Greg Mitchell's Blog, page 21
November 30, 2014
Gram Theft Parsons
A little over 41 years the body of Gram "Mr. Charisma" Parsons was discovered by hikers at Joshua Tree, Ca. It looked like a charred log, they said. Indeed, as it turned out, after he ODed in a motel room, his friend Phil Kaufman--former producer of that Charlie Manson record--had stolen the body at an airport, loaded in his hearse, and taken it out in the desert and torched it. Arrested later, Phil was initially charged with (as police put it) "Gram Theft Parsons." A couple years later I would tell (with a co-author) the whole story for the first time at Crawdaddy.
Anyway, here's a long-hidden and rare video of Gram performing with his discovery, Emmylou Harris, on his last tour (which I caught at Max's in NYC).
Anyway, here's a long-hidden and rare video of Gram performing with his discovery, Emmylou Harris, on his last tour (which I caught at Max's in NYC).
November 26, 2014
For Couples Only
The only song you'll ever need, from Lucinda's latest (here live).
Video of Police Killing Boy, 12, in Cleveland Park
Tamir Rice had what turned out to be a fake handgun.
A Different View of Thanksgiving
From one of the greatest Americans ever, Will Rogers (Cherokee from Oklahoma): “I love being down here in pilgrim country. I bet you when the pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock and they had the whole of the American continent to themselves, and all they had to do to get another 160 acres was to kill another Indian, you know, well, I bet they kicked at the cost of ammunition. Now, I hope my Cherokee blood is not making me prejudiced, but it was only the generosity of the Indians that allowed the pilgrims to land in the first place. Suppose it was the other way around. Yeah, my ancestors didn’t come over on the Mayflower. They met the boat.”
and:
"This is Thanksgiving. It was started by the Pilgrims, who would give thanks every time they killed an Indian and took more of his land. As years went by and they had all his land, they changed it into a day to give thanks for the bountiful harvest."
'Purrasic Park"
Fun take-off featuring...you can guess.
'Blind' Justice
Somehow even more apt, post-Ferguson decision. One of greatest American songs ever, yeah Dylan bounced it off 1980s album.
November 25, 2014
Ferguson Aftermath, Day 2
Once again, updating from the top, all times ET. See my blow-by-blow for last night.
7:00 NYT editorial goes after prosecutor on several levels.
5:30 Darren Wilson tells ABC he has a "clean conscience" after fatally shooting Michael Brown.
2:30 p.m. Ezra Klein finds Wilson's story "unbelievable." Myself, I'm still baffled by the body found 150 feet from the car with accounts, including Wilson's, that Brown did not run far at all, and then ran back toward him. How do we get to 150 feet? Or has that distance been misreported?
10:30 Post at The Atlantic quotes from half a dozen witness testimonies, and suggests there was enough on Brown "charging" or moving toward the cop to back Wilson story and to cause grand jury to not indict.
9:20 NYT blogging the morning events in Ferguson, with clergy march underway and more. Also they say photos show Wilson's facial injury just an "abrasion." There were 21 arrests in nearby St. Louis--and of 61 arrests in Ferguson only 8 were for people outside the state.
9:10 NY Daily News prepared Killer Cop cover page, then switched to a softer version.
9:00 a.m. Epic on-air battle between Don Lemon and Van Jones on CNN, with Don hitting burning and looting and Van claiming it was just a few "knuckleheads."
8:45 Full NYT report on the reaction in Ferguson and police calling it clearly a "riot." And elsewhere.
8:25 a.m. Link to 4700 pages of grand jury testimony and evidence.
7:00 NYT editorial goes after prosecutor on several levels.
First, he refused to step aside in favor of a special prosecutor who could have been appointed by Gov. Jay Nixon of Missouri. He further undermined public confidence by taking a highly unorthodox approach to the grand jury proceeding. Instead of conducting an investigation and then presenting the case and a recommendation of charges to the grand jury, his office shifted its job to the grand jury. It made no recommendation on whether to indict the officer, Darren Wilson, but left it to the jurors to wade through masses of evidence to determine whether there was probable cause to file charges against Officer Wilson for Mr. Brown’s killing.
Under ordinary circumstances, grand jury hearings can be concluded within days. The proceeding in this case lasted an astonishing three months. And since grand jury proceedings are held in secret, the drawn-out process fanned suspicions that Mr. McCulloch was deliberately carrying on a trial out of public view, for the express purpose of exonerating Officer Wilson.
