PERSONAL

MOLLY DEBATES THE INSANE

Most of Molly's "action" is now over at her Facebook site. Over there there is an interesting "debate" if you can call it such. The substance concerens the "torching" of a cop car by supposed anarchists at a recent demonstration about the rigged Russian election. Anarchists certainly took part in the demonstration against the rigged elections. What I await confirmation of, given the police set-up that led to the torching of three police cars in Toronto, is verification from the REAL anarchist organizations in Russia. We'll see. If it is true it is an act of stupidity. If not true it is one more example of how low the Russian government can sink.

PERSONAL:

SORRY FOR THE LACK OF CONTENT HERE:

Regular readers of this of this blog may have noticed a lack of content recently. I've explained this before as I have transfered a lot of my activity over the my Facebook account. I've been contemplating this for some time, and have posted on it before. I MOST certainly don't intend to abandon Molly's Blog because it reaches a larger audience that even the 2100 + "friends" I have on Facebook. It also a fact that most of the people that I am connected to on Facebook are those who I already agree with in one way or another, ie they are anarchists, union activists or people involved in such things as "time banks" or social justice efforts. THIS blog, however, has the potential for a larger outreach given the way the internet operates. So...don't despair; there will be things here that I couldn't express on facebook or are better expressed here.

BLOGGING:

THE CAT ON FACEBOOK:

OK, take a deep breath now. Here's a list of what is over at our sister site on Facebook ( http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1078669782 ). Once more from oldest to newest:

* Rothbarian Feudalism

*One Milliom March To Cairo

*Walmart Fesses Up In China

*First Hearing Of Missing And Murdered Women Inquiry Vancouver

*Canadian Imperialism

*Soccer And The Egyptian Revolution

*Protest Against The CCO and The UGT (Catalan Video)

*Wikileaks On The Egyptian Revolution

*Egypt: It Used To Be A CIA "Vacation" Hotspot"

*The Unknown Victim

*2011 begins In Protest (Video)

*Paul Robeson..Joe Hill (music video)

*"Seeds" by Anne Feeney (music video)

*"Graffiti From Cairo (images)

*"Mississippi Godam"...Nina Simone (music video)

*Class War In Egypt

*Videos Of The General Strike In Spain (Catalan)

*"No More Idols"...Samo Ravnol (music video)

*Dual Power In Egypt

*Vivir La Utopia (Video/Movie Español)

*Not Yet Happy Days

*"Anarchy In The UK"...Sex Pistols (Music Video)

*The Working Class In Egypt's Opposition

*The Death Throes Of A Dictatorship

*600 People Rally In Toronto To Support Egyptian Struggle

*Vancouver Rallies In Solidarity With The Arab people's Struggle

*Gulf War Propaganda 20 Years After

*Egypt Cracks Down On Al Jazeera

*The Arab World Is On Fire- Interview With A Syrian Anarchist

BLOGGING:

RECENTLY POSTED AT THE 'CAT HOUSE' (MOLLY ON FACEBOOK):

Oldest to latest. Last 24 hours. See http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1078669782 for details.

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++Will Qaddafi Be The Next To Go ?

++Translating PolSpeak

++Superpower (graphic)

++Rand On The Dole

++La CNT En La Huelga General (Spanish)

++Vegetarianism...Another Point Of View (Video)

++Independent Labour Federation In Egypt

++Squatting And Building Anarchist Communities

++Alex Hundert Released From Prison

++CIA Drones Have Killed Over 2,00 Since 2006

++Song For Bradley Manning...David Rovics (Music)

++Too Much Money Can Make The Boss Mean

++Charley Chaplin Speaks (Video)

PERSONAL:

THE CAT IS ON FACEBOOK:

People may have noticed fewer posts here recently. The reason is that I've been spending a lot of time over at my Facebook site (http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1078669782 ). Does this mean I'm abandoning Molly's Blog ? Far from it. I'm still, however, trying to work out the proper balance. Facebook has its advantages. I can post things there from other sites far faster than I can here, but the ability to explain and give background is considerably less (non-existent ???) . The chance to archive over there is zero, and linking via their "Friends" section is highly restricted. On the other hand I can easily post music and video, and I encourage my readers to drop over to see these efforts. The Facebook page also has a far larger selection of current news than I am able to give here. Some ( I hope few ) may miss my personal comments over there, but far more people respond to things there than they do to blogs so you can get the, unfortunately short, opinions of others.

