Greg Mitchell's Blog, page 265

Shut the Frack Up

Terrific editorial in the Albany, N.Y. daily paper on moratorium on fracking, especially in light of recent, belated, admissions.  "Unfortunately, it only affirms what many New Yorkers have suspected all along: that there is every reason to question the industry's claims about hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Nor is there any reason to believe that the industry's seeming frankness is anything but the latest spin."

Live-Blogging the Manning Trial, Day Two

And so it begins (after three years) and we reach day #2. Once again I'll follow closely below, from tweets from the site  and other sources.  My new piece at The Nation on  trial starting--plus key excerpt from new edition of my book with Kevin Gosztola, who is there today @kgosztola.

9:30  Gosztola: "Military monitoring comments in threads of coverage of Bradley Manning to prepare for 'threats' to courtroom from supporters."

9:00  Ed Pilkington of The Guardian with breaking news that Adrian Lamo, who turned Manning in three years ago, will be testifying today, probably witness #3.   Reporters note fewer media seem to lining up today, no surprise given past performance. 

8:40  Julian Assange with statement on opening of the trial.   He was at center of it yesterday.

First Transcript for Manning Trial Posted!

We've charted the saga of attempts to raise money, and get permission, to place a stenographer inside the Bradley Manning courtroom or media center to provide a badly-needed fast record of the proceedings, and it all came through yesterday--with the first daily transcript just posted this morning.  Here it is as a pdf, with some background.

Left: Russell Brand comes out for Manning. 

First Transcirpt for Manning Trial Posted!

We've charted the saga of attempts to raise money, and get permission, to place a stenographer inside the Bradley Manning courtroom or media center to provide a badly-needed fast record of the proceedings, and it all came through yesterday--with the first daily transcript just posted this morning.  Here it is as a pdf, with some background.

New Liver Having Hard Time Workimg With Lou Reed

According to The Onion,  already complaints of how hard the former Velvet Undergroiund leader and solo star is to get along with, from his new "mate." Waiting for his man to shut up.

Roll Over, Beethoven: New Edition of Book--And Movie Premiere Tonight!

UPDATE #2  Of all the ironies, Kerry's film debuts on the 24th anniversary of the attack in Tiananmen Square in China--and one of the four segments of his film covers how Beethoven's Ninth was used by students there to rally their spirits and resolve.


UPDATE  Rave review for Candaele's film, as premiere arrives in Santa Barbara this week on June 4.  "In addition to accomplishing the important task of bringing these four inspirational stories to light, Following the Ninth succeeds on another level, that of brilliant filmmaking."

Earlier:  Just out today in print and e-book editions (for Kindle, iPad etc.  and the Nook):  An expanded new edition of  Journeys With Beethoven: Following the Ninth, and Beyond , which I wrote with film director Kerry Candaele, published by Sinclair Books.   It's just $3.99 for the e-book and $11.99 for print.  It includes an exciting new chapter on the role Beethoven played when the Berlin Wall fell (with Leonard Bernstein in a key role).   

Kerry has a great documentary Following the Ninth, which I helped a little on--and earned some kind of producing credit--premiering in a cool theater in Santa Barbara on June 4  (see trailer below).   Both the book and the film  follow the Ninth Symphony and it's enormous cultural and political influence around the world today.  So they take us from Chile to China and Japan and Germany, plus a stop in London for a full chapter with Billy Bragg, and then back in the USA.

In the "Beyond" section of the book I explore my own obsessive "travels" with Ludwig, as a longtime rock 'n roller, in recent years, via concerts and movies and CDs -- but also through new "Beethoven delivery systems" (YouTube, web forums, Twitter, etc.)  I also interview at length pianist Jeremy Denk. 

Those who know me from my infamous Crawdaddy and Springsteen days might be a bit...surprised?  Maybe it's now, "Roll Over, Chuck Berry."  In any case, it's a totally unique book on Beethoven--a Beethoven for our time, at last.  Again, e-book here and print here.  And here's Kerry's trailer:

Like a Slow Rolling Stone

Exactly 48 years ago, in early June 1965, Bob Dylan sat down in Woodstock NY and composed what some (not just me) call the greatest single in rock 'n roll history, "Like a Rolling Stone."  Within days he was working on it with Mike Bloomfield and others.  Here's rarely heard version of how it might have sounded just after, even as, he composed it--slow and on piano.  And then, two years later, Jimi Hendrix's amazing version at Monterey.  I saw Bob do it himself in November 1965, in Buffalo, with The Hawks.

Fixing a Whole

So let's mark the 46th anniversary of the release of Sgt. Pepper with trailer for...the infamous 1978 Rutles parody, All You Need Is Cash.  Cash, cash, cash is all you need. For Idle minds only.

Manning Up, Online and in the Rain

Away from courtroom--see my live-blog today--NYT's Eric Schmitt's reviews Bradley Manning's support network. Also looks at Saturday rally and Ellsberg etc. speaking on Sunday.  "More than 20,000 supporters have contributed over $1.25 million dollars to his legal fund, according to the group’s Web site. Dozens of them, holding placards defending Private Manning, stood in the rain at Fort Meade’s main entrance on Monday."

“If you think of previous Espionage Act cases, it is quite uncommon for a defendant to have a community of support,” said Steven Aftergood, a government secrecy specialist with the Federation of American Scientists. 

