New Electro Podcast Electrolux hosted by Chica PlastiKa

Electrolux hosted by chica PlastiKa is a monthly music podcast dedicated to Electro, Electroclash, Europop, indie-pop, punk, and funk. Since February is the month of L. O. V. E., Electrolux is broadcasting a Valentine’s Day edition called “Be My Valentine” and includes music by Yelle, Peaches, Vitalic, among other artists. Eletrolux is being streamed through podOmatic.com. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teresa Margolles, Drug Related Violence, and Art Basel 2008

The work of Teresa Margolles called “21 – Rendición de Cuentas” or (21- Score-Settling Incidents), was presented by the Madrid based Salvador Diaz Gallery. Her work is dear to me because my research is also on the effects of the illicit drug business. Teresa Margolles is from Sinaloa, Mexico a northwestern state of that country, where currently the murder rate per day sometimes can be as high as about one person per hour. These murders are the product of drug related violence due to quarrels between state officials and drug trafficking organizations or among drug dealers. The confrontations can be triggered by disagreements on territory, drug routes, business disputes, women, and etc. Margolles’s work focuses on the killings done to settle disputes.

Her work was showcased in Basel’s Art Positions section on the beach. Upon entering the container exhibiting her work, you saw several glass jewelry displays. When you took a closer look at the encased jewelry, in the back panel of each glass display, you saw a description not of the piece of jewelry, but of a crime report describing how a violent act was perpetrated to settle a score between drug dealers. The description was un-emotional and detailed as to the number individuals involved, weapons used, and time and date of the event. The gold jewelry was of similar design, it was all done by Teresa Margolles, and was meant to be as ostentatious as the pieces generally worn by drug dealers. The jewelry’s centerpiece appears to be a semi-precious stone, but instead it is broken glass derived from cars at crime scenes investigating a score-settling incident.  The pieces of shattered glass are collected by the artist directly at crime scenes or the pieces are given to her by the police (sometimes the glass was extracted from a corpse).

The art collection is meant to be macabre because violence is macabre, and it shows the ultimate consequences of greed and power. Margolles turns greed and power on their head, by creating jewelry that shows narcos, how their lifestyle kills them. In an interview Margolles explains, “I wanted to take the value away from these jewels and replace it with their score-settling incidents, so that they can see their deaths” (EFE TV). This is a moralistic piece, no question. But the question is: who will buy this art? This is a similar question, which I had with last year’s pieces by Clinton Fein on the Abu Ghraib Prison Tortures. This is art that delves into deep social issues, but which is marketed in galleries and which ultimately becomes a status symbol of wealth and power, the same wealth and power that is being critiqued by the artists. 

An interesting detail about the exhibit was people’s reaction to the jewelry, which admittedly touches an emotional chord for me. At the exhibit, most people did not speak Spanish, and the descriptions of the drug related assassinations behind the jewelry were in Spanish. People just saw the gold pieces. However, if casual observers did make a point of reading the English description of Margolles’s exhibit on the back wall of the container, they would later find out that the pieces were made out of gold and glass by a local jewelry-maker for narcos, and that the glass was collected from crime scenes. In other words, the description was very ambiguous. If you have no idea of where Sinaloa is, what the murder rate is, and that there is a “Drug War” taking place in Sinaloa, then the exhibit has no significance for you.  Many people will have no clue that a drug prohibition on illicit drugs like cocaine and heroin has people in developing states killing each other in their quest to make a living out of an artificially high priced commodity. In fact, when I was at the exhibit a lady asked “Sinaloa, that’s in Mexico, right?” This is sad a state of affairs, but frankly why should she know or care? She has a life of her own to take care of, and she like many others in industrialized states probably think that this is a normal state of affairs in countries south of the border– Sinaloa, Mexico can easily be replaced with Medellin, Colombia, right? Below you will see more of Margolles’ work, but you will also be able to connect the drug violence with her art, because I placed several violent score-settling incidents that took place in Sinaloa at the same time that Art Basel 2008 was taking place.

 

Video of Teresa Margolles’ interview on “21″

Video of Margolles’ Exhibit at Art Basel 2008

Random Youtube Videos of December 2008 Score Settling Incidents in Sinaloa, Mexico while Art Basel was taking place.

