It was May of 1984 when Bon Ton Society played its very first show in Milwaukee at Teddys (which is now the infamous Shank Hall) and commenced upon its three-year journey of creating unforgettable live performances to packed houses, innovative music videos and independent recordings. Original members include vocalist Doug Forrest, bassist Greg Smith, keyboardist James Victor, drummer Stephen Stickler and guitarist John Boler.

Releasing a four song EP in 1986 on Nocturnal Records, the band catapulted itself onto alternative and college music stations around the country. Receiving reviews and accolades from College Music Journals New Music Report, Canadas Much Music, The Milwaukee Journal and WAM Magazine, along with receiving a WAMI award for New Music Band of the Year and several nominations for Best New Talent, Performers of the Year and Best Album, Bon Ton Society brought a spirit of independence, mystique and rawness to its music and fans.

With songs like Confession, What Was Left, Set Fire, Breaking the Silence, Come Down, Now, The Tide and many others, Sound Choice Magazine from Ojai, California celebrated the band with comments like the metallic grandeur of Joy Division, while the College Music Journal from New York referred to them as the illegitimate children of Echo and Siouxsie with gothic pop that is refined and full of interesting quirks. If youre a fan of dark pop music then try Bon Ton Society.

Performing regionally, the band created a cult following and periodically branched off to play shows on the east coast anchored by dates in Boston. Working live performances with alternative rock greats like the Psychedelic Furs, X, Gene Loves Jezabel and Violent Femmes, Bon Ton Society honed its music and performances with theatrical elements, dark moods and explosive energy.

Be part of this Retro-Revival-Reunion at Shank Hall and turn back the hands of time to celebrate this unique era of post-punk music with Milwaukees Bon Ton Society. For more info, go to www.bontonsociety.com.

80’s New Wave Music, Milwaukee Band, Music Video

Duration : 0:5:23

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Technorati Tags: 80s, Bon Ton Society, bontonsociety.com, Confession EP, Music Video, New Wave, Retro Revival Reunion, Shank Hall

this music is a slow burn…
freely improvised, gradually evolving, ecstatic drones,
swelling and receding, rising and falling,
a sonic heat-haze carried on solar winds, burning up
your ears with wailing guitars, chiming, barely-heard piano,
twittering, chattering, screaming, recorder,
the unexpected appearance of a mutant english folk-song,
and radio twitchings from the edge of perception

Recorded at Robinson College, 6/2/2008, by Jacken Waters/ Dan Larwood (guitar, effects) and David Grundy (piano, laptop, recorder, radio)

http://www.last.fm/music/The+Cambridge+Free+Improvisation+Society

http://www.myspace.com/cambridgeimprovisation

http://www.soundclick.com/thecambridgefreeimprovisationsociety

Feel free to leave feedback!

Duration : 0:6:2

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Technorati Tags: Alternative, ambient, cambridge, drone, free, improvisation, noise, society

August 22, 2010 Seattle HEMPFEST 2010
http://MOXNews.com/

Duration : 0:12:52

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Technorati Tags: 2010, civil, complex, decriminalize, drug, failure, HEMPFEST, human, industrial, legalize, marijuana, mox, news, prison, Rick, rights, Steves, Travel, war

(Part 1 of 3 – you can watch the other parts on Youtube)

In June 1999, the Dutch Madunia foundation filmed Hali Halisi, a 30-minute video documentary about rap in Tanzania (East Africa).

Hali Halisi (a Swahili expression meaning “the real situation”) portrays rap as an alternative medium in Tanzania. Rappers and experts give their views on the emerging hip hop scene in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar (Tanzania), and their thoughts on the importance of rap as a medium for communication.

Shot in 1999 and released in 2000, this was the first film to document the vibrant hip hop scene in Tanzania, in a time before Bongo flava took over and when artistic integrity was more important than commercial appeal. It shows unique footage of Tanzanian youth’s heroes such as rapper MrII, who at the time was more popular than the president.

‘Hali Halisi’ was also pioneering in its approach of hip hop as a platform for education and discussion among a generation that wanted real change in politics and society. The documentary was awarded ‘best short documentary’ at New York’s H2O hip hop film festival, and an award was handed out to the makers by mc Jean Grae in the presence of hip hop pioneers such as Afrika Bambaata and Kool Herc. It has since shown on various film festivals in Africa, US and Europe. ‘Hali Halisi’ also served as a major inspiration to NGO’s who discovered the use of rap as a way of communicating with the youth.