I hope to get back into the swing of things with Molly's Blog so expect the number of posts to return to a "normal" level. In the future I will give short references here to things published over at Facebook. So...this is not a shrinkage of this blog but rather an expansion.

Enjoy.

ANARCHIST TACTICS:

THE "FACEBOOKALIZATION" OF ANARCHISM:

There's something I've noticed over the past few months given that Molly's Blog is a 'contact site' for anarchists across the world. As I gradually go through my editing process I find that not only are the majority of sites that I add 'Facebook sites', but that I am either deleting or sending to the Zombie listing a lot of others who were on the internet via other internet providers (blogspot/wordpress,etc).

That's fine, but a few cautions should be given here. First of all, as anyone who has followed this blog for long enough should be aware I am utterly and completely opposed to conspiracy to commit illegal acts. Not that I am opposed to "illegal acts" of civil disobedience, but I am completely opposed to the idea of trying to make them "secret". SECRET ???? I am completely astonished by the wishful thinking that a radical organization's plans could be kept "private" whenever it is communicated via the internet. I have debated this up and down with many people who are under the delusion that their "encryption" is sufficient to guard their plans. All that I can say here is that they are either wrong or actual state agents.

That, however, is something quite different from what is presently bothering me. What I have noticed is a gradual shift of anarchists to Facebook sites, and NOT always as simply a mirror of their main site. What does this mean besides the fact that, whether it is admitted or not, that their sites are continually monitored by US intelligence ? What it means is that unlike a blog post on website post whatever they say is eternally lost once a few days (hours, minutes,seconds ????) passes. THAT is what posting on Facebook means. It is lost forever. It is "etherbuzz".

I, of course, intend to maintain Molly's Blog as a main site while also using Facebook, but I would ask people to recognize the limitations of the latter. I would also ask others to consider the limitations of Facebook.

PERSONAL:

HERE AT MOLLY'S BLOG:

Well it seems like the flood of links from the conservative blog 'Small Dead Animals' is over,and I'm back to my usual visits (about 150/day). SDA has done this before, and I actually appreciate the opportunity to explain anarchism to those who will see nothing about it except play acting riots. After the over 1500 hits from SMA I hope that I have convinced at least three people to investigate the idea beyond what is spread to them from the conservative media. To be honest I received an actual intelligent conservative post (alongside a lot of nonsense that reminds me of he worst sent out by my own "comrades") Yes, a lot of conservative beliefs depend upon ignorance, but so do a lot of leftist beliefs as well. That is simple sad history. I know how to answer the intelligent conservative bit by bit, but I must sat that I am pleased beyond measure about the attractiveness of this blog to "non-anarchists". That really my great goal.

As to other matters I am continuing the editing of my links. It's is coming close to the situation where "facebook pages" outnumber actual websites or blogs. Is this a good thing ? I have my doubts. Hence 'Molly's Blog' is the central site for what I want to say, not my facebook page. What dies Facebook lack ? Obviously content, and blogs can have such content. That is why this blog will stay as it is, whatever the fact that I announce a lot of things over at Facebook.

Usually nothing of great importance. but sometimes Facebook is usable. Blogger has its advantages, but so does Facebook. Interesting contrast.

ANARCHIST HISTORY:

CENTENARIO CNT ON FACEBOOK:

Molly has already blogged a couple of times before on the fact that this year marks the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Spanish CNT. As promised I'll be presenting various statements from Spain on this anniversary. Today it's the turn of the Spanish anarchosyndicalist union that still bears the name, the CNT. There's now a CNT associated Facebook page on this milestone, Centenario CNT. Their basic information follows, but be sure to drop on over to their site to see all of the photos, events and videos contained therein. A feast for the curious.