If all this weren’t bad enough, Mr. McCulloch took a reckless approach to announcing the grand jury’s finding.
5:30 Darren Wilson tells ABC he has a "clean conscience" after fatally shooting Michael Brown.
2:30 p.m. Ezra Klein finds Wilson's story "unbelievable." Myself, I'm still baffled by the body found 150 feet from the car with accounts, including Wilson's, that Brown did not run far at all, and then ran back toward him. How do we get to 150 feet? Or has that distance been misreported?
10:30 Post at The Atlantic quotes from half a dozen witness testimonies, and suggests there was enough on Brown "charging" or moving toward the cop to back Wilson story and to cause grand jury to not indict.
9:20 NYT blogging the morning events in Ferguson, with clergy march underway and more. Also they say photos show Wilson's facial injury just an "abrasion." There were 21 arrests in nearby St. Louis--and of 61 arrests in Ferguson only 8 were for people outside the state.
9:10 NY Daily News prepared Killer Cop cover page, then switched to a softer version. 9:00 a.m. Epic on-air battle between Don Lemon and Van Jones on CNN, with Don hitting burning and looting and Van claiming it was just a few "knuckleheads."
8:45 Full NYT report on the reaction in Ferguson and police calling it clearly a "riot." And elsewhere.
8:25 a.m. Link to 4700 pages of grand jury testimony and evidence.
November 24, 2014
Ferguson Aftermath
I'll be posting all night after the grand jury announcement, updated from the top (ET).
10:28 CNN guys don gas masks amid much tear gas. Arrests. Bricks thrown. Military vehicles moving down street--under giant Season's Greetings sign over the street.
10:09 Obama speaks on how to "move forward." Nation based on "rule of law" and we need to agree this was the grand jury's decision to make. Quotes Brown's father on calling for peaceful protest. Cites problems around country between people and police.
10:02 Live on MSNBC just now crowd nearly tips over cop car, now they are smashing car, now riot cops with long guns arrive. Bottles had been tossed. Craig Melvin of NBC reports two separate episodes of gunfire near police hdqtrs. One cop hit by bottle and went to ground and take away but didn't look badly hurt.
9:40 McCulloch takes a few questions. Not allowed to say if grand jury vote for unanimous. Says he won't pursue perjury charges against witnesses. Doesn't regret taking it to grand jury. Look at evidence online. Asked if any African-Americans witnesses had Brown moving on Wilson, he said yes, including several he cited.
Then he rejects reporter's claim that young black men being "killed with impunity" by local cops. Spent a lot of time, with FBI help, hunting for a couple of witnesses who disappeared. Note: Prosecutor did not give clear view of Brown "charging" Wilson--so will be key to look at what witnesses said--online soon.
Only a brief statements from Wilson's attorney, saying decision confirmed their belief that evidence should dictate that.
9:15 p.m. Prosecutor McCulloch with announcement just now, making full statement. Knocks rumors and misstatements from the start fanning fears. Then knocks news media and social media. And says many made conflicting claims and adjusted stories after autopsy results came out. Others made statements totally at odds with physical evidence. A lot of emphasis on bad witnesses and sorting that out with grand jury. Sixty witnesses gave testimony to them.
Then McCulloch on to whether Wilson the "aggressor" and used deadly force in "justified" fashion. Again rips media for probably about to now jump on single facts and claim decision wrong. Grand jury deliberated two days--and decided no indictment on five possible charges. Then ticks off some of evidence and says will be released at close of his talk. Much of it familiar now due to press leaks, on Wilson confronting Brown and "altercation" inside the car. Wilson fired two shots there and then gave chase. Brown "stopped and moved toward Wilson" and several more shots fired. Took 90 seconds between start and arrival of first assist car.
Many witnesses quickly gave statements to police and not media. Then could judge consistency. Some adjusted to fit the facts. Others finally admitted they only saw part of the action. But physical evidence a more solid foundation. Ticks off Brown's DNA found in car and on Wilson and his weapon. One bullet found in door at the arm rest, second bullet not recovered.
