actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman has Dan contemplating how society might better handle the vagaries of human nature if we would be honest about what human beings often want."]
Monday, February 17, 2014
Resources for February 17, 2014
Cocozza, Paula. "Oppressed Majority: the film about a world run by women that went viral." The Guardian (February 11, 2014)
Wade, Lisa. "U.S. Rare in the Spending of More Money on the Education of Rich Children." Sociological Images (December 8, 2013)
Marks, Ben. "Trailing Angela Davis, from FBI Flyers to 'Radical Chic' Art." Collector's Weekly (July 3, 2013)
Huffington Post: "Texas Sports Anchor Dal Hansen Delivers Jaw-Dropping Speech On Gay NFL Players"
IndieWire: "The 15 Best Documentaries Of 2013"
Merriam-Webster's Word-of-the-Day
probity \PROH-buh-tee\
noun : adherence to the highest principles and ideals : uprightness
EXAMPLES
The tale of young George Washington's refusal to tell a lie after cutting down his father's cherry tree was told to us as grade schoolers to illustrate his probity.
"The Senate has confirmed Jeh Johnson, once the Pentagon's top lawyer, to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Mr. Johnson brings a sharp legal mind and reputation for probity to the job." — From an editorial in The New York Times, December 26, 2013
"Probity" and its synonyms "honesty," "honor," and "integrity" all mean uprightness of character or action, with some slight differences in emphasis. "Honesty" implies a refusal to lie or deceive in any way. "Honor" suggests an active or anxious regard for the standards of one's profession, calling, or position. "Integrity" implies trustworthiness and incorruptibility to a degree that one is incapable of being false to a trust, responsibility, or pledge. "Probity," which descends from Latin "probus," meaning "honest," implies tried and proven honesty or integrity.
Jessleyn Radack for Daily Kos: "Clapper's Spin Unravels in Congressional Testimony: Cannot Keep His Story Straight on Snowden"
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Resources for February 15, 2014
Merriam-Webster Word-of-the-Day
crepitateAudio \KREP-uh-tayt\
DEFINITION
verb: to make a crackling sound : to make a series of short, sharp noises
EXAMPLES
Most of the tiny town's residents had something to contribute to the bonfire, and it burned brightly and crepitated loudly late into the night.
"A familiar synthetic beat starts the disc…. The band slowly fills in around the pulse, wind blowing through tunnels, factories moaning, yawning infrastructure, broken, creaking. Embers of some final blast crepitating." — From a music review by David King in Metroland, October 17, 2013
"Crepitate" comes from the Latin word "crepitare," meaning "to crackle." It has been used with this meaning since the late 1820s, but it had a previous life: about 200 years prior it was used to mean "to break wind." That meaning is now obsolete, and the word has no embarrassing remnants. In addition to its general use as a synonym of "crackle," "crepitate" also has a specific medical meaning—"to produce or experience crepitation." "Crepitation" here refers to a grating or crackling sound or sensation, such as that produced by the fractured ends of a bone moving against each other.
Ham, Julie. "Can Immigration Officers Predict Trafficking by Looking at Women’s Underwear?" Border Criminologies (September 12, 2013)
Democracy Now: "Debate: Was Snowden Justified? Former NSA Counsel Stewart Baker vs. Whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg."
Musgrave, Beth. "Council members want more details about financing for Rupp Arena renovation." Lexington Herald-Leader (February 14, 2014)
Three Oscar Nominated Documentaries:
Rowley, Rick and Jeremy Scahill. "Dirty Wars: Jeremy Scahill and Rick Rowley’s New Film Exposes Hidden Truths of Covert U.S. Warfare." Democracy Now (January 22, 2013)
Oppenheimer, Joshua. "The Act of Killing: New Film Shows U.S.-Backed Indonesian Death Squad Leaders Re-enacting Massacres." Democracy Now (July 19, 2013)
Noujaim, Jehane. "The Square: Jehane Noujaim’s New Film Captures Egypt’s Ongoing Revolution After Mubarak’s Fall." Democracy Now (January 25, 2014)
The Square (Egypt/USA: Jehane Noujaim, 2013) [Ongoing archive of resources on Dialogic Cinephilia)
crepitateAudio \KREP-uh-tayt\
DEFINITION
verb: to make a crackling sound : to make a series of short, sharp noises
EXAMPLES
Most of the tiny town's residents had something to contribute to the bonfire, and it burned brightly and crepitated loudly late into the night.
"A familiar synthetic beat starts the disc…. The band slowly fills in around the pulse, wind blowing through tunnels, factories moaning, yawning infrastructure, broken, creaking. Embers of some final blast crepitating." — From a music review by David King in Metroland, October 17, 2013
"Crepitate" comes from the Latin word "crepitare," meaning "to crackle." It has been used with this meaning since the late 1820s, but it had a previous life: about 200 years prior it was used to mean "to break wind." That meaning is now obsolete, and the word has no embarrassing remnants. In addition to its general use as a synonym of "crackle," "crepitate" also has a specific medical meaning—"to produce or experience crepitation." "Crepitation" here refers to a grating or crackling sound or sensation, such as that produced by the fractured ends of a bone moving against each other.
Ham, Julie. "Can Immigration Officers Predict Trafficking by Looking at Women’s Underwear?" Border Criminologies (September 12, 2013)
Democracy Now: "Debate: Was Snowden Justified? Former NSA Counsel Stewart Baker vs. Whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg."
