TWiB Prime: Interview with Activist Marissa Jenae Johnson

Most people will already have their opinion on what happened with the protesters in Seattle, and listening to this probably won't change their opinion (doesn't mine), but I still find it fascinating to hear one of the young women who took the mic. from Sanders express her point of view directly.

So, here's self-described agitator Marissa Jenae Johnson in her exclusive interview with Elon & Co. at TWiB talking about what happened and her strategy of 'unrespectability' in fighting the modern 'white supremacist system' in the US.

Shutting It Down

One day Americans may be able to finally have the long overdue conversation about a culture of police-violence in the US...and how that relates to issues of racism.  But it's not going to happen in this electoral cycle.  Sadly.

Luddites, Rejoice !

Yay, fewer jobs !

(Reuters) - Boeing Co (BA.N) has started using a new automated system to build wing panels for 737 jetliners, an important step in preparing to hit record production speeds while introducing new models of the popular plane.

The robotic system, known as the Panel Assembly Line, or PAL, this week drilled holes and installed rivets for the wings of a production aircraft, the first such use of the system since installation began last summer, Boeing officials told Reuters during a visit to the Renton, Washington, plant.

PAL replaces older-generation machines that drilled the panels, but left workers the task of installing rivets, a laborious process that led to occasional injuries and defects.

PAL is designed to cut injuries in half, slash defects by 66 percent and reduce production "flow" time by 33 percent - all on half of the factory footprint.

Oh, no sorry, this is a pro-worker initiative, to reduce their injuries on the...the...job...uh...where is everybody ?  What, what did you say ?  Mouth Harolina, was it ?

Nirvana: Rape Me

Wanted to post a video by a cool Welsh band, but nope, YouTube never heard of them.  And just as I'm hearing that sadwrn is closing down.

So, fuck it, only posted two other Nirvana tracks thus far.

BTW, what the fuck is up with the go-go sci-fi lighting wenches ?  Is that a normal thing in Seattle ?

Ah, Seattle...

Video: Seattle Police Jail Elderly Military Veteran for "Walking in Seattle While Black"

Ah, Seattle...  Guess this story's been around a while now, probably a little buried as the PD's of NY, Saint Louis, and Cleveland drove Seattle from the headlines.

Lucky the poor bastard with limited hearing was only carrying a golfclub.  Were it a (perfectly 100% legal) whittling knife, he'd have been dead, seconds from the cruiser's approach.  Lots of speculation online about the police-officer in question, much of which, in my opinion, seems disturbingly centred upon her gender and/or sexual orientation.

Fact is, cops are, and have for a long time now, at least since the so-called 'War on Drugs' been trained in such a way, that they see the general public, BY DEFAULT, as a potential threat, as the enemy, as a hostile force to be subdued.  Actual military forces in hostile territories are taught more discretion in their dealings with civilian populations than day-to-day cops in the modern-day militarised US.  And no, while there may well be/is a racial component to this, this is not primarily a racial problem.  This is a problem of training, of psychology, or mindset.  A problem that is that much more exacerbated by an officer's pre-existing prejudices, such as they may be...  Firing this particular fool won't protect the next stupidly targeted senior citizen, or other innocent.