Some of the artists featuring in ‘Hali Halisi’:
-KBC (Kwanza Unit / Clouds FM)
-Bonnie Luv (Mawingu studio / Clouds FM)
-Gangwe Mobb (Inspekta Haruna)
-GWM (D-Chief & KR)
-Bantu Pound (Soggy Doggy, Snaz-T)
-Mr II aka 2Proud aka Sugu
-Deplowmatz (Dola Soul aka Balozi & Saigon)
-Ras Pompidou
-Abbas & Baraka (Underground Souls)
-X Plastaz & Fortune Tellers (Arusha)
-Sos B
-P-Funk (Producer)
-Bad Gear (Coca Cola popstars)
-Mack D
-Taji Liundi (ex Clouds/Mawingu)
-Cool Para (Zanzibar)
-Sebastian Maganga (Uhuru FM)
And experts from Basata / Radio Tanzania

Credits
‘Hali Halisi’ was produced by the Madunia foundation, in commission of the Scherpenzeel Media Foundation. The video was made on not-for-profit basis and copies are distributed against cost price.

Directed by Martin Meulenberg
Research: Thomas Gesthuizen
Camera: Joost Kahmann
More info & contact: www.africanhiphop.com

Duration : 0:10:45

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Technorati Tags: bongo, deplowmatz, flava, hip, hiphop, hop, medium, plastaz, rap, sugu, tanzania

August 22, 2010 Seattle HEMPFEST 2010
http://MOXNews.com/

Duration : 0:15:0

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Technorati Tags: 2010, civil, complex, decriminalize, drug, failure, HEMPFEST, human, industrial, legalize, marijuana, mox, news, prison, Rick, rights, Steves, Travel, war

The Internet Society – NY Chapter (ISOC-NY) & the Open Infrastructure Alliance (OIA) present a 25th Anniversary Assessment of the Breakup of AT&T

The goal of this conference was to outline the history of the last 25 years, discuss the current market issues, then give a view of the future of broadband and telecom in the US that has been mostly untold in the media. It is a future that leads to ubiquitous, very high speed networks based on an infrastructure that is open to all competitors — giving customers choice, lower prices and new quality products and innovative services. And widely acknowledged as critical for long term economic growth.

How does America get gigabit, open and ubiquitous, broadband telecom infrastructure?

EVENT: Has Divestiture Worked?
LOCATION: Warren Weaver Hall, NYU
DATE: Mar 6 2009

PANEL 3: The Future State and Alternative Approaches:
* Fred Goldstein – The current state of fiber optic networks. Are new models like Structural Separation needed now?
* Lou Klepner – NYC Community Fiber Project.
* Dana Spiegel – The future of broadband spectrum.
* W. Scott McCollough – Legally rewiring telecom infrastructure: What is possible? Divestiture2? Separation?

Speaker bios: http://25thanniversaryofthebreakupofatt.blogspot.com/2009/03/speaker-bios.html

Download/Comment: http://www.isoc-ny.org/?p=618

Duration : 1:6:33

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Technorati Tags: alliance, at&t, bell, broadband, divestiture, infrastructure, internet, isoc-ny, ma, nyu, open, policy, society, telecom, telephone, teletruth

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=3898008n
Link to complete 60 Minutes episode about Remote Area Medical.

R.A.M. is a charity set up to provide medical care to isolated third world communities. It now provides care to America’s working poor. R.A.M. acts as a safety net for those who fall through the cracks.

Some of these people may be irresponsible or short sighted, some are just unlucky. They are however, results of a country that provides medical information through pharmaceutical ads, and financial planning courtesy of mortgage and credit card salesmen. Our educational system has produced uninformed, passive citizens, who are now at the mercy of their own ignorance and a consumption based society that encourages debt and dependency.

See ioUSAthemovie, visit the YouTube site

Feasabilty and desirability of Electric cars, Pluggable hybrids and Biodiesel

American Doctor Saves Millions of Lives Around the World

You choose! U.S. Health Care reform vs Successful Health Care systems of Taiwan and Switzerland

“Where Does the Money Go?” National Debt, Bill Moyers

Impeachment, the Constitution, and the President, Pt 1

Saudi-American Reporter Layla Fidel and Bill Moyers discuss Iraq; Pres. Debates critique (Pt 1))

WELFARE for the Wealthy, as U.S. Poverty, Hunger Increase

Farm Subsidies: Welfare To The Wealthy, Costs You Billions

Moyers, Susan Jacoby: American failure in education, reason
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nY8JynFxUko

Duration : 0:9:41

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Technorati Tags: analysis, care, charity, commentary, documentary, health, insurance, medical, news, poor, Reform, Worker