Musgrave, Beth. "Council members want more details about financing for Rupp Arena renovation." Lexington Herald-Leader (February 14, 2014)
Three Oscar Nominated Documentaries:
Rowley, Rick and Jeremy Scahill. "Dirty Wars: Jeremy Scahill and Rick Rowley’s New Film Exposes Hidden Truths of Covert U.S. Warfare." Democracy Now (January 22, 2013)
Oppenheimer, Joshua. "The Act of Killing: New Film Shows U.S.-Backed Indonesian Death Squad Leaders Re-enacting Massacres." Democracy Now (July 19, 2013)
Noujaim, Jehane. "The Square: Jehane Noujaim’s New Film Captures Egypt’s Ongoing Revolution After Mubarak’s Fall." Democracy Now (January 25, 2014)
The Square (Egypt/USA: Jehane Noujaim, 2013) [Ongoing archive of resources on Dialogic Cinephilia)
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Resources for February 13, 2014
Ahmed, Nafeez, Keith Allen and Sibel Edmonds. "Unlawful Killing (Secrets of the UK and US Establishments)." Unwelcome Guests #680 (February 8, 2014)
Democracy Now reports:
"Death By Metadata: Jeremy Scahill & Glenn Greenwald Reveal NSA Role in Assassinations Overseas"
"Report: Obama Administration Considers Assassinating Another American Overseas"
"Defying Threats to Journalism, Jeremy Scahill & Glenn Greenwald Launch New Venture, The Intercept"
Juzwiak, Rich. "Watch Creationists Talking About Creationism." Gawker (February 11, 2014)
Amato, Peter. All Opinions are Not Equal: Critical Reasoning Theory & Practice. (Drexel University: 2014)
Dobson, Teresa M. and Tammy Iftody. "Consciousness and Complexity in Waking Life" Complicity: An International Journal of Complexity and Education 6.1 (2009)
Jones, Kent. "To Live or Clarify the Moment: Rick Linklater’s Waking Life." Senses of Cinema (March 2002)
Democracy Now reports:
"Death By Metadata: Jeremy Scahill & Glenn Greenwald Reveal NSA Role in Assassinations Overseas"
"Report: Obama Administration Considers Assassinating Another American Overseas"
"Defying Threats to Journalism, Jeremy Scahill & Glenn Greenwald Launch New Venture, The Intercept"
Juzwiak, Rich. "Watch Creationists Talking About Creationism." Gawker (February 11, 2014)
Amato, Peter. All Opinions are Not Equal: Critical Reasoning Theory & Practice. (Drexel University: 2014)
Dobson, Teresa M. and Tammy Iftody. "Consciousness and Complexity in Waking Life" Complicity: An International Journal of Complexity and Education 6.1 (2009)
Jones, Kent. "To Live or Clarify the Moment: Rick Linklater’s Waking Life." Senses of Cinema (March 2002)
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Resources for February 11, 2014
Benton, Michael Dean. "Exploring the Nature and Causes of Violence in Film." Uprooting Criminology (February 10, 2014)
Morley, David and Bill Schwarz. "Stuart Hall obituary: Influential cultural theorist, campaigner and founding editor of the New Left Review." The Guardian (February 10, 2014)
In The Guardian: "Washington state to suspend death penalty by governor's moratorium: ‘There are too many flaws in this system,’ Governor Jay Inslee says as he announces stay on capital punishment."
Adams, Tim. "Jazz Fan, Hipster and a Leftwing Hero; The Remarkable Journey of Stuart Hall." The Observer (August 18, 2013)
Check out Glenn Greenwald's, Laura Poitras' and Jermey Scahill's new online publication The Intercept: here is the "about" description:
"The Intercept, a publication of First Look Media, was created by Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras, and Jeremy Scahill. It has a two-fold mission: one short-term, the other long-term. Our short-term mission is to provide a platform to report on the documents previously provided by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. Although we are still building our infrastructure and larger vision, we are launching now because we believe we have a vital obligation to this ongoing and evolving story, to these documents, and to the public. Our NSA coverage will be comprehensive, innovative and multi-faceted. We have a team of experienced editors and journalists devoted to the story. We will use all forms of digital media for our reporting. In addition, we will publish primary source documents on which our reporting is based. We will also invite outside experts with area knowledge to contribute to our reporting, and provide a platform for commentary and reader engagement. Our long-term mission is to produce fearless, adversarial journalism across a wide range of issues. The editorial independence of our journalists will be guaranteed. They will be encouraged to pursue their passions, cultivate a unique voice, and publish stories without regard to whom they might anger or alienate. We believe the prime value of journalism is its power to impose transparency, and thus accountability, on the most powerful governmental and corporate bodies, and our journalists will be provided the full resources and support required to do this. While our initial focus will be the critical work surrounding the NSA story, we are excited by the opportunity to grow with our readers into the broader and more comprehensive news outlet that the The Intercept will become.
Blackburn, Robin. "Stuart Hall, February 3rd, 1932-to February 10th, 2014: An Obituary." Verso Books (February 10, 2014)
Stu Johnson for WEKU podcasts an interview: "Mayoral Candidate Danny Mayer to Focus Beyond Downtown Lexington"
Stuart Hall (1932 - 2014)
Stuart Hall was a major part of my intellectual development and an exemplary role model as an educator. He will be missed, but more importantly, he will be remembered in the works/lives of those he inspired. This will be an ongoing archive of materials by/about Stuart Hall. I welcome suggestions of materials to include in this archive.
