3 posts tagged “freedom”
Obviously, Trent gets it. Every opportunity he gets to experiment with a release, he does it a little bit better. This may not be the exact future of music/merchandise distribution, but I'm willing to put a bet on longnow that this page will be seen as the precursor to how it is done.
The future lets you listen, the future doesn't rape you, and most importantly, I don't see a place for a large monolithic RIAA. I see that someone will accomplish the real mission of the RIAA -- shut down mass production counterfeiters, but I think the current RIAA will have to be scrapped and rebuilt from scratch. (The same possibly extends to the IFPI)
I'm proud for Trent. He's got the cajones and the brains to figure it out. It gives me hope that the music industry isn't absolutely beyond salvation -- Hopefully the industry will listen.
And While I'm handing out music industry warm fuzzies, give a couple to Terry McBride & MC Lars. I still don't know about Radiohead.
[From Ghosts - Order Options]
UPDATE: Here's a direct link to Adam Kokesh's Blog. Wow. Absolute suspension of the right to free assembly.
Apparently leaving the service isn't enough for this administration to try to apply the UCMJ to you. You see, there's a dirty little secret -- almost everyone leaving the military is forced into the "Inactive Ready Reserve" -- it's not really optional, and it's usually for around 6 years after discharge. Supposedly this is for **extreme** emergencies, along the lines of China or the Soviet Union invading the US. But this administration is using this loophole as retribution for someone speaking out.
Understand that it is a punishable offense for any military person to speak unfavorably about anyone higher in the chain of command. It's usually covered under Article 88-91 of the UCMJ. Mind you, this isn't little stuff -- in its most extreme form, protesting can be considered treason, which can be punishable by death. This is why you don't see anyone on Active Duty saying anything, and its why several Generals have chosen retirement--so they can get their right to freedom of speech back While no one is talking treason, or even a court martial, the reactivation of a honorably discharged Non-Commissioned-Officer (Iraq vet) for the express purpose of applying the UCMJ is *unprecedented* in modern professional military history -- in "free" nations with professional militaries.
Here's the specific articles that he could be court-martialed for:
888. ART. 88. CONTEMPT TOWARD OFFICIALS
Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Transportation, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
889. ART. 89 DISRESPECT TOWARD SUPERIOR COMMISSIONED OFFICER
Any person subject to this chapter who behaves with disrespect toward his superior commissioned officer shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
..
891. ART. 91. INSUBORDINATE CONDUCT TOWARD WARRANT OFFICER, NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER, OR PETTY OFFICER
Any warrant officer or enlisted member who--
(1) strikes or assaults a warrant officer, noncommissioned officer, or petty officer, while that officer is in the execution of his office;
(2) willfully disobeys the lawful order of a warrant officer, noncommissioned officer, or petty officer; or
(3) treats with contempt or is disrespectful in language or deportment toward a warrant officer, noncommissioned officer, or petty officer while that officer is in the execution of his office;
shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
892. ART. 92. FAILURE TO OBEY ORDER OR REGULATION
Any person subject to this chapter who--
(1) violates or fails to obey any lawful general order or regulation;
(2) having knowledge of any other lawful order issued by any member of the armed forces, which it is his duty to obey, fails to obey the order; or
(3) is derelict in the performance of his duties;
shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
He is being charged as if he were active duty and not honorably discharged from the military. Once this line begins to blur, anyone that's within the IRR window should be afraid should they choose to exercise their right to free speech. (This is akin to fining a former NBA player for speaking badly about the NBA commissioner -- it really just doesn't make any sense!). This is another method to chip away at that "damn piece of paper" and the rights it provides citizens of the US.
I wouldn't have believed that this would be possible a few years back; this is something straight out of a fascism playbook. (Of course, that was before the AF made the mistake with my own orders..that cascaded into the VA taking my house).
The Department of Homeland Security has issued its requirements for standardizing state identification cards.
"States must start issuing the new internal passports by May 2008, or else their citizens will not be able to board planes or enter federal courthouses..."