 

My Barbarian Experience at Art Basel’s 2008 Positions

 

My Barbarian is a theater/performance art troupe form Los Angeles. These performers were located in one of the containers within Basel’s Art Positions on the beach and were brought by Steve Turner Contemporary. For me, their performance was a mix between a rock opera (a la Jesus Christ Superstar) and the chorus from ancient Greek Tragedy (a la Oedipus Rex). The piece was part of My Barbarian’s Hystera-Theater and it is based on a feminist interpretation of Plato’s Allegory of “The Cave” by Luce Igaray, where the cave is perceived as a womb. Having said that, the opening of the container was covered with wine red cloth that you (the observer) had to go through, to enter the container, thus entering the womb. Once inside “the womb” a video was projected at the end of the container. The performers—who wore red-wine robes and masks—sat, reclined, or laid-down on the floor on red pillows, while they chanted “You were born poor and poor you will die” and played instruments that went along with the Hystera-Theater video.

My Barbarian’s L.A. performance of ”You Were Born Poor and Poor You Will Die”

My Barbarians were absolutely refreshing, because they are taking on that ancient Greek Tragedy feel and make it powerful, especially when they add dark rock guitar rifts. The song they chanted was awesome especially, given the current economic climate coupled with the irony that many of the people walking through the art containers were wealthy art collectors. I also thought they were truly dedicated— I saw them on Sunday afternoon, considering they had been performing in a container since Wednesday evening, they were doing great—especially when the temperature in those containers can reach above 80F, and maybe crowds of four or five at a time would walk in to see them perform. The basic gut reaction that I got from their performance was that it was liberating. Their masks, the costumes, the chants, the music, the film, and the real time interaction with the audience, explored all senses and was intense.

Pictures of My Barbarian’s Miami Art Basel Performance by Liz Poin

   

Tim Tate’s Timeless Video Reliquaries @ Miami’s Art Basel 2008

Shown by the Maurine Littleton Gallery at the Bridge Art Fair, Tim Tate’s timeless glass sculptures are romantic, beautiful, and sometimes controversial. He founded the Washington Glass School in D.C. and his work has evolved from strictly glass sculptures to becoming self-contained video installation pieces– an incorporation of sculpture, glass blowing, and videos shown through mini-video hd-screens.  I loved these pieces because the emotion captured in each of these reliquaries. Tate captures video of ephemeral moments or objects in life and makes them timeless by expressing a feeling about them. My favorites were “Dreams of Flying,” “Washed Out”– a virtual carnival of the Montgomery County Fair, “My love life thus far.”  

All of the videos portray things or events dear to people, but which are temporary– very much like life itself. Although Tate makes these moments timeless by freezing them in his sculptures, he is confronted by the temporary nature of our lives more so than most people, because he was diagnosed HIV positive in the 1980s. Tate is able to turn a terrible diagnosis into beauty by allowing us to enjoy his sculptures.

Here is video on Tim Tate’s work by Todd Wiggins

 

“Dreams of Flying” a little girl prances around endlessly.

In “Washed Out” Tate shows video of a county fair and people yelling as they enjoy a roller coaster ride. 

“My Love Life Thus Far,” shows a building being imploded and rebuild over and over, which I think is great because it is a hopeful of love even after heart-brake. 

In “Call to Redemption” Tate make us look at ourselves.

… And More Video of Tate’s work

O.H.W.O.W on the fringes of Miami’s Art Basel 2008

The O.H.W.O.W. art space, directed by Aaron Bondaroff and Al Moran, was an interesting venue. It was a pretty large space with three main exhibition areas and a club. They brought a variety of projects such as the Deitch Projects among many others. This event gathered the work of thirty artists in a gallery/warehouse west of the Wynwood District. In the warehouse part of the space, graffiti decorated the walls were a DJ started the night with Miami style bass.

Two notable pieces in this art space were the pieces by Ara Peterson and Kembra Pfahler. O.H.W.O.W. not only brought art, but music as they started of the week with DJ JD Samson from Le Tigre and A.R.E. Weapons. On Dec. 4th The Gossip’s Beth Ditto and guitarist Mick Jagged hosted a Karaoke event with guests. Outside an ice cream truck handed out ice cream, and free Camparis and Grolsch’s were served to the people that slowly trickled in from other events.

In all reality, The Gossip’s Beth Ditto commanding soulful voice should have kicked off Art Basel on the beach, and Yelle would have been a more suitable performance for this artsy industrial space. But it seems to me that O.H.W.O.W organizers are in tune with the ongoing rise of Miami’s art scene, and they are investing in quality music and art.

Video of Beth Ditto at a UK Awards Ceremony dueting with Jarvis Cocker

Happy Surprises at Art Basel Miami 2008

Art Basel 2008 Miami edition ran from the 3rd to the 7th of December, and brought happy surprises like: Yelle, Teresa Margolles, Red Truck Gallery, Tim Tate, My Barbarian, side exhibits like O.H.W.O.W. & Kill Your Idols, and music events such as Panda Bear, MSTRKRFT, and DJ A-Track.