Adams, Tim. "Jazz Fan, Hipster and a Leftwing Hero; The Remarkable Journey of Stuart Hall." The Observer (August 18, 2013)
Blackburn, Robin. "Stuart Hall, February 3rd, 1932-to February 10th, 2014: An Obituary." Verso Books (February 10, 2014)
Hall, Stuart. "The Neoliberal Revolution." Soundings # 48 (Summer 2011): 9-28.
Morley, David and Bill Schwarz. "Stuart Hall obituary: Influential cultural theorist, campaigner and founding editor of the New Left Review." The Guardian (February 10, 2014)
Adams, Tim. "Jazz Fan, Hipster and a Leftwing Hero; The Remarkable Journey of Stuart Hall." The Observer (August 18, 2013)
Blackburn, Robin. "Stuart Hall, February 3rd, 1932-to February 10th, 2014: An Obituary." Verso Books (February 10, 2014)
Hall, Stuart. "The Neoliberal Revolution." Soundings # 48 (Summer 2011): 9-28.
Morley, David and Bill Schwarz. "Stuart Hall obituary: Influential cultural theorist, campaigner and founding editor of the New Left Review." The Guardian (February 10, 2014)
Sunday, February 09, 2014
Resources for February 9, 2014
Mooney, Chris. "Why Bill Nye Won the Creationism Debate Last Night." Mother Jones (February 5, 2014)
Harvard University Press provides a video and articles on Thomas Piketty's new book Capital in the Twenty-First Century
Eco, Umberto. "Senses of Semantics." Harvard University Press Blog (January 24, 2014)
Krul, Matthijs. "Mandela and Socialism." The Northstar (December 9, 2013)
Allen, Woody. "Woody Allen Speaks Out." The New York Times (February 9, 2014)
Blake Farmer for NPR: "Tennessee Weighs The Cost Of A Free College Education"
Scott Neumann for NPR: "French Court Orders Google To Display Notice On Its Search Page"
Harvard University Press provides a video and articles on Thomas Piketty's new book Capital in the Twenty-First Century
Eco, Umberto. "Senses of Semantics." Harvard University Press Blog (January 24, 2014)
Krul, Matthijs. "Mandela and Socialism." The Northstar (December 9, 2013)
Allen, Woody. "Woody Allen Speaks Out." The New York Times (February 9, 2014)
Blake Farmer for NPR: "Tennessee Weighs The Cost Of A Free College Education"
Scott Neumann for NPR: "French Court Orders Google To Display Notice On Its Search Page"
Wednesday, February 05, 2014
Resources for February 5, 2014
The Louisville Courier-Journal shares this video clip: "Evolution vs. creationism | Bill Nye the Science Guy takes on Creation Museum founder"
McElwee, Sean and Abigail Salvatore. "New Atheism’s big mistake: Debating creationists solves nothing: Fundamentalism isn't really about the Bible; it's about politics. So attacking religion doesn't fix the problem." Salon (February 1, 2014)
"List of Edward Snowden's NSA Revelations." Peace Action Wisconsin (2014)
Seriously bummed to find out this was Smiley & West's last podcast, but it was a good retrospective of past shows and a great final interview with Noam Chomsky
Smells Like Human Spirit podcasts:
"Episode 122: Jenny Blake talks Life After College" - "Jenny Blake is a blogger, life coach, public speaker and author of ‘Life After College: The Complete Guide to Getting What You Want’. Jenny has been featured in the Wallstreet Journal, Forbes.com, and the US News and World Report (among other places) for her work that aims to help young people ‘wake up, live big and love the journey.’ In 2011, she decided to leave her job at Google after 5 years to move to New York City and pursue her passion of being an entrepreneur full-time. In this episode of the Smells Like Human Spirit Podcast, Jenny looks back on the hard work that led to her early professional success, her subsequent burnout in her mid-twenties, and ultimately the decision to leave Google and ‘go it alone’. Other topics of discussion include society’s obsession with wealth, the definition of success, and how college graduates can position themselves to pursue their true passion.
"Episode 123: The Good Fight, with Ben Wikler" - "Ben Wikler, host of ‘The Good Fight’, joins Guy Evans for Episode 123 of Smells Like Human Spirit. Ben has a long history of involvement in political activism, particularly with several very important online activist communities. Topics of discussion in this interview include his politically active upbringing, the blend of comedy and politics present in his work, and why ‘the corporation’ has become the dominant social institution of our age."
"Episode 127: John and Molly Knefel (Radio Dispatch) on Guantanamo Bay, Occupy’s Legacy, and more" - "John and Molly Knefel, the brother and sister duo that co-host Radio Dispatch, join Guy Evans for Episode 127 of the Smells Like Human Spirit Podcast. Originally from Iowa, John and Molly now reside in Brooklyn, NY and aim to cover the most important and under-reported stories of the day with their show, which has gained quite an impressive following since its inception in 2010. Topics of discussion in this episode include Guantanamo Bay, Occupy’s legacy, the juvenile justice system in the U.S., and much more."
Barrett, Paul M. "Academic Fraud for College Jocks Reaches Across the Country." Business Week (January 8, 2014)
Bonanno, Mike and Andrew Boyd. "Principle: The Real Action is Your Target’s Reaction." Beautiful Trouble (2014)
Monday, February 03, 2014
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Danny Mayer for Mayor: Lexington-Fayette Urban County
[Dialogic would like to make this clear that we are simply disseminating this message from Danny Mayer in his independent campaign for LFUCG Mayor, a campaign which we support]
Lexington-Fayette Urban County,
I am a professor at Bluegrass Community and Technical College, a fourteen year resident of the northside, a former publisher of the media conglomerate North of Center, a father, and an avid hiker and paddler of area streets and waters. (I'm also a 2007 graduate of UK, where I received my PhD in American Literature.)
