Greg Mitchell's Blog, page 20

The Second Garner Video

Harry Siegel at NY Daily News tonight with piece on the aftermath of the famous "chokehold" video aired constantly showing assault on Eric Garner.  But he focuses on largely unseen portion that followed where Garner is still alive and treated like a 'piece of meat'--and with no CPR.  He died a little later in the ambulance.  With cartoon below.

Grimm's Faulty Tale

Beautiful.  That congressman from Staten Island, Michael Grimm, who won re-election last month despite 1) facing numerous corruption charges and 2) threatening on camera to throw a reporter off a balcony, has issued a statement on that Staten Island grand jury refusing to indict cop who killed Eric Garner with illegal chokehold:

"There’s no question that this grand jury had an immensely difficult task before them, but I have full faith that their judgment was fair and reasoned and I applaud DA Donovan for overseeing this case with the utmost integrity. As we all pray for the Garner family, I hope that we can now move forward and begin to heal together as a community.”

Thug Backs Thuggery

Beautiful.  That congressman from Staten Island, Michael Grimm, who won re-election last month despite 1) facing numerous corruption charges and 2) threatening on camera to throw a reporter off a balcony, has issued a statement on that Staten Island grand jury refusing to indict cop who killed Eric Garner with illegal chokehold:

"There’s no question that this grand jury had an immensely difficult task before them, but I have full faith that their judgment was fair and reasoned and I applaud DA Donovan for overseeing this case with the utmost integrity. As we all pray for the Garner family, I hope that we can now move forward and begin to heal together as a community.”

The Road to Big Pink

Dylan's folks have posted a three-minute video travelogue meant to evoke his two-hour (actually it's a big less) from Greenwich Village to Big Pink upstate, to promote his new complete Basement Tapes.   And it's narrated by Jeff Bridges.  And we cross a bridge, the Tappan Zee, with my own home (Big Grey Blue) up on the hill overhead.

Post by Bob Dylan.

Updates on Police Killing Boy, 12, in Cleveland Park

Wednesday update:  Cop who killed Tamir Rice was found "unfit" for duty just two years ago.  "He could not follow simple directions, could not communicate clear thoughts nor recollections, and his handgun performance was dismal.”

Tuesday update: Father of cop who shot kid says he simply had "no choice." Also the cop is "doing pretty well" (but, you know, the kid is dead). 

Tamir Rice had what turned out to be a fake handgun.   Sunday Update: Cleveland Plain Dealer editorial points out police lied on version of events, as proven by video.  And see Wash Post editorial on another police killing (murder?) there and cover-up.

The Boss of Berlin

As I've noted earlier, I am reading book about Springsteen's epic concert in 1988 in East Berlin that some credit with having at least a small role in bringing down the Wall the following year.  I'm onto this, of course, as part of my deep dive into all things Berlin and the Wall for my "tunnels" book.  Here's official Bruce vid for "Hungry Heart" shot entirely in Berlin in 1980s, with a top German rock star sharing stage a bit.  And he walks past part of the Wall.  Maybe should have re-titled it 'Hungary Heart"?

My Back Pages Coming to HBO?

Many months ago I wrote that this might be in the works but now HBO has finally signed off on upcoming series set in the rock 'n roll world of 1970s New York--where I worked for almost the entire decade at the legendary Crawdaddy.  So this is literally "my back pages." Terence Winter to be show runner, Marty Scorcese (who knows something about 1970s NYC and its, ahem, excesses) will produce and direct the pilot.  Stars range from Ray Ramano and Olive Wilde to James Jagger and Andrew Dice Clay.  No title as yet.  They could just call it "Cocaine."

Popping Up With Bruce, U2, Kanye

"Surprise" concert tonight in Times Sq sponsored by the one-percenters at Bank of America with U2--Springsteen and Chris Martin filling in for the injured Bono--and Kanye and Carrie Underwood and more.  Watch live at 7:30 ET via here:

The Beginning, and the End, of December

Always a pleasure at this time of year to post Leonard Cohen singing, "the end of December, I'm writing you now to see if you're better."  This one goes way back to 1979.  Amazingly, he was still singing it live 35 years later, in three-plus-hour shows.

Concussion Suicide?

That missing Ohio State football player has turned up dead, in a dumpster, by suicide, after reporting concussion effects quite strongly.

Karageorge, a fifth-year senior who was a defensive lineman and former wrestler, died from what Sgt. Richard Weiner said was an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. His body was found in a dumpster along with a gun.

Karageorge, 22, was reported missing Wednesday evening and missed practices Wednesday and Thursday mornings. By Friday, a campus- and Columbus-wide search was underway for him and, on Saturday, 100,000 fans at the Buckeyes game were reminded that he was missing. Coach Urban Meyer pleaded for him to “Just come home safe, man.”

His mother, Susan Karageorge, told police her son had had several concussions and spells of extreme confusion, the police report indicated. She said that he texted her at about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, mentioning concussions and writing (via the Columbus Dispatch): “I am sorry if I am an embarrassment but these concussions have my head all [messed] up.”