This year a new addition to the art fair scene was Art Asia and the In Fashion Photo exposition. The festivities started as early as Saturday November 29, and the surrounding art fairs included usual suspects such as: Scope, Pulse, The Bridge Art Fair, Miami Art, NADA, Photo Miami, Red Dot, and the Aqua Fair.

For me the most intense pieces of art in this fair were, Tim Tate’s, My Barbarian’s and Teresa Margolles’. I will review their work along with a series of small blogs on Art Basel 2008’s events… 

Video of Art Basel’s Positions (Shipping Containers on the Beach)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Art of Politics: McCain vs. Obama 2008 Presidential Elections

The U.S. 2008 Presidential Election has been an unprecedented event affecting political art. It is the first time a Woman and an African-American run for the presidency in the Democratic Party. It is also the first time the Republican Party chooses a Woman for Vice President.

Artists have responded to these events by producing artwork dealing with issues like the environment, the economy, and gender and security issues. The art-world’s political affiliation is skewed to the left, but it shows that Barack Obama, the Presidential Candidate for the Democratic party, has inspired many in the art, street art, graffiti art, and graphic art world to CREATE art on his behalf. The sale of art inspired Obama t-shirts via Internet vendors is incredible. Obama T-shirts of all kinds of sizes and colors display campaign symbols and slogans like: Obama for “Change,” “Hope,” “Progress,” “Barack the Vote,” “Go tell Moma, I’m for Obama,” and “Obama is My Homeboy.”

Some of the best political art sources are http://www.obamaartreport.com and http://jetcomx.com. Both sites show works being displayed on streets and galleries, and introduce artists or say where an anonymous artist’s work was seen. Below is my slide compiling some of the works displayed in these sites. Some of the best pieces are: Zoltron’s rendition of an Andy Warhol’s pop art portrait on Republican VP Candidate Sarah Palin, Zina Saunder’s Playing House , the transformation of AC/DC’s “Back in Black,” and finally the street art, which is the roughest critique of the Bush/Cheney Administration and the McCain-Palin Ticket i.e. Billi Kid’s Palin Portrait. The work on Obama includes the different renditions of the Shepard Fairey Prints.

The following compilation of art work is organized by: the issues, the Bush-Cheney Administration, the Democratic Primary & Convention, the McCain-Palin Ticket, and the variety of works inspired by Barack Obama.

Before watching adjust youtube settings to high quality, to see the prints clearly. 

 

Works Featured

Tristan Eaton’s design underscores the fact that the economy not the Iraq War is the issue of the 2008 Presidential Campaign.

 

Even though women candidates such as Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin have been major contenders in this race, women voters have been split on whether to support a female or a male. Poll results so far (October 2008), have shown that women voters are choosing candidates they feel will support them on their issues (equal pay, a woman’s right to choose an abortion, affirmative action, among others), rather than voting for a woman simply because she represents their gender, i.e. Women are showing more support for the Barack Obama-Joe Biden Ticket over the John McCain-Sarah Palin Ticket.

 

Unite America

Jabba the Cheney

 

 

Shel Starkman’s Hope

 

 

Self Explanatory

 

 

A take on Andy Warhol’s print of himself with Jean-Michel Basquiat

 

 

Lieberman’s Hearbreak by Zina Saunders 

 

 

McCain & Palin Playing House by Zina Saunders

 

 

“The Difference between a Pit-Bull and a Hockey-mom is Lipstick,” part of her RNC speech.

 

 

Colombian born street-artist Billi Kid doing his rendition of Palin, which does justice to her eagerness to represent “Joe Six-pack.” Palin expressed to a talk-radio interview and at the 2008 Vice Presidential(VP) debate, that her VP aspiration was to represent “Joe Six-pack” and hockey-moms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upper Playground by Burlesque Studios

The Colombian Trojan Horse Was Not A Horse But A Helicopter: Ingrid Betancourt’s rescue was “A Perfect Operation”

 

The clever rescue of Ingrid Betancourt on Wednesday July 2nd, 2008 marks a series of military and political successes for the Presidency of Alvaro Uribe Velez, and the most dramatic show of weakness for the organizational structure Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC).  

The Colombian government rescued the most valued FARC hostages: ex-presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, three American anti-narcotics contractors, and 11 members of the Colombian Military and Police Forces.  While Ingrid Betancourt and the Americans had been in captivity for about 6 years, most military and police personnel had been captive for 9 to 10 years. Besides suffering the cruel treatment of captivity (such as being held in barbed wire jails and being chained, among other deprivations) many of them haven not seen their children grow up, seen relatives pass on, or been able to study or work.  Their lives have been frozen in time. The youngest of these hostages was 18 when he was held hostage, and now he is a 28 year old man.  