My campaign will focus on “the whole horse”--creating diverse and functional live/work/play communities that extend well beyond Main Street and that do not unfairly commit the city's citizenry to paying off high cost/low reward inner urban developments. My campaign will be more committed to relevant local class ideas than pay-big world class projects. How do we spur development in the neighborhoods in which we live? How might we culturally and economically connect our citizens in ways that do not require of them to travel downtown for art, culture, food, and jobs?
Here are some articles from North of Center that might highlight my thinking on some topics. I recognize that I have been depicted in media stories, incorrectly, as running a “small scale” or “limited” or “subordinate” campaign. I hope these writings show that my candidacy is a serious one and that it grows out of many years of thinking and researching and writing on this area.
Thanks,
Danny Mayer, candidate for Mayor of Fayette Urban County
What I'm for:
(1) #FreeLextran is a project that I developed and presented to the city council in September, to no response. After being turned down by one council member, I have been able to secure help from 1st District Representative Chris Ford on the project. In two weeks, we'll meet with Rocky Burke (LexTran), Jim Clark (LexArts), Jeff Fugate (Lex. DDA), and Denise Brown (one of the proposed muralists from the project) to discuss possibilities for the project's phase 1 implementation.
(2) The Free LexTran project is a newer, though smaller, extension of my interest in creating county-wide access to economic growth, healthy living, cultural activity, and public transportation. A larger-scale example would be my entry in the Mayer's Challenge, which I submitted to Jim Gray.
(3) Small-scale project: Who doesn't love a parade? "Parade County, USA"
No to Rupp:
(4) "A matter of value," written in Feb 2012, lays out why I think Rupp is a bad value in more abstract terms.
(5) "Rupp will be an expensive opportunity," written at the end of 2011, lists a number of arguments against the project that are more specific and "numbers based."
(6) "What we'd do: $2.5 million from LFUCG," lays out alternate plans for spending the city's (thus far) $2.5 million investment in the Rupp Opportunity Zone.
County observations:
(7) Here's my take on where I see city money/power going (city and horse country), and where it doesn't go (the neighborhoods where we live): "Propping up Main Street."
(8) "Austerity comes to Lexington," written in June 2011, places Jim Gray's budget discussions within the context of national and global austerity debates. I'd note that while the LFUCG budget has increased since he proposed his 2011 budget, few of the "safety net" type of city agencies have seen their budgets increase from 2011 levels.
(9) City development focus areas are intertwined with gentrification. Here's the most recent writing of mine on that: "Some paragraphs on northside gentrification."
Personal:
(10) I'm an avid paddler of area waters. Here's one of a series I helped write of Kentucky River trips: "Frankfort stinks like shit."
(11) I'm the grandson of an artist, union man, WWII vet, and orphan: "Old man gets older."
(12) I'm married and 2.5 year old daughter. "May Day Kid attends first protest"
Danny Mayer
For more info or to contact:
mayer.danny@gmail.com
Lexington-Fayette Urban County,
I am a professor at Bluegrass Community and Technical College, a fourteen year resident of the northside, a former publisher of the media conglomerate North of Center, a father, and an avid hiker and paddler of area streets and waters. (I'm also a 2007 graduate of UK, where I received my PhD in American Literature.)
My campaign will focus on “the whole horse”--creating diverse and functional live/work/play communities that extend well beyond Main Street and that do not unfairly commit the city's citizenry to paying off high cost/low reward inner urban developments. My campaign will be more committed to relevant local class ideas than pay-big world class projects. How do we spur development in the neighborhoods in which we live? How might we culturally and economically connect our citizens in ways that do not require of them to travel downtown for art, culture, food, and jobs?
Here are some articles from North of Center that might highlight my thinking on some topics. I recognize that I have been depicted in media stories, incorrectly, as running a “small scale” or “limited” or “subordinate” campaign. I hope these writings show that my candidacy is a serious one and that it grows out of many years of thinking and researching and writing on this area.
Thanks,
Danny Mayer, candidate for Mayor of Fayette Urban County
What I'm for:
(1) #FreeLextran is a project that I developed and presented to the city council in September, to no response. After being turned down by one council member, I have been able to secure help from 1st District Representative Chris Ford on the project. In two weeks, we'll meet with Rocky Burke (LexTran), Jim Clark (LexArts), Jeff Fugate (Lex. DDA), and Denise Brown (one of the proposed muralists from the project) to discuss possibilities for the project's phase 1 implementation.
(2) The Free LexTran project is a newer, though smaller, extension of my interest in creating county-wide access to economic growth, healthy living, cultural activity, and public transportation. A larger-scale example would be my entry in the Mayer's Challenge, which I submitted to Jim Gray.
(3) Small-scale project: Who doesn't love a parade? "Parade County, USA"
No to Rupp:
(4) "A matter of value," written in Feb 2012, lays out why I think Rupp is a bad value in more abstract terms.
(5) "Rupp will be an expensive opportunity," written at the end of 2011, lists a number of arguments against the project that are more specific and "numbers based."
(6) "What we'd do: $2.5 million from LFUCG," lays out alternate plans for spending the city's (thus far) $2.5 million investment in the Rupp Opportunity Zone.