Liveblogging First Day of Bradley Manning Trial

And so it begins (after three years).  I'll follow closely today below, from tweets from the site  and other sources.  My new piece at The Nation on  trial starting--plus key excerpt from new edition of my book with Kevin Gosztola, who is there today @kgosztola.

8:15 Don't miss photos of  WikiLeaks Truck(left)  making it onto the base for the first time today....Weak Chris Hayes segment on Manning tonight.  Meanwhile, my co-author Kevin Gosztola on HuffPost live. 

6:00 From Julie Tate:  "Bradley Manning Support Network forced to wear Truth shirts inside out today. Image coming soon."

5:10  Recess!  First day concludes.  Reporters race to files stories but tidbits on late-afternoon testimony should emerge soon. Here's L.A. Times on gov't trying to link Manning tightly to Assange, or vice versa.  PBS Frontline summarizes the day, and details the incident in Iraq the defense says inspired him to take action.

4:00   NYT new piece on Manning support network, money raising, protests today in the rain.

3:30  Prosecution presenting.  Much to do about Manning computer, chain of custody.   Pilkington: "US gov shows in court 2007 CD found in # Manning 's housing unit marked secret"--presumably Collateral Murder vid.   Gosztola:  "Special Agent Thomas Smith testifies in intel facility where # Manning worked there was secret classified information on walls."

2:10  From Julie Tate: "Even Coombs if can't talk motive in trial portion, did a nice job presenting motive in opening statement." Gov't will focus on forensic evidence from Manning's computer.  

1:45 p.m.  Another major claim, via Alexa O'Brien:  Gov't  "alleges 'and those chat logs the evidence will show are b/w PFC Manning and what the evidence will show to be Julian Assange.'" Gosztola with review of prosecution's opening statement.

12:45 Ed Pilkington: "lawyer David Coombs tells court soldier selected docs to leak to # WikiLeaks so they would NOT aid the enemy and harm US....Coombs tells court that at time # Manning leaked to # WikiLeaks he 'had a very internal private struggle with his gender.'"

12:40  Defense statement begins.  Gosztola: "suggests Dec 24, 2009, incident in Iraq where civilians were killed spurred decision to disclose info."  Mark Mardell: " defence says soldier was young man struggling, who wanted to make world a better place....soldier is a humanist who places people first, values human life."

12:15  From Gosztola: "Govt claims # Manning 'enlisted [Julian] Assange’s help in figuring out a way to browse SIPRNet anonymously.'"  Defense about to offer their opening statement.

12:05  Shocker from Alexa O'Brien just now:  Government "alleges in opening statement PFC # Manning helped edit Collateral Murder."  That's that Iraq vid edited by Assange and colleagues in Iceland.   From Ed Pilkington:  "US gov accuses # Manning of 'aiding our adversaries' to 'gain the notoriety he craved.'  Says leaking was massive and indiscriminate....prosecutor says Bin Laden asked for and got info put out on Wikileaks."

12:00 From Kevin Gosztola:  "Govt argues # Manning knew giving info to WikiLeaks would aid enemies because he read intelligence report on WikiLeaks."

11:30  Nothing new from feeds at the site in over half an hour.  Wi-fi has been and will be an issue.   Meanwhile, you'll find photo of the famous WikiLeaks Truck at the scene.

10:55 Already a recess, but now they're back.  Daily schedule looks like it will be 9:30 to 6:00 ET.

10:35  Manning confirms he wants trial by military judge alone.  Ed Pilkington:  "Govt does not object to stenographer recording # Manning trial - judge yet to rule - a @ FreedomofPress bid to open proceedings to public."  Also:  "Manning had right to speedy trial within 120 days of arrest. This is day 1,100 and trial about to start. FINALLY."

10:30  From Kevin Gosztola:  "Govt prepared slide show for opening argument that they didn't let defense see. Judge, defense & govt are in secret conference." Both gov't and judged mentioned having openied up proceedings more to press after outcry.  From @BBCMarkMardell: "Manning briefly answered questions from the judge to show he understood the case 'yes, Yes, Ma'am.'"

10:10  From Freedom of the Press, which raised funds for this (with court restrictions on info):  "Just received word from @ carwinb : the stenographer is all set up in the Manning trial media room. This is excellent news for transparency."    @EdPilkington of The Guardian:  "I'm surrounded by a packed media crowd speaking umpteen languages."

9:55   From longtime key on-site source Alexis O'Brien @Carvinb:   "European press started arguing with MDW-- US press started arguing with European press. US press total doormats."   @SaveBradley:  "Cornel West and Chris Hedges are at Ft. Meade for Bradley Manning."

9:45  From my co-author Kevin Gosztola: "3 witnesses to be called: two special agents that investigated "crime scene"  & Manning's  former roommate in living quarters.  Govt will give 1 hour opening statement and then defense will give 45 min opening statement. Serious Wi-Fi issues in media center. Upset reporters who can't file during court proceedings too."  Watch Kevin on Democracy Now! today.

9:30  For mainstream reports from the scene, there's Charlie Savage @charlie_savage from NYT and Julie Tate @JulieATatefrom Wash Post.   Tate says media room full.  Almost never the case at most of the hearings.