 

FARC Hostage Conditions

The Rescue

The Colombian government’s operation tricked guerrilla commanders by using FARC deserters and intelligence operatives. They infiltrated the Oriental Bloc of the FARC, who’s chief commander is Jorge Briceño a.k.a “el Mono Jojoy”–the FARC’s head military strategist. For the rescue, Colombian military operatives delivered a fake scenario to commanders holding the hostages. FARC commanders “Cesar” and “Gafas” were given orders by operatives who impersonated the voice of FARC Commander in Chief “Alfonso Cano.” Military operatives told FARC commanders, who had held the hostages for about five years, that a humanitarian mission would transport hostages via helicopter to a safer location, so they would be able to speak to someone “important.” The infiltrators convinced FARC commanders to unite all of the key hostages in one location so that they could be transported. The FARC commanders were told two helicopters would arrive at a jungle location 70km south of San Jose del Guaviare near the Apaporis river to pick up hostages. On the day of the operation, two Russian made helicopters painted in white and red (very similar to those used by Hugo Chavez during the February mediated release of six hostages), arrived with military personnel disguised as a humanitarian commission. The “commission” had a cameraman and reporter filming the visibly annoyed hostages, who were complaining because they did not understand why they were being handcuffed by a humanitarian commission. The rescue video, filmed by a Colombian intelligence operative posing as a commission member, showed the FARC commander “Cesar” smiling and cooperating with the humanitarian mission that asked him questions. “Cesar” seemed visibly thrilled by the media attention, but during the fake media encounter, said he was not in a position give comments. Once hostages entered the helicopter, the members of the commission convinced the two FARC commanders to leave their weapons before they went in the helicopter. After the phony interview, intelligence operatives whisked the hostages away along with the two guerrilla commanders. (See video of rescue footage below). Once inside the helicopter the operatives violently neutralized the two guerrilla commanders and told hostages they represented the Colombian military and that they were LIBERATED. 

 

The Weakening of the FARC’s Organizational Structure

Ingrid Betancourt and most of the hostages praying the "Our Father" right after the rescue (Cambio photograph)

This incredible operative produced no bloodshed and ingeniously took advantage of the precipitated weakening of the FARC’s organizational structure. Colombian counter-insurgent efforts have focused on debilitating the military strongholds of the FARC throughout Colombia. They have been ongoing since President Alvaro Uribe Velez established his Seguridad Democratica (Democratic Security) policy. These military measures have gradually resulted in lowered political kidnappings, in a retreat of the FARC to remote jungle areas, and in mayor desertions. 

 

 

However, the recent blows to the Secretariat of the FARC and the rescue of Ingrid Betancourt and the other hostages are the most significant signs of disarray within the FARC organization. On March 1st the government attacked a clandestine FARC base two kilometers within the Ecuadorian territory. This operative killed FARC second in command “Raul Reyes,” apprehended other guerrillas, and obtained Reyes’ computer. Reyes was a key actor: the FARC’s key international representative, the head of the political wing of the FARC, and the FARC’s second in command. Reyes’ computer revealed the FARC’s international and national links, and most probably contains strategic information of the FARC’s organization.  

 

The Colombian attack essentially used the “Bush Doctrine,” where a state unilaterally attacks another based on a potential terrorist threat. In the case of U.S. vs. Iraq the threat was the potential existence of weapons of mass destruction. In the case of Colombia vs. Ecuador the treat was the harboring of terrorists, which would allow guerrillas to recoup for war. The Bush Doctrine is a risky military option for statesmen, because the evidence of a threat can be unfounded. In the case of the U.S. vs. Iraq weapons of mass destruction (the threat for going to war) were never found, and now the U.S. government is embroiled in a murky civil conflict. In the case of Colombia vs. Ecuador plenty of evidence showed that for years the FARC used Ecuadorian territory as an area of rest and recreation and for safekeeping hostages. For the Colombian government obtaining Raul Reyes’ computer was just like adding “icing on a cake,” because it officially revealed evidence of the FARC’s international links. 