Three autopsies on wounds--and consistent. Wilson exam showed "some redness and swelling on face." Some witnesses said Wilson fired as Brown ran, others not. One witness placed four cops at the scene. Most had Brown stopping and turning and then shot. Many of those who had claimed they saw Brown with hands up then said they did not really see. Others did stick to that. Others said he never had hands up. Some said Brown stopped, and then Wilson quit firing--then Brown moved forward again and Wilson resumed shooting. Says that cell video captured that paused. (McCulloch keeps stressing that some witnesses never spoke to media and implies they are more valid.)
Wilson fired two shots at car and then 10 later. Medical examiners unable to guess exact order of shots, except first graze wound and final shot to top of head. Ends by saying findings will "disappoint" some. But decision made on evidence not on political or media concerns.
9:05 p.m. Pete Williams of NBC--prosecutor says he'll post materials online in an hour, indicating no way there's an indictment. Raises questions about prosecutor's decision to present all evidence as if a trial.
10:28 CNN guys don gas masks amid much tear gas. Arrests. Bricks thrown. Military vehicles moving down street--under giant Season's Greetings sign over the street.
10:09 Obama speaks on how to "move forward." Nation based on "rule of law" and we need to agree this was the grand jury's decision to make. Quotes Brown's father on calling for peaceful protest. Cites problems around country between people and police.
10:02 Live on MSNBC just now crowd nearly tips over cop car, now they are smashing car, now riot cops with long guns arrive. Bottles had been tossed. Craig Melvin of NBC reports two separate episodes of gunfire near police hdqtrs. One cop hit by bottle and went to ground and take away but didn't look badly hurt.
9:40 McCulloch takes a few questions. Not allowed to say if grand jury vote for unanimous. Says he won't pursue perjury charges against witnesses. Doesn't regret taking it to grand jury. Look at evidence online. Asked if any African-Americans witnesses had Brown moving on Wilson, he said yes, including several he cited.
Then he rejects reporter's claim that young black men being "killed with impunity" by local cops. Spent a lot of time, with FBI help, hunting for a couple of witnesses who disappeared. Note: Prosecutor did not give clear view of Brown "charging" Wilson--so will be key to look at what witnesses said--online soon.
Only a brief statements from Wilson's attorney, saying decision confirmed their belief that evidence should dictate that.9:15 p.m. Prosecutor McCulloch with announcement just now, making full statement. Knocks rumors and misstatements from the start fanning fears. Then knocks news media and social media. And says many made conflicting claims and adjusted stories after autopsy results came out. Others made statements totally at odds with physical evidence. A lot of emphasis on bad witnesses and sorting that out with grand jury. Sixty witnesses gave testimony to them.
Then McCulloch on to whether Wilson the "aggressor" and used deadly force in "justified" fashion. Again rips media for probably about to now jump on single facts and claim decision wrong. Grand jury deliberated two days--and decided no indictment on five possible charges. Then ticks off some of evidence and says will be released at close of his talk. Much of it familiar now due to press leaks, on Wilson confronting Brown and "altercation" inside the car. Wilson fired two shots there and then gave chase. Brown "stopped and moved toward Wilson" and several more shots fired. Took 90 seconds between start and arrival of first assist car.
Many witnesses quickly gave statements to police and not media. Then could judge consistency. Some adjusted to fit the facts. Others finally admitted they only saw part of the action. But physical evidence a more solid foundation. Ticks off Brown's DNA found in car and on Wilson and his weapon. One bullet found in door at the arm rest, second bullet not recovered.
Three autopsies on wounds--and consistent. Wilson exam showed "some redness and swelling on face." Some witnesses said Wilson fired as Brown ran, others not. One witness placed four cops at the scene. Most had Brown stopping and turning and then shot. Many of those who had claimed they saw Brown with hands up then said they did not really see. Others did stick to that. Others said he never had hands up. Some said Brown stopped, and then Wilson quit firing--then Brown moved forward again and Wilson resumed shooting. Says that cell video captured that paused. (McCulloch keeps stressing that some witnesses never spoke to media and implies they are more valid.)
Wilson fired two shots at car and then 10 later. Medical examiners unable to guess exact order of shots, except first graze wound and final shot to top of head. Ends by saying findings will "disappoint" some. But decision made on evidence not on political or media concerns.
9:05 p.m. Pete Williams of NBC--prosecutor says he'll post materials online in an hour, indicating no way there's an indictment. Raises questions about prosecutor's decision to present all evidence as if a trial.
