Video Activism: Mark Fiore - The Spies Who Love You

Sometimes you need to talk to people like they are idiots before they finally get it. Hopefully this will do it. Mark Fiore does lots of animation work which can be found at his website. In this video he explains the absurdity of the FISA law, AKA "The Protect America Act" that is being rammed through congress with absolutely no public support. In fact, much public sentiment has been "are you F'n kidding me??" The Senate has already passed the bill giving Telecoms immunity for past lawbreaking. The US Supreme court has recently refused to hear a case challenging the legality of the issue. All that is left now is the house of representatives. They have stood up to Bush a little at this point by refusing to pass the law immediately as he demanded. It looks pretty likely, however, that they will eventually pass it.

Welcome to America where our government teams up with mega corporations to break the law and then passes a new law to let them all get away with it retroactively.

Blast from the Past: Zappa on Crossfire in 1986

It's interesting when you find old videos from 20+ years online ago that show extreme relevancy today, or at the very least show the viewer how someone's words were way ahead of their time, even prophetic.

Frank Zappa talking about the government regulating and censoring music lyrics (in the age of Tipper Gore's P.M.R.C. - Parent's Music Resource Center) on CNN's Crossfire from 1986 is indeed one of those moments in time that are worth re-watching today.

Sitting on the right with Robert Novak, Zappa makes some eloquent arguments against censorship in the era of Ronald Reagan. What strange bedfellows Zappa and Novak make, especially given Novak's role in outing CIA operative Valerie Plame 20 years later.