Golden Compass: Eva Green, Nicole Kidman, Dakota Blue Richards, Sam Elliott, Daniel Craig

Run, don't walk to see this film. I plan to go again with the kids. It is the first of a trilogy based on the famous books by Philip Pullman. If you are a Harry Potter fan you will be right at home. One of my favorite quotes comes from one of his books. MB -- The Battle "There are two great powers and they've been fighting since time began. Every advance in human life, every scrap of knowledge and wisdom and decency we have has been torn by one side from the teeth of the other. Every little increase in human freedom has been fought over ferociously between those who want us to know more and be wiser and stronger, and those who want us to obey and be humble and submit" "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman
Posted by Michael Butler, Saturday, December 22, 2007

AlterNet: Fear, Loathing & the Crisis of Confidence

It is so difficult to avoid the media service to political manipulation of people. Use of Fear, Loathing and Crisis to control us. When you look at the evidence, fortunately covered in the internet sources, it is hard not to be despondent. Giving up is really not the option to choose. Freedom is not easy to secure nor to keep. MB
Posted by Michael Butler, Friday, December 21, 2007

King Hussein of Jordan

Recently The Economist reviewed a new book about King Hussein, my closest friend in the Middle East. Oh my, how the world could use him now. He was the sanest voice in that turbulent part of the world. Hussein was a survivor with great class. His family was the oldest ruling in the Middle East-if not the world. His first trip to America was to visit me at Oak Brook. I have also enclosed the link to a story about our relationship. MB
Posted by Michael Butler, Tuesday, December 11, 2007

AlterNet: Why We Shouldn’t Celebrate Thanksgiving

I am just back from a lovely Thanksgiving Dinner over-fed, stuffed as the bird we all ate. We were surrounded by family and friends. As usual my grandson, 3 plus going on 13, dominated the gathering. Here we had a typical American Thanksgiving. Dozens of calls and emails before we ate and a slew of them afterwards. During Grace, I had to chime in to 'thank the Indians for what they had given'. This caused a mild discussion about the Native American situation from differences in culture to casino's. I returned home to find this article, from AlterNet, "Why We Shouldn't Celebrate Thanksgiving". How appropriate for the day. Notwithstanding the family and friends aspect of the holiday, there exists a pall over this day for those have comprehension of its background. Now many may not ascribe to the authors strong negative solution. I do not totally buy his approach. I feel that this day of Thanksgiving should be one of thanks to the Native Americans for their country. Not given but taken from them. Also Thanks for forgiveness by so many peoples around the world who have felt the economic and military hegemony of America. As it is spoken by Hud, the black lead in HAIR, "The draft is white people sending black people to make war on the yellow people to defend the land they stole from the red people." These lines always have an effect pertinent to our war in Vietnam. As to whether that war was defense of our country or more aggression is another question. We should address the inherent racism and inequity of our current attitude towards indigenous peoples. Not only in an act of compassion but do somethings to rectify the past. MB
Posted by Michael Butler, Thursday, November 22, 2007

The Consortiumnews.com Why We Write

Here again something about below the tip of the iceberg or the 700 pound gorilla. The control of the news or shall we say propaganda to influence the political movements in America. As I have said before don't just blame Bush. Though his cabal has carried it to new heights/lows the corruption of the media has been going for a long time. Really starting with the Reagan administration. Politicians of all persuasion have been guilty. MB Mark my words until the media have been freed to tell us the truth our very system of government is in peril. FCC is where it is carried out but the politicians are the real culprits. You vote them in. MB
Posted by Michael Butler, Monday, November 12, 2007

AlterNet: The Theology of American Empire

This is a fascinating article well worth reading to get an in depth approach to what is happening in the religious movement to dominate America. MB
Posted by Michael Butler, Friday, November 9, 2007

CREATION by Gore Vidal [Book Review]

Posted by Michael Butler, Wednesday, October 31, 2007

AlterNet: Where Does the Right-Wing End and the Media Begin?

DON'T YOU SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING! This is not the tip. This is the iceberg. Without the freedom of the press America does not have a chance. The rise of the great media conglomerates ensures the majority of Americans being kept in the dark. These enormous corporations owe their fealty to the government not to the people. Currently the FCC is trying to broaden their powers. Don't just blame it on Bush, though he is the current culprit. Look at what happened during Clinton. Ask not what the politicians are going to do for you-Nothing. They all would like to mussle the press. Without the internet you wouldn't be reading this. The press should not just be used to influence it should be used to enlighten. MB
Posted by Michael Butler, Friday, October 26, 2007

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE – [film review]

Posted by Michael Butler, Tuesday, October 2, 2007

NEMESIS by Chalmers Johnson [Review]

Posted by Michael Butler, Saturday, September 29, 2007

Feast of Love – film review

I know Allison Burnett who sent this message. I was pleasantly surprised when invited to the premier by Terry and Scott Devon. I went with son Adam. We both really liked this film. I was constantly surprised by its unusual twists and turns. Also there was neither a gun nor an auto chase/crash in sight. See it, you will enjoy it. MB
Posted by Michael Butler, Thursday, September 27, 2007

TALES OF BAGHDAD

For those who have heard this story before, I apologize the repetition. Listening today to the Petraeus/Crocker show on NPR I was struck by the lack of prior and even current knowledge our politicians have of the area. The mess continues. They should have listened to Sen. Biden a long time ago. Federal system or even three new countries are the only course I have asked for then and now. MB
Posted by Michael Butler, Monday, September 10, 2007

World Clock

You might want to put this on your Bookmark Bar. MB
Posted by Michael Butler, Sunday, August 26, 2007

We Didn’t Start The Fire

Had to send this, thanks Pamela
Posted by Michael Butler, Friday, August 24, 2007

A Feast of Bullshit and Spectacle: The Great American Media Mind Warp

We have many problems in this country which could be sorted out steadily if we concentrated on one. That is being told the truth. The media have become indoctrinated by profit to the bottom line. Concentration of many forms of media in the hands of a few have made them either perpetrators or servants to the will of the administration. Either administration will exercise influence or control over what we receive. No matter what ones persuasion what is needed is truthful presentation so the people can make their own decisions. This article really lays out the media problem in no uncertain terms. MB
Posted by Michael Butler, Tuesday, August 14, 2007

The Yellow Peril

It is very important that we know as much as possible about China. Why? Because the case is building to install fear in US for a successor to the Soviet threat. When the Middle East is cowed the "merchants of death" will need another boogie-man so their captive politicians in Washington will have another leg for promoting a state of constant fear in Americans. What may derail their plans is the poliferation of globalisation by so many American multi-nationals setting up in China. Let us hope that is the case. America and China have so much to gain from being friends. Both sides would benefit, socially, culturally and economically. MB
Posted by Michael Butler, Sunday, August 5, 2007

Paul Craig Roberts interview by Thom Hartmann

This interview will be considered by many just to be another conspiracy. Do not under estimate the historical lessons to be learned from a serious interviewer talking with a writer who comes in the past from the Dark Side. MB
Posted by Michael Butler, Wednesday, July 25, 2007