 

The “Bush Doctrine” is controversial, because it violates the notion of going to war based only on the premise of self-defense. The Colombian attack was illegal according to international law, because it unilaterally attacked Ecuadorian territory based on suspicions that Ecuador was harboring terrorists.  This attack also created a diplomatic crisis, which had Venezuelan and Ecuadorian leaders threatening to go to war, based on the notion of coalition defense. However, the evidence provided by Raul Reyes’ computer showed strong ties between the FARC and the Venezuelan and Ecuadorian governments, which in the post-9-11 era was cleverly used by Colombian diplomats at the Organization of American States (OAS) to demonstrate that these two governments were harboring terrorists. Colombian arguments were also supported by: the video of the well-established FARC camp within Ecuadorian territory, evidence found on Raul Reyes’ computer, and by the declarations of Venezuelan diplomatic emissaries like Ramon Rodriguez Chacin, which illustrated the level of political backing the Venezuelan government was giving the FARC. OAS member states backed the Colombian government, but required that Colombia apologize for the event.

 

The second blow to the FARC’s secretariat was the death of Commander in Chief “Manuel Marulanda Velez” a.k.a tirofijo on March 26, 2008. He was a founding member and their charismatic leader for more than 40 years. Although structurally this may not have been such a blow because the FARC had defined lines of succession, this death was a blow to the morale of the FARC, as Marulanda died in retreat, apparently after shooting some members of his personal security because they tried to kill him.  A key detail, which was also important, was that the government reported Marulanda’s death before the FARC did in May, and the FARC Secretariat confirmed government reports.  The FARC’s reactive acknowledgement of Marulanda’s death shows the Secretariat lacks decisiveness in moments of crisis, probably due to the reorganization the FARC has had to undergo since it lost its top two leaders in one month. 

 

Manuel Marulanda Velez "Tirofijo" Now Deceased & Jorge Briceño "Mono Jojoy" Current Head of FARC Military Wing

 

Finally, in June alias “Karina” surrendered in a remote mountainous region near Nariño, Antioquia. Karina was one of the most vicious commanders of the FARC and was usually sent to “colonize” hostile territories. Her declarations on the futily of war have been honest critiques of the FARC’s political objectives. According to her declarations, she had not been in charge of the 47th Front of the FARC for over a year. The demobilization of FARC combatants has also showed that the FARC is no longer a career option for many disenfranchised youth. The use of monetary rewards designed to trigger troop betrayals to the FARC’s leadership, has weakened the loyalty of the security rings surrounding Secretariat members. Just the 7^th of March another member of the Secretariat, “Ivan Rios,” was killed by his own security. The assassination was gruesome; he was killed while sleeping and his right hand was cut-off to provide proof of death in exchange for a USD$2 million dollar reward.

 

At center is "Karina" FARC's bloodiest female commanders on the day of her surrender

 

The combination of factors such as: of the use of bombardments to force the FARC’s retreat, the deaths of three members of the FARC’s Secretariat (tiro fijo, “Raul Reyes” and “Ivan Rios”), the appropriation of Reyes’ computer, the use of monetary rewards, and demobilizations, have weakened the organization. The FARC has had to: change leadership, reorganize their troops throughout the country, decrease its ability to communicate with other fronts and blocs, and decrease the ability to readily fund and provide foodstuffs for its fronts and blocs. All of these destabilizing events, have weakened the FARC and have led to the success of Operation “Jaque,” which rescued Ingrid Betancourt and the 14 other hostages. Moreover, the recent hostage rescue has weakened FARC ties with friendly governments like Venezuela and Ecuador, and has increased its negative image internationally (especially in Europe). Holding hostages to obtain political recognition has become counterproductive for the FARC’s image abroad, because they cannot be seen as liberators when they hold people in chains. 

Although, Uribe’s Securidad Democratica policy has been criticized because of its focused attack on leftist insurgents, Uribe has shown an ability to attack right-wing paramilitaries as well. On May 14th, 2008 Uribe extradited 14 of the most powerful paramilitaries to the United States. Paramilitary leaders were reluctant to cooperate with authorities by acknowledging thousands of human rights violations perpetrated from the early 1990s until 2004, when the paramilitary group Autodefensas Unidas de Colombian (AUC) demobilized. These AUC leaders never thought they would touch U.S. territory and thought they would serve eight-year sentences. With the paramilitary extradition, Uribe strengthened the capacity of the state to assert its power, not only over the armed left, but also over the armed right.

Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC) Paramilitaries Extradited to the United States on Drug Charges

 

'Don Berna' famous paramilitary with a violent track record:member of EPL, Medellin Cartel, PEPES, and finally a member of the AUC

Even though the state capacity to monopolize the use of force has been strengthened in Colombia during this presidency, much work still needs to be done such as: the release of about 700 Colombian hostages still under FARC control; the establishment of truth commissions for the discovery of the thousands of remains of victims that fell prey to political massacres (perpetrated mostly by paramilitary, but also by insurgent groups); the continued increase of durable state presence throughout the Colombian territory to establish rule of law; the eradication of armed social movements like emergent paramilitary forces, but also of guerrilla organizations; the protection and freedom of the press; the end to corruption (as most visibly practiced by the mayor of Cartagena); and the restoration of land to 3 million Colombians that have been unjustly displaced by political violence. These problems are no “short order,” to say the least.