County observations:
(7) Here's my take on where I see city money/power going (city and horse country), and where it doesn't go (the neighborhoods where we live): "Propping up Main Street."
(8) "Austerity comes to Lexington," written in June 2011, places Jim Gray's budget discussions within the context of national and global austerity debates. I'd note that while the LFUCG budget has increased since he proposed his 2011 budget, few of the "safety net" type of city agencies have seen their budgets increase from 2011 levels.
(9) City development focus areas are intertwined with gentrification. Here's the most recent writing of mine on that: "Some paragraphs on northside gentrification."
Personal:
(10) I'm an avid paddler of area waters. Here's one of a series I helped write of Kentucky River trips: "Frankfort stinks like shit."
(11) I'm the grandson of an artist, union man, WWII vet, and orphan: "Old man gets older."
(12) I'm married and 2.5 year old daughter. "May Day Kid attends first protest"
Danny Mayer
For more info or to contact:
mayer.danny@gmail.com
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Resources for January 28, 2014
"From Jennifer Seibel, the director of Miss Representation, comes an exploration of American masculinity"
Crowther, Alicia. "Amnesty International Campaign Shows Last Meals of Wrongly Executed" The Lived Prison (February 23, 2013)
Adam Mordecai for Upworthy: "9 Out Of 10 Americans Are Completely Wrong About This Mind-Blowing Fact: Wealth Inequality in America."
Fisher, Mark. "Exiting the Vampire Castle." The North Star (November 22, 2013)
Fakhoury, Hanni. "The U.S. Crackdown on Hackers Is Our New War on Drugs" Wired (January 23, 2014)
Wolchover, Natalie. "A New Physics Theory of Life" Quanta (January 22, 2014)
Marshall, Peter. Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism. Oakland, CA: PM Press, 2010.
Crowther, Alicia. "Amnesty International Campaign Shows Last Meals of Wrongly Executed" The Lived Prison (February 23, 2013)
Adam Mordecai for Upworthy: "9 Out Of 10 Americans Are Completely Wrong About This Mind-Blowing Fact: Wealth Inequality in America."
Fisher, Mark. "Exiting the Vampire Castle." The North Star (November 22, 2013)
Fakhoury, Hanni. "The U.S. Crackdown on Hackers Is Our New War on Drugs" Wired (January 23, 2014)
Wolchover, Natalie. "A New Physics Theory of Life" Quanta (January 22, 2014)
Marshall, Peter. Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism. Oakland, CA: PM Press, 2010.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Resources for January 27, 2014
Snag Films has a wide selection of free documentaries available to watch online
Medium Cool (USA: Haskell Wexler, 1969)
Negro, Lisa. "Service is My Art." Smells Like Human Spirit #119 (January 14, 2014) ["Lisa Nigro is founder of Inspiration Corporation, an organization that helps people who are affected by homelessness and poverty to improve their lives and increase self-sufficiency. While working as a police officer in Chicago during the late-eighties, she began began to hand out meals to people on the streets of the city’s Uptown neighborhood. Since then, the initiative has evolved to serve 3,000 individuals a year by providing a variety of services including meals, housing, employment preparation, and vocational training. In 2010, Mrs. Nigro received the Citizens Medal, one of the nation’s highest public service awards, and recently started another initiative called Transform U. "]
Khalek, Rania. "On Objectivity in Journalism, Mainstream Vs. Independent Media, the School-to-Prison Pipeline, and more." Smells Like Human Spirit #118 (January 13, 2014) ["Rania Khalek is an independent journalist living in the Washington, D.C. area whose work aims to cover the plight of the underclass and marginalized. She runs the website ‘dispatches from the Underclass’, which can be found at RaniaKhalek.com, and boasts an impressive resume of features at The Nation, Al Jazeera America, and Citizen Radio, just to name a few. In this episode ... Rania makes her case for why objectivity is not possible in journalism, examines the positive aspects and limitations of independent media, and discusses the disturbing national trend of children being ‘funneled’ from public schools to the juvenile and criminal justice systems. Other topics include Nelson Mandela, the NSA, and more.]
Matthew Phillips for Business Week: "Goldman: Corporate Profits Grew Five Times Faster Than Wages in 2013"
Holland, Joshua. "Bumbling, Blame and Bankruptcy in Wake of West Virginia Chemical Spill." Moyers and Co. (January 24, 2014)
Peck, Adam. "There Has Been an Average of One School Shooting Every Other School Day so far This Year." Moyers and Co. (January 23, 2014)
Bernays, Anne. "Edward Bernays’ daughter Anne discusses life with the ‘Father of PR’." Smells Like Human Spirit #120 (January 15, 2014)
Mistich, Dave. "Appalshop's 'Chemical Valley'." West Virginia Public Broadcasting (January 24, 2014)
Medium Cool (USA: Haskell Wexler, 1969)
Negro, Lisa. "Service is My Art." Smells Like Human Spirit #119 (January 14, 2014) ["Lisa Nigro is founder of Inspiration Corporation, an organization that helps people who are affected by homelessness and poverty to improve their lives and increase self-sufficiency. While working as a police officer in Chicago during the late-eighties, she began began to hand out meals to people on the streets of the city’s Uptown neighborhood. Since then, the initiative has evolved to serve 3,000 individuals a year by providing a variety of services including meals, housing, employment preparation, and vocational training. In 2010, Mrs. Nigro received the Citizens Medal, one of the nation’s highest public service awards, and recently started another initiative called Transform U. "]
Khalek, Rania. "On Objectivity in Journalism, Mainstream Vs. Independent Media, the School-to-Prison Pipeline, and more." Smells Like Human Spirit #118 (January 13, 2014) ["Rania Khalek is an independent journalist living in the Washington, D.C. area whose work aims to cover the plight of the underclass and marginalized. She runs the website ‘dispatches from the Underclass’, which can be found at RaniaKhalek.com, and boasts an impressive resume of features at The Nation, Al Jazeera America, and Citizen Radio, just to name a few. In this episode ... Rania makes her case for why objectivity is not possible in journalism, examines the positive aspects and limitations of independent media, and discusses the disturbing national trend of children being ‘funneled’ from public schools to the juvenile and criminal justice systems. Other topics include Nelson Mandela, the NSA, and more.]