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CENTENARIO CNT:
Basic Information

Birthday:
May 1, 1910
Hometown:
Barcelona, Spain
Relationship Status:
In an Open Relationship
Interested In:
Women/Men
Looking For:
Friendship/Networking
Political Views:
ANARCOSINDICALISMO
Religious Views:
ateo
Contact Information

Website:
http://www.cnt.es/centenario
http://anarcosindicalismo-basico.blogspo...
Education and Work

College:
Universidad de Extremadura '98
High School:
el brocense '20
Pages
See All (35)


cnt-ait sindicato de oficios varios de adra

Mandiamoli a casa!

fora-ait - sociedad de resistencia de oficios varios mendoza

cnt-ait sov de barcelona

fora-ait - sociedad de resistencia de oficios varios san martin
Groups
See All (45)

Member of:
POR EL OCASO DEL CAPITALISMO, ASI - Vršac, CNT, Solidarity with FAU against Union Prohibition!, 1.000.000 de personas en contra de la Pornografìa Infantil, LOS MARGINADOS DEL ESTADO, Fédération Anarchiste Francophone, A VER CUANTOS ESTAMOS EN CONTRA DE LA MANIPULACION DE ESTA GENTUZA, ITALIA ANTIFASCISTA, Miguel Hernández - El PP de Orihuela pretende desvirtuarlo., La Rinascita del Gruppo Anarchico!, Kasalet (Terrassa), CNT AIT Cornellà i comarca, NO a Intereconomía ! contra la contaminacion informativa, NO A LA PRIVATIZACIÓN DE LOS SERVICIOS PúBLICOS EN EXTREMADURA, Refinería NO!!!, Contra la privatización de la Sanidad Pública, UNETE CONTRA EL ACOSO LABORAL. Campaña de Solidaridad con Pedro Torrado, ANTIFASCISTS INTERNATIONAL, A la memoria Carlos Palomino joven Vallekano asesinado por un militar nazi, Célula Anarquista "Fabrizio De André" - Santiago, Chile., Stories About Us, libertari@s unido@s, Hay que juzgar a Aznar por crimenes de guerra!, salvemos a lobo iberico, MARINALEDA, una justicia para el pobre y otra para el rico., Banqueros a la CARCEL, Igualdad Animal / Animal Equality, UNA VIA PER CAMILLO BERNERI AD AREZZO, İntihar

CANADIAN ANARCHIST MOVEMENT-TORONTO:

OPPOSE THE G20 IN TORONTO:

Well, the Winter Olympics will soon be here and gone. If, however, you're still feeling the "demonstration itch" there's something else coming up next summer in Toronto. I'm speaking of the gathering of the G20 which will surely be shadowed by a gathering of opponents of the G20. Funny how these things work out.

There's a Facebook page for the upcoming opposition to the Toronto get together of the planners amongst our rulers. Here's the info.

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RESIST TORONTO G20 SUMMIT 2010:
Description:
Easy Link To This FB Group: http://www.stopg20.com

Partner Web Site: http://www.g20central.com

On June 26-27 of 2010, Toronto will host the next summit of the G20, a group of finance ministers and central bank governors from the world’s largest economies who meet twice yearly to discuss and coordinate the international financial system. Around 1,500 delegates, including heads of state, will be here along with more than 2,000 members of the media, and thousands of police and security agents tasked with squelching dissent.

Now that the system these leaders have forced on the world is in crisis they continue to operate as if they have the answer. We know that they do not. To save countries, they propose we turn to institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), an entity that has historically imposed murderous structural adjustment programs on the world’s poor.

The real value of this summit, to its participants and those resisting it, is not in the substance of the "leaders’" discussions. Our power is not in whether or not we have the ability to prevent a bunch of finance ministers and heads of state from talking. The real importance is in the way an undisrupted ceremony reinforces the dominant worldview. If that view is flawed, it must be rejected, and the spotlight such a gathering creates must be one in which people will manifest liberating social conflict.

For different reasons, we are organizing and defying the alienation and desperation that defines the height of corporate globalization. Instead of utilizing the traditional and accepted channels of change, inspired by movements and heroes from the past, we focus on direct forms of organization. Most important, our actions inspire countless people to believe that, what is, does not have to be. (read more)
Open: All content is public.
Website:
http://www.stopg20.com

http://www.g20central.com
News:
Information to come.