Internally Displaced Persons in Major Colombian Cities

On July 20th, 2008 Colombia’s Independence Day, Colombians will be marching to celebrate the happy liberation of these hostages and to demand the FARC’s unilateral liberation of those still in captivity. It is hoped that many marchers will also rally for long lasting JUSTICE & PEACE.

As Reggae Star Peter Tosh’s song says…

Everyone is crying out for peace yes, none is crying out for justice

Everyone is crying out for peace yes, none is crying out for justice

I don’t want no peace without Equal Rights and Justice

 

 

 

Winter Music Conference Miami 2008: The Revival of Acid House??

 Soooo much to see and experience at the Winter Music Conference 2008 and only one petite body!!!! 

Since everyone’s experience is different depending on the shows they go to, here is my take on it. Based on the sets and the shows I went to, this year was the revival of ACID HOUSE. A caveat, don’t just take my word on the shows reviewed check out the footage of the nights for yourself!!!

Tuesday March 25th, 2008

Benny Benassi, MSTRKRFT, & Boys Noize @ Mansion

Ok so it is March 25th, 2008 and the Winter Music Conference finally arrives. A year ago Crystal Castles, PEACHES, The Presets, and Dj Hell opened up the conference @ Mansion. This year it also started at Mansion, but with some of the heavy masters of electro house–Boys Noize, MSTRKRFT, and Mr. Satisfaction himself Benny Benassi.  Boys Noize banged with his tough but always funky mixing, which kept everyone pumped and asking for more at every breakdown. His playlist blended rave, with that warm acid house piano, and of course underlying everything was analog sound. His remix of Feist’s “My Moon My Man” closed the set. MSTRKRFT played classic electro house, they teased the crowd with “killing on the dance floor” and they definitely played “easy love.” Tracks from other people that definitely stuck in my mind were those by Green Velvet and Vitalic. Though their set was true electro funk and kept the party flowing, it was definitely a FUN set, but not an innovative one. Finally Benny Benassi mixed great trancy and analog house music that filled the room with DEEP sound. One track had an amazing bass guitar that sounded similar to that used by The Cure in any of their songs. Benassi’s set was a professional mix, but the remix of Vanilla Ice’s “Ice Ice Baby”stopped the night to a screeching halt for me. Overall the consensus on the walk home with my girlfriends was that Boys Noize was the hero of the night!

On to Thursday March 27th, 2008

Erol Alkan, Boyz Noize, & Digitalism-Scion Soiree @ The Raleigh Hotel Pool

This line up was amazing on its own, but add to it palm trees, a beautiful blue sky, 73F degree weather, a light breeze, a pool and bikinis, and you get the classic WMC feel. Erol Alkan started playing around 3pm the tracks were tough and dark for a day party, but he banged it anyways. Among these, Alkan played a track that mixed a Moroccan snake charmer with techno, which rocked. He finished his set with “Blind” by Hercules and Love Affair, which is a beautiful disco song that WILL be a CLASSIC– the lead singer’s voice is just phenomenal. Next up was Boys Noize of course! This poolside set started up with some electro Miami bass style, and slowly but surely he impeccably mixed his way to more pounding tracks, which really pleased the growing crowd. His mix of Laurie Anderson’s “O Superman” was a great breakdown to hear outdoors, but he played it long enough to tease the crowd, and kick the beat back to get the party going. At the end of this incredible lineup was a live performance by Digitalism!!!! This was an amazing sunset appearance. Their live PA included ‘zdarlight,’ ‘fire in Cairo,’ ‘idealistic,’ ‘Homezone,’ and they ended their set with ‘Pogo,’ which was just beautiful.

 

Friday March 28th, 2008

Calvin Harris, Institubes (Surkin, ParaOne and Bobmo), The Toxic Avenger and Franki Chan- Scion Sound Ceremony@Raleigh Hotel

The second day of music at the Raleigh Poolside started with Calvin Harris on the decks. The crowd was more relaxed than the day before when it was filled with NYC hipsters arriving in their sweaters and black skinny jeans. Friday was filled with girls in bikinis enjoying more of the pool than the music. Institubes started playing around 3:30 and Surkin was first up. He did “Radio Fireworks” and had set up some acid house tracks, when the half the sound system just shut down and it started smelling like burnt rubber. Surkin got off stage and a replacement DJ went on stage.  Later Para One played and started the party again…

 