Matthew Phillips for Business Week: "Goldman: Corporate Profits Grew Five Times Faster Than Wages in 2013"
Holland, Joshua. "Bumbling, Blame and Bankruptcy in Wake of West Virginia Chemical Spill." Moyers and Co. (January 24, 2014)
Peck, Adam. "There Has Been an Average of One School Shooting Every Other School Day so far This Year." Moyers and Co. (January 23, 2014)
Bernays, Anne. "Edward Bernays’ daughter Anne discusses life with the ‘Father of PR’." Smells Like Human Spirit #120 (January 15, 2014)
Mistich, Dave. "Appalshop's 'Chemical Valley'." West Virginia Public Broadcasting (January 24, 2014)
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Resources for January 25, 2014
Bryan Merchant for Motherboard: "Maybe the Most Orwellian Text Message a Government's Ever Sent"
Unwelcome Guests podcasts:
Dave Neal, at al.: Episode #20 - "Tactics of Resistance and Repression (Discussion on non-violence and Property Destruction, Police Brutality)"
Bruderhof Radio, Chris Sturr, Michael Parenti, RNC demonstrators: Episode #21 - "Crime Pays (Profits and Social Control)"
Metanoia Films has the remastered version of Scott Noble's PsyWar online
The Power Principle: Corporate Empire and the Rise of the National Security State (Metanoia Films: Scott Noble, 2013: Part 1: Empire, 95 mins; Part II: Propaganda, 98 mins; Part III: Apocalypse, 70 mins)
Paul Waldman for The American Prospect: "Why Republicans Keep Calling Women Sluts: They just can't help themselves, and here's why."
Mill, Frederick B. "Venezuela and the Battle Against Transgenic Seeds." Revolución Alimentaria (December 7, 2013)
Mr.Death "The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter" (UK/USA: Errol Morris, 1999: 91 mins) [To watch the documentary online]
The Marriage of Maria Braun (West Germany: Rainer Werner Fassbinder, 1979: 120 mins)
Unwelcome Guests podcasts:
Dave Neal, at al.: Episode #20 - "Tactics of Resistance and Repression (Discussion on non-violence and Property Destruction, Police Brutality)"
Bruderhof Radio, Chris Sturr, Michael Parenti, RNC demonstrators: Episode #21 - "Crime Pays (Profits and Social Control)"
Metanoia Films has the remastered version of Scott Noble's PsyWar online
The Power Principle: Corporate Empire and the Rise of the National Security State (Metanoia Films: Scott Noble, 2013: Part 1: Empire, 95 mins; Part II: Propaganda, 98 mins; Part III: Apocalypse, 70 mins)
Paul Waldman for The American Prospect: "Why Republicans Keep Calling Women Sluts: They just can't help themselves, and here's why."
Mill, Frederick B. "Venezuela and the Battle Against Transgenic Seeds." Revolución Alimentaria (December 7, 2013)
Mr.Death "The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter" (UK/USA: Errol Morris, 1999: 91 mins) [To watch the documentary online]
The Marriage of Maria Braun (West Germany: Rainer Werner Fassbinder, 1979: 120 mins)
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Propaganda (Key Concept)
"Astroturf." Sourcewatch (May 26, 2012)
"Astroturf Blogging." Sourcewatch (December 11, 2011)
"Category: Astroturf." Sourcewatch (No Date: Ongoing Archive of Links To Reports)
Atkinson, Michael. "Archival Trouble: The fiction-free science fiction of Adam Curtis" Moving Image Source (February 16, 2012)
Ball, Norman. "The Power of Auteurs and the Last Man Standing: Adam Curtis' Documentary Nightmares." Bright Lights Film Journal #78 (November 2012)
Bender, Stephen. "Propaganda, Public Relations, and the Not So New Dark Age." LIP (Winter 2006)
Benton, Michael Dean. "Astroturf and Front Group Research: The Center for Union Facts." Dialogic Cinephilia (January 20, 2014)
---. "The Many-Headed Hydra." Politics and Culture (August 10, 2010)
---. "Monsanto (Multinational Agricultural Biotechnology Corporation): Peace and Conflict Studies Archive." Dialogic (January 25, 2014)
---. "Response to a Message About the Threat of Islamo-Fascism." Dialogic (October 1, 2008)
Bernays, Edward L. "Manipulating Public Opinion." American Journal of Sociology 33.6 (May 1928): 958-971.
---. "Molding Public Opinion." Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science (May 1935): 82-87.
---. Propaganda. NY: Horace Liveright, 1928.
