this blog is a visual notebook of inspirations for a group of bandit bloggers. we post things we see and like. our lives don’t revolve around singular topics and neither does our blog. sorry! nothing is in-or-out of context here. enjoy xx
buy the NYTimes best seller book available on amazon here
displaced palestinians make their way as they flee jabalia after the israeli military called on residents to evacuate.
PBS interview with new york time best seller author and journalist peter beinart
there is much uncertainty about the second phase of the ceasefire in gaza. after nearly 16 months of war, the humanitarian situation there remains dire. author and journalist peter beinart believes equality between the israelis and palestinians is the only way to secure peace and safety for good. it’s something he addresses in his new book “being jewish after the destruction of gaza.” the author joins the show to discuss. by xy
watch the oscar shortlisted film “from ground zero” extended schedule through january 23rd at the quad theater in west village NYC. check showtimes here.
22 short films, by 22 young and seasoned directors, filmed in war-torn gaza as recently as oct 2024. please see showtime for MN, CA, WI, VA, TN, FL and many more U.S. states…
“it’s an honor to stand in solidarity” – michael moore director of roger and me, bowling for columnine, fahrenheit 9/11, and sicko.
from executive producer michael moore and palestine’s official submission for the 2025 academy awards, “from ground zero”, is a collection of revealing stories from 22 palestinian filmmakers living through war, who capture their lives in gaza amidst war. using a blend of animation, documentary, and fiction, they create a powerful testament to the steadfastness of the human spirit. this film serves as a remarkable reflection of how art can thrive even in the darkest times, showcasing the enduring spirit and creativity that emerge amid ongoing devastation. please check for showtimes here. by dd
just learned about fred, thanks to amy goodman… heres what i found:
“as a youth, fred hampton was gifted both in the classroom and athletically, and hoped to play center field for the yankees…
at 10 years old, he started hosting weekend breakfasts for other children from the neighborhood, cooking the meals himself in what could be described as a precursor to the panthers’ free breakfast program.
vox: “why the US government murdered fred hampton”
in 1968, hampton was accused of assaulting an ice cream truck driver, stealing $71 worth of ice cream bars, and giving them to kids in the street. he was convicted in may 1969 and served time in prison.
democracy now: “the assassination of fred hampton: new documents reveal involvement of FBI director j. edgar hoover”
we know this is how russia is run, and uganda under amin, and iran, but does this shit happen in france? or in canada? or in norway?
“hampton rose quickly in the BPP based on his organizing skills, and charisma… in 1969, hampton, now deputy chairman of the black panthers party illinois chapter, conducted a meeting condemning sexism. the fbi believed that hampton’s leadership and talent for communication made him a major threat… FBI director j edgar hoover was determined to prevent the formation of a cohesive black movement in the united states. the FBI opened a file on hampton in 1967…
in late 1968, the FBI’s chicago field office recruited william o’neal to work with it; he had recently been arrested twice for interstate car theft and impersonating a federal officer. in exchange for having his felony charges dropped and receiving a monthly stipend, o’neal agreed to infiltrate the BPP as a counterintelligence operative. with oneals help fred hampton was shot in bed, in the head, while drugged and incapacitated from the night before by the imposter, william o’neal, the FBI informant.” i mean wholly shit. they drugged him, and then they shot him in the head, i mean what cowards, what bastards…. assuming all this is true. by xy
the aptly named water proof chelsea boot (sola 2.0)… if you plan on going swimming in the new york sewers this is the boot you’ll need…
you know, some smart shit comes out of norway here and there… there was the incredible magnus carlsen…
we’ll assign the brown water resistant kastel x vibram lyngen slip-fit boot to
the “tall wolf” or otherwise “finish the job” erling haaland from the norwegian national team and later premier league manchester city
we’ll assign the coal black version with vibram sole technology to
and finally the gorgeous SIRI, the one your iphone was named after (google it), yes SIGRID siri tollerod the fashion queen…
whom we’ll assign the white water resistant kastel lyngen slip-fit boot to.
happy hunting for that right boot this winter, which you can call your own. what we love about these guys is that they say “sustainability is complex. just like saying 30% less sugar isn’t sugar-free, we don’t just claim to be sustainable.our approach involves bold experiments in materials, design… viable ideas become pilot products, and successful pilots set new standards of innovation…” sustainability is not just a phrase but rather “forever ongoing”… cheers to that… by ts
israelism is a 2023 american documentary, made before the october 7th war, about the portrayal of the israeli–palestinian conflict in american jewish institutions.
the film focuses on the perspectives of simone zimmerman and another jewish american, a former IDF soldier eitan, following them as they learn more about the treatment of palestinians and come to revise their views on israel.
winner of best feature documentary, and top audience award at the san francisco jewish film festival
winner of spirit award at brooklyn international film festival
directed by erin axelman and sam eilertsen, it has screened at various film festivals in the united states and won a brooklyn film festival spirit award. the film is critical of israel’s treatment of palestinians, and of the american jewish community’s education on the israeli–palestinian conflict.
it follows two american jews as they learn about the conflict and come to revise their views. the film also includes interviews with academics and political activists. by dd
watson was arrested in response to an interpol red notice from japan (oh… i see… so there is international law after all… but only when you are to arrest real criminals, like an environmentalist who’s trying to save our oceans!)