MSTRKRFT, Surkin, Boys Noize, & A-Track- Fool’s Gold Records Party @ Whiteroom

This party was no fool’s gold it was Solid Gold (except they could have used more sound). This was a FREE party with an original line up that included L.A. Riots, A-Track, and other Fool’s Gold artists. I arrived at the party around one, and I had just missed L.A. Riots (which was the reason for going), but MSTRKRFT was mixing, Chromeo was on stage, A-Track was on stage, Tommy Sunshine and Daniela were on stage, and the Institubes were on stage as well!!!! This was a total surprise to the crowd there, and people were simply amazed. This was TRULY an Acid House party. Right after MSTRKRFT finished their set, Surkin went on and just went OFF!! He played ‘Kiss & Fly’ and of course ‘White Knight Twoooo’!!! When Surkin got off the turntables Boyz Noize got on! After, A-Track got on the decks. Then, DJ Mehdi from Ed Recs and Annie Mac from BBC 1 got on stage, and A-Track played Justice as a teaser, then kept rocking it. I had to leave the party, but I heard the sound system fell right before A-Track was done so…..

Saturday March 29th, 2008

Boyz Noize, Simian Mobile Disco (Live PA), Erol Alkan, and – Fixed @ Studio A

This was another incredible line up, and for me the best party of the conference. Studio A, which locally is known for its lack of quality sound, had huge sets of additional speakers on stage… Boys Noize started playing at 2AM and rocked it. Simian Mobile Disco went on and started the set with “Sleep Deprivation,” this track’s warm analog and melodic sounds set the theme of their set. Among tracks played were, their remix of the The Go Team’s ‘Ladyflash’ and the Klaxon’s ‘Magick.’ From their stuff they played ‘Hustler,’ ‘The Beat,’ and ‘I believe’ among others… The intricacies of the synth and the warmth of the lights went hand in hand with the beautiful, but powerful beat. An ecstatic crowd continued to dance to Erol Alkan who just banged it. Alkan delivered a set that mixed techno and acid house, so dark acid house???? At the beginning there was a track with a huge overpowering bass line, he played the snake charmer track, which was OFF THE HOOK especially at a club setting. Towards the end he got going with some acid house, and played tracks with dark and soulful vocals. This was a mind-blowing set to say the least.  

The Hypocrisy of Democracy: Democrats “Stood Up” By The Democratic National Committee At Florida Primaries

On January 29^th, 2008 I will vote even if my vote does not count. Why? I am doing it to feel what people around the world who live in mediocre democracies feel like when their vote does not count.  Such limited democracies hold elections, but disenfranchise voters in many ways like: not securing voting booths from intimidation or violence, destroying ballots, fixing elections, buying people’s votes, and/or only offering one candidate, because all others have been intimidated or eliminated.    

 

I mean, what is more important in a democracy, the electorate or an organization?

 

Floridians should be rewarded for using the democratic system to change electoral problems in their state. Instead, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) opted to punish states that changed their primary elections, such as Michigan and Florida, by dismissing their votes.  

 

The Florida law, approved by Floridians and signed by Governor Charlie Crist on May 21, 2007, established an early presidential primary on January 29^th, 2008.  This reform led the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to boycott the Florida primaries, thereby preventing candidates from campaigning and not counting the votes of Florida delegates at the Democratic Convention. In other words, the votes of Florida Democrats will not count. 

 

This is ironic because in the 2000 presidential elections, Democrats were scrounging for 500 votes to beat current President George W. Bush.  That election that was ultimately decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, and it disenfranchised Florida voters. So Florida voters, who agonized over the 2000 presidential elections, are again IGNORED. 

 

Why was the primary date changed in Florida?

               

 

The crazy 2000 presidential elections, experienced by Floridians and by the entire United States, led to a number of electoral reforms. So rather than becoming disillusioned and disconnected from the electoral process, Florida voters became more engaged in improving an electoral system that was the butt of national jokes. Florida officials and the electorate voted to change electoral machines from those that punched paper ballots to computerized systems that will have a paper trail. The state also created an early voting process, so voters not only have absentee balloting at their disposal, but they can also vote early for almost a week before the actual Election Day takes place. This reform was done to accommodate people that have 9-5 jobs, and/or are unable to vote on the actual election date. Floridian voters also agreed to change the date of the electoral primary to increase the relevance of their vote in national politics. This way Floridians could have an increased effect on the momentum of primary elections.

 

A country that has strong democratic institutions allows its citizens to use the political system to solve problems without massive protest or violence. Floridians have showed that they can change the electoral process by using the present political system, and they should be rewarded for their enthusiasm.  The electorate should not be punished by the DNC.

