Greg Mitchell's Blog, page 101

Suspect 'Teased'

Thursday Update:   This USA Today article, like others, claims slasher was not "bullied" at school but then quotes kids saying he was very small and young looking and describe "relentless teasing" until he must have "snapped" and wanted to die.  This is not bullying? 

UPDATE #2  CNN with a little footage of the little suspected slasher. 

UPDATE:  Police presser at 5 p.m.  Principal tackled suspect.  Twenty victims, including security guard, one or two still "critical." Will only say suspect is sophomore, age 16--although he has been IDed and described widely elsewhere. 

Earlier: In the wake of the latest school tragedy, this time outside Pittsburgh, with 20 injured (the perp has been IDed by students as "shy" guy), gun nuts will no doubt say--see, you don't need guns to cause this kind of mayhem, knives will do nicely.  But the point, of course, is that if this kid had a gun or assault rifle, perhaps 15 or many more would be dead by now, instead of a handful seriously hurt and a few others hurt not so bad.  As the local sheriff said, in an understatement, "This could have been much worse."

When You Need Dump Truck to Unload Your Head

Alternate take of one of the ten rockiest rock songs ever,  Dylan, "From A Buick 6," 1965.

I Love Rock 'n Roll

Annual Rock Hall of Fame induction and show tonight.  Joan Jett or Michael Stipe to front Nirvana songs.  Emmylou & Bonnie Raitt for Linda Ronstadt.  Bruce for E Streeters.  Hhmmm, they seemed to have trouble lining up someone for Cat Stevens, who will perform.  Anyway, for those who think Ronstadt couldn't rock:

One Year Ago: Bomb Korea!

Yes, the NYT felt the need to carry an op-ed tonight by a not-so-noted young prof from the University of Texas calling for us to bomb North Korea while we have the chance.  I love the lines that all-out war is not likely but "not-inconceivable"  and China's role "hard to predict." Sounds good. What could go wrong?

A war on the Korean Peninsula is unlikely after an American strike, but it is not inconceivable. The North Koreans might continue to escalate, and Mr. Kim might feel obligated to start a war to save face. Under these unfortunate circumstances, the United States and its allies would still be better off fighting a war with North Korea today, when the conflict could still be confined largely to the Korean Peninsula.

 Greg Mitchell's new book on another pre-emtpive war, in Iraq, and media malpractice is "So Wrong for So Long."  

11 Years Ago: Rumsfeld on 'Untidiness' in Iraq

Yes, it was 11 years ago this week that the Donald offered his famous press conference amid the looting and general chaos set off by U.S. "victory" in Iraq (which would only get worse).  Here's link to it.  You remember: "Stuff happens."  Love this:   "We've seen in that transition period there is untidiness. And there's no question but that that's not anyone's choice."  For much more on Iraq disgraces see my book.
And the classic:

And does that mean you couldn't go in there and take a television camera or get a still photographer and take a picture of something that was imperfect, untidy? I could do that in any city in America. Think what's happened in our cities when we've had riots and problems and looting. Stuff happens! But in terms of what's going on in that country, it is a fundamental misunderstanding to see those images over and over and over again of some boy walking out with a vase and say, ''Oh, my goodness, you didn't have a plan.'' That's nonsense. They know what they're doing. And they're doing a terrific job. And it's untidy. And freedom's untidy. And free people are free to make mistakes and commit crimes and do bad things. They're also free to live their lives and do wonderful things. And that's what's going to happen here. . . .

Learning About Lehrer

There's a surprising and lengthy profile of famed super-smart topical songwriter from my youth, Tom Lehrer, at Buzzfeed today, partly to dispel the view that he is dead (he's merely 86).  I wouldn't expect many under the age of 60 to know who the hell he is so you'll have the read the start of the piece and give it a go.  For me, his greatest song was the one about America welcoming ex-Nazi rocket scientists such as Werner von Braun, though who can forget "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park."  (For more outrageous entertainment biz politics, see my new book, When Hollywood Turned Left .)

Hitting to Right

Henry Aaron, still the all-time home run leader in my book (which deletes all the known cheaters), was known as "Hammerin' Hank and it's good to see he's still hammerin' the racists and GOPers.  From USA Today interview, when asked why he saved some of the many death threats he got chasing the Babe's record:

"To remind myself that we are not that far removed from when I was chasing the record. If you think that, you are fooling yourself. A lot of things have happened in this country, but we have so far to go. There's not a whole lot that has changed.

"We can talk about baseball. Talk about politics. Sure, this country has a black president, but when you look at a black president, President Obama is left with his foot stuck in the mud from all of the Republicans with the way he's treated.

"We have moved in the right direction, and there have been improvements, but we still have a long ways to go in the country.

"The bigger difference is that back then they had hoods. Now they have neckties and starched shirts."

Guns Beat Knives

UPDATE:  Police presser at 5 p.m.  Principal tackled suspect.  Twenty victims, including security guard, one or two still "critical." Will only say suspect is sophomore, age 16--although he has been IDed and described widely elsewhere. 

Earlier: In the wake of the latest school tragedy, this time outside Pittsburgh, with 20 injured (the perp has been IDed by students as "shy" guy), gun nuts will no doubt say--see, you don't need guns to cause this kind of mayhem, knives will do nicely.  But the point, of course, is that if this kid had a gun or assault rifle, perhaps 15 or many more would be dead by now, instead of a handful seriously hurt and a few others hurt not so bad.  As the local sheriff said, in an understatement, "This could have been much worse."

Paging the Vice Squad

Upcoming issue of Rolling Stone. 

Man in Black and White

PBS just released very cool animated cartoon of 1996 interview with Johnny Cash, done by Barney Hoskyns back then, with subjects ranging from gospel to The Who on his TV show to his battle to get off and stay off pain killers.