so did paul watson kill 1,000’s of men, women and children? did he steal anyone’s property or starve them to death? no…. “japan alleges that watson and his crew damaged a japanese whaling vessel in 2010 and injured a crew member with a stink bomb” no this is for real and not a joke…
“it is accepted by the prosecution that watson, who has been involved in thwarting whalers for five decades, was not present at the time of the alleged crime. it is instead claimed that he was party to the decision by the activist peter bethune to board the vessel and throw a stink bomb on to its deck.” – the guardian
watson and “the captain paul watson foundation” have appealed the decision to the supreme court. protests have erupted worldwide, condemning denmark’s cooperation with japan. watson’s defense team argues that japan’s extradition request is based on “false” claims. they also claim to have video footage proving the crew member was not on deck when the stink bomb was thrown.
its really a sad time when interpol red notices are issued for such absurd ‘crimes’ and only to then watch the rest of the world go to shit infront of our eyes. by kl
aaron bushnell was just 25-year-old when he set himself on fire in front of the israeli embassy in washington on february 25, 2024
bushnell’s act was the second self-immolation protesting united states support for israel in the 2023 war, which has killed over 40,000 palestinians to date (with more than half being women and children *PBS) and resulted in a major humanitarian crisis. in december 2023, another protestor set herself on fire at the israeli consulate in atlanta.
aaron bushnell was a U.S. air force devops engineer, troubled by what he saw. he died after setting himself on fire outside the front gate of the embassy of israel in washington, D.C. immediately before the act, bushnell said that he was protesting against “what people have been experiencing in palestine at the hands of their colonizers” and declared that he “will no longer be complicit in genocide”, after which he doused himself with a flammable liquid and set himself on fire. as he burned, bushnell repeatedly shouted “free palestine!” after he collapsed onto the ground, two secret service officers attempted to extinguish the flames while a third covered for them with their weapon. bushnell was transported to a local hospital in critical condition and was declared dead in the evening. despite the media ignoring this act of defiance, this selflessness should not be forgotten in this selfish world. to peace and safety for all innocent israelis and all palestinians. by xy
“4 more years, 4 more years…” of this, do you remember?
captain kirk and the crew are examining radio signals originating on earth and become confused by the messages broadcast by president trump. enjoy. by cm
stars ralph fiennes, walter murch, and winston churchill amongst others
ralph fiennes reads the transcripts of norman darbyshire who was a british spy who worked for the SOE and the MI6. he played a key role in the 1953 coup d’état that overthrew mohammed mossadegh, the democratically-elected prime minister of iran.
the cia is quoted acknowledging the coup was carried out “under cia direction” and “as an act of u.s. foreign policy, conceived and approved at the highest levels of government”.
watch how the MOSAD worked with iran in helping the shah to remain in and grip to power.
coup 53 documentary directed by taghi amirani – if unavailable click here
must watch… riveting, provocative and revelatory, coup 53 plays out like one of john le carré’s spy thrillers and is one of the most important and relevant documentaries of our time. 10 years in the making, the film – a meta textual account – seeks to uncover the past and expose the underhandedness that went into staging a coup d’état, by british and american forces, in 1953 iran- overthrowing the democratically elected government of prime minister mossadegh, reinstating the shah as head of the state, and ultimately leading to the revolution.
through a series of video interviews and transcripts – some aired as part of a documentary-series ‘end of empire’ and some that never saw the light of day, but were carefully preserved – the film’s director – taghi amirani – stitches together an intricate yarn that is gripping, powerful and extremely detailed in both its analysis and its cinematic scope. this is what documentaries need to be. riveting, provocative and revelatory, coup 53 plays out like one of john le carré’s spy thrillers and is one of the most important and relevant documentaries of our time.
10 years in the making, the film – a meta textual account – seeks to uncover the past and expose the underhandedness that went into staging a coup d’état, by british and american forces, in 1953 iran- overthrowing the democratically elected government of prime minister mossadegh, reinstating the shah as head of the state, and ultimately leading to the revolution.
through a series of video interviews and transcripts – some aired as part of a documentary-series ‘end of empire’ and some that never saw the light of day, but were carefully preserved – the film’s director – taghi amirani – stitches together an intricate yarn that is gripping, powerful and extremely detailed in both its analysis and its cinematic scope. this is what documentaries need to be. by nw
fascism may be defined as a form of political behavior marked by obsessive preoccupation with community decline, humiliation, or victim-hood and by compensatory cults of unity, energy, and purity, in which a mass-based party of committed nationalist militants, working in uneasy but effective collaboration with traditional elites, abandons democratic liberties and pursues with redemptive violence and without ethical or legal restraints goals of internal cleansing and external expansion. – robert paxton
with the recent surprise win for the left in the french elections, some may be tempted to think fascism is on the back foot. unfortunately, that’s not the case. let’s take a look at the state of rising fascism in europe. second thought is a channel devoted to education and analysis of current events from a socialist perspective. listen away. by bb
if you were told this is a one sided fight, don’t shoot john oliver, hes only telling the truth.
palestinians live in 2 areas one is gaza and the other the west bank, both are under the israeli thumb – by now we all now know and have seen how life in gaza is. here’s how the “better behaved – lucky palestinians” live in the west bank. click here if vid is missing
ben & jerrys founders : ben cohen and jerry greenfield stopped the sale of their ice cream in the israeli occupied territories before unilever changed that
john oliver discusses how the west bank settlements (israeli enclaves in palestinian west bank area) came to be, what their presence there means for everyone in the region, and why the weight of the world rests squarely on the shoulders of ben & jerry’s. good one john. by xy
a visual collective outlet of inspiration
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