LOCAL NEWS WINNIPEG:

COMING BACK TO HAUNT YOU:

Ah, the wonderful world of Facebook. Here in Winnipeg, as in many other cities where good taste takes a back seat to revenue generation, the administration of Mayor Sam Katz has determined that "naming rights" for various city properties should be sold to private interests. The possibilities, of course, are endless. The Steven Harper Memorial Urinal ? The Stockwell Day City Garbage Bin ? You could, of course, name sewer drains after personal enemies. A group of Winnipegers has an appropriate idea to memorialize the directing hand behind this campaign. Here's the intro to the "Committee to rename a city service to 'Sam Katz Hates Poor People'" Facebook page.

KKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

Committee to rename a city service to 'Sam Katz Hates Poor People':
Description:
We plan to pay the City of Winnipeg to rename an as-yet-undecided public city service using the recently announced program to sell naming rights to city services for cash.

The new name is also undecided, but will more than likely be unflattering to Mayor Katz, and could include any of the following:

* 'shill for rich property developers'

* 'tax-dodging hypocrite'

* 'all-around sleazy jerk'

Any other suggestions are welcome!

See this CBC News article for background on what looney-tunes idea Katz has now: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2010/01/01/manitoba-winnipeg-naming-rights.html (read more)
Privacy Type:
Open: All content is public.

LOCAL NEWS-WINNIPEG:

THE VIVA MONDRAGON FACEBOOK PAGE:

Molly just recently joined a new Facebook group, the Viva Mondragon for fans of Winnipeg's local infoshop and vegan restaurant (now also a grocery store). Here's all the info about them from their page.

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Basic Information

Hometown:
Winnipeg, MB
Relationship Status:
It's Complicated
Interested In:
Women

Men
Political Views:
anarchist & pareconist
Religious Views:
something about an opiate
Contact Information
Phone:
204-946-5241
Current Address:
1A- 91 Albert StreetWinnipeg, MB R3b 1G5
Website:
http://mondragon.ca

Groups

See All (72)

Member of:
Peace Alliance Winnipeg, The Royal Albert Arms, The Lo Pub, Critical Mass - Winnipeg, MB, No One Is Illegal RADIO, Room 720, Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP), Makeshift Productions presents Concrete Jungle @ The Embassy Lounge , scott nolan, Get rid of Mayor Sam Katz!, Stop the Privatization of Winnipeg Water, I Support Comprehensive Insured Health Services for Transgender Manitobans, The Tallest Poppy, the Outspoken Wordsmiths, March on Gaza, Jan. 1, 2010 - Gaza Shall Not Die!, Democracy Now! @ The Organic Underground each weekday at 5:00 pm, Victoria Anarchist Bookfair, Youth Activist Retreat, Remembering Stonewall, Friends of the UWSA Community Garden :), Ashanincan Shaman Visits Winnipeg, W.A.A.R., People Against Beating Kids, The Boreal Action Project, Bike Winnipeg, War All The Time, Precursor Productions / intomusic.ca, FemRev - new rebELLEs OC, Free The Pirate Bay, Salon du Livre Anarchiste de Montreal @ Montreal Anarchist Bookfair

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Oh, oh, Molly feels one of her petty gripes (or puzzlements) coming on. I guess that it is fair game to also have a website. I checked. It is still active. A lot of groups, people, businesses, etc. do this to increase their exposure. But the new group made me look to the old Mondragon facebook page to see if it was time to give it a decent burial from the Links section and move it to 'Zombies'. To my amazement it is still active as well. For the life of me I can't see the point of this. No doubt there are individuals in this world who have more websites, blogs, Facebook and Myspace sites than I have fingers and toes. Personally I doubt that such a thing will get them even 15 nanoseconds of fame. Can somebody please enlighten me as to the purpose of having two Facebook groups running in tandem.

HUMOUR:

ZOMBIE APPRECIATION DAY:

Here's one to break the monotony of endless political posts. What follows is a Facebook event for which I have an invitation. I thought I'd share it with my readers. I'm not a great fan of zombies. Vampires are more my taste (just finished reading another Anne Rice novel a few weeks ago). I guess, however, that the least romantic of the undead deserve some sort of recognition. Besides, any old excuse for a holiday. So shuffle on over if you dare.

