Greg Mitchell's Blog, page 161

This Time It's for Real: The Death of Ray Price

One of country music's last links to Hank Williams (they were roomates), singer Ray Price has died.  Or maybe not.  Top news sources on Sunday reported passing today based on Facebook post by his son--who was not at his bedside.  His wife who is there, at the hospice,  disputes.  UPDATE:  Sadly, it seems true, on Monday.  Two of his big hits:

This Time It's for Rea: The Death of Ray Price

One of country music's last links to Hank Williams (they were roomates), singer Ray Price has died.  Or maybe not.  Top news sources on Sunday reported passing today based on Facebook post by his son--who was not at his bedside.  His wife who is there, at the hospice,  disputes.  UPDATE:  Sadly, it seems true, on Monday.  Two of his big hits:

Large Academic Group Call for Boycott Of Israel

It's the American Studies Association and it's 5000 strong--and Larry Summers, naturally, has slammed them and called for a "counter-boycott." 

The statement cited “Israel’s violations of international law and U.N. resolutions; the documented impact of the Israeli occupation on Palestinian scholars and students; the extent to which Israeli institutions of higher education are a party to state policies that violate human rights,” and other factors.

Boycott supporters concede that resolutions by professors’ groups are primarily symbolic, as long as no American college or university supports such an action. The boycott called on American schools and academic groups to ban collaboration with Israeli institutions, but individual Israeli scholars would still be able to attend conferences, lecture at American universities or do research with American colleagues, as long as they did not officially represent Israeli universities or the government.

Summers hit "the idea that of all the countries in the world that might be thought to have human rights abuses, that might be thought to have inappropriate foreign policies, that might be thought to be doing things wrong, the idea that there’s only one that is worthy of boycott, and that is Israel.”

Harvard Evacuations

Harvard University has ordered the evacuation of four sites on the Cambridge, Ma.  campus. The school sent out t alert on its Twitter shortly before 9:30 a.m. today.

“Alert: Unconfirmed reports of explosives at four sites on campus: Science Center, Thayer, Sever, and Emerson. Evacuate those buildings now.’’

The school reported that Cambridge and Harvard University police are on the scene at 9:30 a.m.  Go to @Harvard for updates.   Also they just told media that the threats were emailed to several Harvard officials.

Book on Sale for Beethoven's B-Day

My book Journeys With Beethoven, with Kerry Candaele, director of our film,  on sale today only to mark Ludwig's birthday, for $2.99 as ebook and $10.35 as paperback. 

Happy Birthday, Beethoven

Ludwig would have turned 243 today, so we'll be celebrating all day.  There's a global party at #LvBChat.  And why not start with the "You Say It's Your Birthday" boys, The Beatles, but this time with great live version of "Roll Over, Beethoven."   Then Chuck Berry live, after cool intro (plus duck walk).  Below that, Joni Mitchell's tribute to Ludwig.  And go here for our new film and book on the amazing global influence of Beethoven's Ninth.  The book is on sale today only for $2.99 as an ebook and $9.49 as paperback.

'60 Minutes' Continues Disgraceful Slide

Just in recent months:  the horrid report on Americans with disabilities; the Lara Logan affair, and now tonight's whitewash of NSA (and hit on Snowden), led by longtime FBI/police/NSA propagandist John Miller.  Here's the complete transcript of tonight's show.

Glenn Greenwald tweets: "60 Minutes forgot to ask about how James Clapper & Keith Alexander routinely lied to Congress & FISA courts - just ran out of time."  And:  "60 Minutes producer gushing about his NSA access: 'It was like Star Trek...My favorite room was the Black Chamber!'"

From other key media observers.  Dave Itzkoff from NYT:  "NSA Doing Great Job, NSA Says."  60 MinutesRyan Lizza: "Wow, the 60 Minutes piece about the NSA was just embarrassing. Kudos to the NSA communications staff. You guys should get a raise." Dan Gillmor: "Hey, young people: Believe it or not, "60 Minutes" once stood for solid, deep, important journalism. I know, that sounds absurd now."   Jeff Jarvis: "For shame, # 60Minutes , for shame....CBS just *bragged* that John Miller is 'the ultimate insider.' Yes, he just demonstrated that!" 

Marcy Wheeler:  "60 Minutes: From terrible journalism to National Security State stenography, in just a few weeks." Carne Ross:  "Hadn't realized @ 60Minutes now does infomercials....Where the hell is Lowell Bergman when u need him? Oh yes, he quit at the end of the movie." Jay Rosen:  "This '60 Minutes' report on the NSA is... TV. That's not a compliment."Andy Greenberg: "This 60 Minutes episode has been a pretty good infomercial for the NSA so far. Did anyone catch that 1-800 number so I can order?"

Bachelet Wins in Chile--and Linked to Our Beethoven Film

The former Chilean (and progressive) leader Michelle Bachelet easily won election as president again today in a runoff.  And, in somewhat less earthshaking news, she is featured at the climax, almost as the punchline, in our new Beethoven film, Following the Ninth.

 One of the film's main characters, who has described being imprisoned and tortured at a notorious camp in that country during the Pinochet years, takes us to a memorial to all those who died there.  (The film shows how prisoners were inspired to keep resisting by women who gathered near the prison and sang the Chilean folk version of Beethoven's "Ode to Joy.")  And he reveals at the end that Bachelet was a prisoner herself (that's her in photo above as young woman) there--with her mother. (Her father, who served under Allende on food distribution, was also held and tortured and died of a heart attack.)  Now elected twice to lead the country.  

Conflicting News of Purported Death of Ray Price

One of country music's last links to Hank Williams (they were roomates), singer Ray Price has died.  Or maybe not.  Top news sources reported passing today based on Facebook post by his son--who was not at his bedside.  His wife who is there, at the hospice,  disputes.  Two of his big hits:

Baseball Player Freel, a Suicide, First With CTE

Update December 2013:  Freel IDed now, after brain probe, as first dead MLB player with CTE.

December 2012: Ryan Freel, a popular utility player in the major leagues until recently, mainly with the Reds, was known for his all-out play--and multiple concussions, far less common in baseball than in football.  He had to retire not long ago due to that and other injuries--and now has been found dead, at age 36, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, in Miami.  Football players who had killed themselves in recent years have earned wide attention, but unusual in baseball--but now head injuries getting more notice there as well.