The Century of the Self (BBC Documentary: Adam Curtis, 2002)
Cho, Violet. "Thauk gya paw hee thwi deh thwi (Blood’s Oath to Beautiful Flower) — drama of insurgency in a Burmese Pwo Karen Film." Jump Cut #55 (Fall 2013)
Chomsky, Noam. Media Control: The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda." NY: Seven Stories Press, 1997. [Excerpts from key sections of the 2nd Edition]
---. Powers and Prospects: Reflections on Human Nature and the Social Order. London: Pluto Press, 1996.
---. "Propaganda American Style." Propaganda Review (Winter 1987/1988)
Chomsky, Noam and Edward Herman. Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media. NY: Pantheon Books, 2002.
Cull, Nicholas J., David Culbert and David Welch. Propaganda and Mass Persuasion: A Historical Encyclopedia 1500 - Present. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2003.
"Deconstructing Edward Bernay's Propaganda (Part 1)." Smells Like Human Spirit #60 (April 12, 2013)
"Deconstructing Edward Bernay's Propaganda (Part 2)." Smells Like Human Spirit #63 (April 20, 2013)
"Deconstructing Edward Bernay's Propaganda (Part 3)." Smells Like Human Spirit #64 (April 26, 2013)
"Deconstructing Edward Bernay's Propaganda (Part 4)." Smells Like Human Spirit #67 (May 3, 2013)
"Deconstructing Edward Bernay's Propaganda (Part 5)." Smells Like Human Spirit #70 (May 10, 2013)
Dyer, Gwynne, Mark Crispin Miller and David Robb. "Producing Killers and Selling Wars (Why Any Mother's Son will Do)" Unwelcome Guests #513 (August 21, 2010)
Foster, John Bellamy and Robert McChesney. "The Internet’s Unholy Marriage to Capitalism." Monthly Review 62.10 (March 2011)
Graeber, David. Debt: The First 5,000 Years." NY: Melville House, 2011.
Graeber, David and Richard Wolff. "The Vast Machine to Perpetuate Hopelessness (Marxian Class Analysis 1)." Unwelcome Guests #624 (October 6, 2012)
Greenwald, Glenn. "AP believes it found evidence of Iran's work on nuclear weapons: A primitive graph provided by 'a country critical of Iran's atomic program' indicts the news outlet more than Tehran." The Guardian (November 28, 2012)
---. "How Covert Agents Infiltrate the Internet to Manipulate, Deceive, and Destroy Reputations." Intercept (February 24, 2014)
Human Resources: Social Engineering in the 20th Century. (Metanoia Films: Scott Noble, 2010: 119 mins)
Lippmann, Walter. Public Opinion. NY: Harcourt, Brace & Co., 1922.
McChesney, Robert W. and John Nichols. "The Bull Market: Political Advertising." Monthly Review (April 1, 2012)
Miller, Mark Crispin. "Propaganda 101: How Do You Manufacture Consent?" History Counts (July 4, 2010)
Mirrlees, Tanner. "How to Read Iron Man: The Economics, Geopolitics and Ideology of an Imperial Film Commodity." Cineaction #92 (2014)
Pilger, John. "Power, Illusion, and America's Last Taboo." Dandelion Salad (September 2, 2009)
---. The War You Don't See. (UK: 2010, 97 mins)
Popova, Maria. "Obey: How the Rise of Mass Propaganda Killed Populism." Brain Pickings (February 6, 2013)
The Power Principle: Corporate Empire and the Rise of the National Security State (Metanoia Films: Scott Noble, 2013: Part 1: Empire, 95 mins; Part II: Propaganda, 98 mins; Part III: Apocalypse, 70 mins)
PsyWar (Metanoia Films: Scott Noble, 2010: 98 mins)
Rampton, Sheldon. "Books on Propaganda." PR Watch (July 7, 2009)
"Resources for Studying Propaganda." Sourcewatch(ongoing archive)
Ritter, Scott, John Stauber, Pepi Leistyna, Loretta Alper, and Tom Scott. "Stupefying the Group Mind (Managing the Class War with PR and TV)." Unwelcome Guests #301 (April 8, 2006)
Roos, Jerome. "Venezuela: it’s the opposition that’s anti-democratic." ROAR (February 21, 2014)
Roszak, Theodore. "Politics of Information and the Fate of the Earth." Progressive Librarian (Winter/Spring 1993): 3-14.
Rushkoff, Douglas. "They Say." Coercion: Why We Listen to What "They" Say (Penguin, 1999)
Trotter, Wilfred. Instincts of the Herd in Peace and War. 2nd Edition. London: T.F. Unwin Ltd., 1922.
Wall, Richard. "Who's Afraid of Noam Chomsky?" Lew Rockwell (2004)
Wilson, Michael S. "Noam Chomsky — ‘Everyday Anarchist’: The Modern Success Interview" Modern Success (August 20, 2013)
"Astroturf Blogging." Sourcewatch (December 11, 2011)
"Category: Astroturf." Sourcewatch (No Date: Ongoing Archive of Links To Reports)
Atkinson, Michael. "Archival Trouble: The fiction-free science fiction of Adam Curtis" Moving Image Source (February 16, 2012)
Ball, Norman. "The Power of Auteurs and the Last Man Standing: Adam Curtis' Documentary Nightmares." Bright Lights Film Journal #78 (November 2012)
Bender, Stephen. "Propaganda, Public Relations, and the Not So New Dark Age." LIP (Winter 2006)
Benton, Michael Dean. "Astroturf and Front Group Research: The Center for Union Facts." Dialogic Cinephilia (January 20, 2014)
---. "The Many-Headed Hydra." Politics and Culture (August 10, 2010)
---. "Monsanto (Multinational Agricultural Biotechnology Corporation): Peace and Conflict Studies Archive." Dialogic (January 25, 2014)
---. "Response to a Message About the Threat of Islamo-Fascism." Dialogic (October 1, 2008)
Bernays, Edward L. "Manipulating Public Opinion." American Journal of Sociology 33.6 (May 1928): 958-971.