In my High School, we have a well-funded and influential Gay Straight Alliance. They speak to the whole school far too often. We don’t have any programs in our school that push the Judeo-Christian values that our society values, even if we did they would have NO power or funding. Our society seems to be accepting LGBT as more than just an alternative lifestyle that we should tolerate, we are accepting them as a legitamite main stream life style. Isn’t this going too far? Any thoughts?
I’m not against Gays or Homophobic, I just don’t want Gays pushing their political agenda on teens. That is Liberal indoctrination. And they are NOT a mainstream life style, and if it ever is. The world would be on the brink of destruction…
daveK, there is no need for the GSA. THey just like to have power. Just like feminist organiztions, they have already served their purpose. Gays HAVE full equality already…
Fred Phelps was a good man who was demonized by people like you…

Yes, we have gone too far.

The argument is constantly given that homosexuals are merely practicing a different "lifestyle" so
we must be tolerant and respectful.

First, although one can’t help being gay, homosexuality is abnormal and even illogical. Honestly, I don’t hate gay people — but I don’t associate with them. Pedophiles can’t help being attracted to children; they were born that way. And I don’t associate with pedophiles either.

Secondly, since some people contend that gays are not hurting anyone, where do we draw the
line and say that enough is enough?!? What about people who enjoy sex with dead bodies? Do they hurt anyone? Hell, no! So for such people born with that type of an "alternative lifestyle" let’s let
them exist and act with our Christian-minded acceptance. OK? … Funeral Director: "Sorry, Sir.
The funeral for your (mother, wife, daughter, niece, etc.) will be delayed a few minutes. Someone is presently having sexual relations with the body." — Will you REALLY like to have that happen?

And don’t forget people who are predisposed to sex with animals. Oh, no. They, too, are not
hurting anyone, are they? So accept them like good Christians and love them no matter what!

Tell me … WHERE do we draw the line about alternative lifestyles??

April 11, 1989 http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FNoam-Chomsky%2Fe%2FB000AP81EC%3Fqid%3D1278217605%26sr%3D1-2-ent&tag=doc06-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325

Watch the full lecture: http://thefilmarchived.blogspot.com/2010/08/noam-chomsky-on-necessary-illusions.html

Jeffersonian democracy is the set of political goals that were named after Thomas Jefferson. It dominated American politics in the years 1800-1820s. It is contrasted with Jacksonian democracy, which dominated the next political era. The most prominent spokesmen included Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Albert Gallatin, John Randolph of Roanoke, and Nathaniel Bacon.

Freedom House is a international non-governmental organization based in Washington, D.C. that conducts research and advocacy on its conceptions of democracy, political freedom and human rights. It publishes an annual report assessing the degree of perceived democratic freedoms in each country, which is used in political science research.

The organization was founded by Wendell Willkie and Eleanor Roosevelt in 1941, and describes itself as “a clear voice for democracy and freedom around the world.” The group states “American leadership in international affairs is essential to the cause of human rights and freedom” and that this can primarily be achieved through the group’s “analysis, advocacy, and action.” Freedom House receives about 66% of its budget from the U.S. government, but also receives funding from various other sources, for example the Bradley Foundation, the Smith Richardson Foundation, the Dutch government, the Nicholas B. Ottaway Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the John S. & James L. Knight Foundation, the John Hurford Foundation, and a list of others. Critics have criticized the organization for receiving funding from and allegedly furthering the interests of the U.S. government, while some within the U.S. government have offered support to the group’s work.

Media bias refers to the bias of journalists and news producers within the mass media, in the selection of which events and stories are reported and how they are covered. The term “media bias” usually implies a pervasive or widespread bias contravening the standards of journalism, rather than the perspective of an individual journalist or article. The direction and degree of media bias in various countries is widely disputed.

Practical limitations to media neutrality include the inability of journalists to report all available stories and facts, and the requirement that selected facts be linked into a coherent narrative (Newton 1989). Since it is impossible to report everything, some selectivity is inevitable. Government influence, including overt and covert censorship, biases the media in some countries. Market forces that can result in a biased presentation include the ownership of the news source, concentration of media ownership, the selection of staff, the preferences of an intended audience, and pressure from advertisers.

There are a number of national and international watchdog groups that report on bias in the media.

Duration : 0:10:11

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The mutating geobiopsychosocial mass.

Hi,
You have several words there. It’s too cumbersome to replace "society" IMO. Instead of a new WORD for "society," you could consider using your formulation as a new DEFINITION for society. While I’d still have some issues with it, your mutating geobiopsychosocial mass does address some of the features of what we think of as society. You’d also want to include in your definition the characteristics of relative autonomy, patterns of relationships that are relatively enduring, a shared culture, and shared institutions. Regards.