 

What Is the DNC and Why Boycott the Florida and Michigan Primaries?

 

The Democratic National Committee is the organization that according to their website “plans the Party’s quadrennial presidential nominating convention; promotes the election of Party candidates with both technical and financial support; and works with national, state, and local party organizations, elected officials, candidates, and constituencies to respond to the needs and views of the Democratic electorate and the nation” (http://www.democrats.org/a/party/aboutDNC.html). The DNC is chaired by Gov. Howard Dean and it also has a Rules Committee that on August 2007 decided to boycott Florida and Michigan’s push for early primaries.  The 30-committee members did not like being bypassed by the Florida and Michigan electorates, arguing that the “leapfrogging” of  “rogue” states did not follow organizational rules.

In the DNC’s defense, if all states moved up their primary elections, then it would cut the campaigning process.  So voters would not have time to become acquainted with candidates, and the candidates and the party would loose out in opportunities to raise political campaign funds in each state. Many in the DNC have argued that the primary process should be reformed to allow more states to have more representation.

Though the DNC deals with the logistics of candidate selection and should reform the primary system in cooperation with its Republican counterparts, is punishing voters in a democracy necessary? In a democracy, the DNC, which is just an organization, should not be more powerful than an electorate.

 

What are the Costs of the Boycott?

 

If the Democratic National Committee is in the business of convincing people to vote and claims to represent the interests of the American People, by disenfranchising voters it made a public relations blunder. Republicans can always use this against the DNC, its candidates, and voters will remember. Because of the boycott, angry Democrats have opted to give campaign donations to their candidate of choice, rather than to the DNC.

 

Because of the boycott candidates are unable to raise funds in Florida without being hypocrites. Why should supporters give money to candidates if their vote does not count? Remember “no taxation without representation?” More importantly, candidates lose the opportunity to present themselves and sell their agenda in Florida– a key state that has a diverse population and 27 delegates.

 

Even in the past days Hillary Clinton has told voters that she will visit South Florida after the primary to thank voters and hear their needs. She has pleaded to make Florida delegate votes count at the convention, but this is because polls show that she is winning by 50%.  Barack Obama opposes lifting the boycott because he did not campaign in Florida after the DNC’s decision, and if he were to agree to count the votes of Florida and Michigan delegates, it is most likely that he would lose. Democrats lost the opportunity to convince voters about their views on the economy and the war in Iraq, whereas Republicans have used this opportunity to debate and persuade voters in both states possibly winning the attention of independents.

 

For voters the cost of the boycott is the opportunity of meeting candidates, hearing debates, and of taking part in the selection of candidates closest to their views, so at least they can feel like they have a stake in the political system. Many people I spoke to will not vote because they know that their vote will not count. If we follow this reasoning what is the point of having a democracy? Why not have an authoritarian system that will choose everything for us? I should also add that primary elections are elections for delegates that will vote on behalf of the Floridian population, this is not even a direct vote!  

 

Finally, not counting votes in a country like the United States that brags about the value of democratic politics all over the world is a hypocritical move by U.S. politicians. If people are disenfranchised in this country what can people in countries in the midst of political turmoil like Iraq, Afghanistan, Colombia, and Kenya hope for? 

 

Though I can say with a high degree of certainty that I will not be violently intimidated by armed groups like in some places in Colombia, my country of origin, as a U.S. naturalized citizen I can hope that the political system will register my vote and that the media will take notice.  Even if my vote does not count, I hope that the next election will improve politics, just as Florida electoral politics have improved eight years since the fiasco of November 2000.

 

To conclude if people want to vote, their vote should count. This is especially true if people want to vote for a candidate that they believe will: improve an economy, create greater peace, lead a developed and rich country, and that will not leave hundreds of people stranded for days, and waiting for water and food right after a Level 5 hurricane floods and destroys their city.

The Flood Aftermath left by Hurricane Katrina August/September 2005 

| View Show | Create Your Own

 All Pictures courtesy of bbc.com

 Update

It is optimistic to see that voter turnout in Florida primaries broke records.  3.848 million people voted, which is a 37% voter turnout. This is an increase, because the 2004 Florida primaries only garnered 2.569 million votes and 26.3% voter turnout.  Democrats got 1,719,334 million votes vs. Republican 1,912,652 votes. Considering that democrat votes did not count this is a pretty good turnout. Hillary Clinton got 854,089 (49.7%) votes compared to Obama’s 567,356 (33%).  Hillary Clinton also received more votes than Sen. John McCain, who received 689,300 votes (36%). However, this result is illusive for Sen. Clinton, because this primary was not a contested primary due to the boycott.