---. "Molding Public Opinion." Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science (May 1935): 82-87.
---. Propaganda. NY: Horace Liveright, 1928.
The Century of the Self (BBC Documentary: Adam Curtis, 2002)
Cho, Violet. "Thauk gya paw hee thwi deh thwi (Blood’s Oath to Beautiful Flower) — drama of insurgency in a Burmese Pwo Karen Film." Jump Cut #55 (Fall 2013)
Chomsky, Noam. Media Control: The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda." NY: Seven Stories Press, 1997. [Excerpts from key sections of the 2nd Edition]
---. Powers and Prospects: Reflections on Human Nature and the Social Order. London: Pluto Press, 1996.
---. "Propaganda American Style." Propaganda Review (Winter 1987/1988)
Chomsky, Noam and Edward Herman. Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media. NY: Pantheon Books, 2002.
Cull, Nicholas J., David Culbert and David Welch. Propaganda and Mass Persuasion: A Historical Encyclopedia 1500 - Present. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2003.
"Deconstructing Edward Bernay's Propaganda (Part 1)." Smells Like Human Spirit #60 (April 12, 2013)
"Deconstructing Edward Bernay's Propaganda (Part 2)." Smells Like Human Spirit #63 (April 20, 2013)
"Deconstructing Edward Bernay's Propaganda (Part 3)." Smells Like Human Spirit #64 (April 26, 2013)
"Deconstructing Edward Bernay's Propaganda (Part 4)." Smells Like Human Spirit #67 (May 3, 2013)
"Deconstructing Edward Bernay's Propaganda (Part 5)." Smells Like Human Spirit #70 (May 10, 2013)
Dyer, Gwynne, Mark Crispin Miller and David Robb. "Producing Killers and Selling Wars (Why Any Mother's Son will Do)" Unwelcome Guests #513 (August 21, 2010)
Foster, John Bellamy and Robert McChesney. "The Internet’s Unholy Marriage to Capitalism." Monthly Review 62.10 (March 2011)
Graeber, David. Debt: The First 5,000 Years." NY: Melville House, 2011.
Graeber, David and Richard Wolff. "The Vast Machine to Perpetuate Hopelessness (Marxian Class Analysis 1)." Unwelcome Guests #624 (October 6, 2012)
Greenwald, Glenn. "AP believes it found evidence of Iran's work on nuclear weapons: A primitive graph provided by 'a country critical of Iran's atomic program' indicts the news outlet more than Tehran." The Guardian (November 28, 2012)
---. "How Covert Agents Infiltrate the Internet to Manipulate, Deceive, and Destroy Reputations." Intercept (February 24, 2014)
Human Resources: Social Engineering in the 20th Century. (Metanoia Films: Scott Noble, 2010: 119 mins)
Lippmann, Walter. Public Opinion. NY: Harcourt, Brace & Co., 1922.
McChesney, Robert W. and John Nichols. "The Bull Market: Political Advertising." Monthly Review (April 1, 2012)
Miller, Mark Crispin. "Propaganda 101: How Do You Manufacture Consent?" History Counts (July 4, 2010)
Mirrlees, Tanner. "How to Read Iron Man: The Economics, Geopolitics and Ideology of an Imperial Film Commodity." Cineaction #92 (2014)
Pilger, John. "Power, Illusion, and America's Last Taboo." Dandelion Salad (September 2, 2009)
---. The War You Don't See. (UK: 2010, 97 mins)
Popova, Maria. "Obey: How the Rise of Mass Propaganda Killed Populism." Brain Pickings (February 6, 2013)
The Power Principle: Corporate Empire and the Rise of the National Security State (Metanoia Films: Scott Noble, 2013: Part 1: Empire, 95 mins; Part II: Propaganda, 98 mins; Part III: Apocalypse, 70 mins)
PsyWar (Metanoia Films: Scott Noble, 2010: 98 mins)
Rampton, Sheldon. "Books on Propaganda." PR Watch (July 7, 2009)
"Resources for Studying Propaganda." Sourcewatch(ongoing archive)
Ritter, Scott, John Stauber, Pepi Leistyna, Loretta Alper, and Tom Scott. "Stupefying the Group Mind (Managing the Class War with PR and TV)." Unwelcome Guests #301 (April 8, 2006)
Roos, Jerome. "Venezuela: it’s the opposition that’s anti-democratic." ROAR (February 21, 2014)
Roszak, Theodore. "Politics of Information and the Fate of the Earth." Progressive Librarian (Winter/Spring 1993): 3-14.
Rushkoff, Douglas. "They Say." Coercion: Why We Listen to What "They" Say (Penguin, 1999)
Trotter, Wilfred. Instincts of the Herd in Peace and War. 2nd Edition. London: T.F. Unwin Ltd., 1922.
Wall, Richard. "Who's Afraid of Noam Chomsky?" Lew Rockwell (2004)
Wilson, Michael S. "Noam Chomsky — ‘Everyday Anarchist’: The Modern Success Interview" Modern Success (August 20, 2013)
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