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ZOMBIE APPRICIATION DAY:

Lets make 1/23 a day to forget (because the part of our brains that retain memories will be eaten)
Event Info
Host:
National Institute of the Undead
Type:
Party - Holiday Party
Start Time:
Friday, January 23, 2009 at 12:00am
End Time:
Saturday, January 24, 2009 at 12:00am
Location:
Everywhere
Contact Info
Email:
summersweety111@hotmail.com
Description
Zombies deserve some recognition and celebration, so we've decided to do what should have been done long ago- and made a holiday just for them. We will be showing our discontent with the negative light Zombies are shown in in popular culture by painting our faces and dressing like these proud and hugely misrepresented peoples. We ask for your support! Pull out those old ripped jeans and go crazy with the fake blood! And please, bite as many non-believers as possible.

Disclaimer for administrators and other such authority figures who can't take a joke: This "holiday" is merely for fun, because we need some (ANY) form of entertainment in order to keep from turning into "Zombies" ourselves. Go watch Sean of the Dead.

BLOGGING:

NEW GROUPS ON FACEBOOK:

Molly is not a great fan of the social networking site Facebook, but she is signed up and duly wastes some of her time there. Every once in awhile some true gems comes via this portal. Here's a couple of new groups that Molly has discovered during her latest prowl. The serious one first.

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Boycott BMI airlines:

Global
Description:
We call for a boycott BMI airlines for aiding the deportation of people from the UK that are at risk of persecution.This weekend (20th September) Babakhan Badalov, (Babi) the openly gay, internationally renowned radical artist and poet from Azerbaijan has been deported from the UK - aided by BMI.Please write to BMI stating that you will ensure none of your friends and family travel with them in the future, that you will campaign ceaselessly against them, for they have acted selfishly, with no regard to an individual’s health and mental well-being.

See http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=35422317493

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And the just for fun.

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Joe the Plumber sucks:

Global
Description:
Are you sick of Joe the Plumber? Do you seriously want to throw up in your mouth anytime his name is mentioned? Are you wondering, "What the Hell?" anytime McCain or Palin mentions him? Then you must think that Joe the Plumber sucks.

See: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=36748475068&ref=nf

INTERNET:

FACING DOWN FACEBOOK:

Here's a little David and Goliath story to warm your heart. Like in the original the good guy won, at least this time. Facebook (Goliath) is of course, the mega-giant and the villain in this piece. Started on February 4, 2004 Facebook has grown to presently include over 60 million active users. It averages about a quarter of a million users per day, and see over 65 billion page views per month. There are about 1.7 billion photos on Facebook, and last spring a poll conducted in the USA found that it was the most visited site amongst people aged 17- 25. There are about 2.2 billion "friends" tagged in user photos, and more than 60 million photos are added each week.

OK, that's Goliath. Let's go to David. Derek Blackadder (see http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=527065425 for his Facebook page- note that you have to register with Facebook to view anything on their site) is an union organizer for the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). He is also a Canadian contributor to the labour solidarity website Labour Start which Molly has often referenced here on this blog. Blackadder fell afoul of the powers that be at Facebook by adding too many "friends". As an union organizer this is just the sort of thing that he does- he expands his social network as fast as possible. Facebook threatened, and then they lowered the axe by banning him. This, however, didn't go over too well with other union activists that use Facebook, and a protest site(http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7734528204 ) was rapidly set up by John Wood of the UK. The campaign was promoted by Labour Start as well. Within 8 hours almost 2,400 people had signed up in solidarity with Blackadder. Fearing further bad publicity, Facebook relented, and Derek is now back online doing what he does best. One small victory for the little guy.

There is actually quite a bit of controversy about sites such as Facebook. Many have predicted that their popularity, and the resulting traffic jam of useless photos and video (see YouTube), will lead to such a slowing of online communication that the internet will become virtually useless (some may say has always been that way). Specific to union organizing, however, Eric Lee of Labour Start has written an essay entitled Bandwagons and Buzzwords: Facebook and the Unions about the limitations of using Facebook as an organizing tool. The John Wood mentioned above wrote a rejoiner titled In Defence of Facebook (Sort Of) which disagrees with Lee, but also points out the author's own reservations about this tool.

Look over both of the above essays to see what their authors say. In the meantime Molly raises a glass to Derek Blackadder. Long may he "face" or whatever the verb derived from the noun may be in this case.