ADL slams Pink Floyd's Roger Waters for anti-Semstic imagery

Roger Waters of Pink Floyd is currently touring the world, performing the entirety of his pseudo-autobiographical double album, The Wall.


Music journalists are raving about the massive spectacle the tour presents, including high definition visuals and a massive wall that Waters' crew gradually constructs behind him, and tears down during the shows climax. 


However, Abe Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League is none-too-pleased with some of the images Waters uses during the show. During "Goodbye Blue Sky," the visuals projected on The Wall are used to protest the Israeli-West Bank Barrier. The visuals feature images of planes dropping bombs in the shape of Jewish Stars of David followed by dollar signs. 


In a statement released by the ADL, Foxman said, "While [Rogers] insists that his intent was to criticize Israel’s West Bank security fence, the use of such imagery in a concert setting seems to leave the message open to interpretation, and the meaning could easily be misunderstood as a comment about Jews and money."


This is not the first time Waters has used his platform to protest the State of Israel. During his 2006 "Dark Side Of The Moon Tour," Waters performed a song called "Leaving Beirut" that protested Israel's conduct during the Second Lebanon War.

"I Can Change" by LCD Soundsystem

Video of LCD Soundsystem's performance in Boston last night. A review from your truly will be coming soon enough to Glidemagazine.com

Iranian nuclear power plant delayed due to Stuxnet virus

The launch of Iran's first nuclear power plant is facing a two-month delay. The Chief of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization has blamed the weather, but multiple sources speculate the delay is due to the Stuxnet Virus which has primarily targeted Iranian infrastructure.

Stuxnet is a Windows-specific computer worm that has attacked targets in Iran, Indonesia, and India. Security experts have concluded that the virus was programmed to attack a single target: likely Iran's Bushehr Nuclear Reactor.

Both Israel and the United States have worked to prevent the Islamic Republic from getting their hands on nuclear weapons, and in the past have used sabotage. Faulty parts have "found their way" into the Iranian nuclear program, and Iranian scientists involved in the project have turned up dead. Security experts have concluded that the sophistication of the Stuxnet Virus would take a State-sponsor, and plenty of folks have got their fingers pointed at the CIA and Israel's Mossad.

Mark Zuckerberg outranks Steve Jobs on Forbes 400

Don't worry, Bill Gates is still the wealthiest man in America. But according to Forbes 400, which lists the  richest people in America list, the 26 year-old Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, is roughly $800 million richer than Steve Jobs. Interestingly enough, Zuckerberg didn't even qualify as a billionaire last year.

Kil Jong i-l promotes son to general

Amid speculation that Kim Jong-il plans to appoint his youngest son as his successor, the North Korean leader made Kim Jong-un a General. The Workers Party Meeting begins tuesday and is the first of its kind in 44 years. Ever since the announcement, speculation has been high that Jong-il, who is said to have recently suffered a stroke, is oiling the gears to have his son assume his responsibilities as the Supreme Leader of North Korea.

Russian Surface-To-Air Missiles: Up for grabs?

The Russian S-300 Surface-toAir Missile System is considered by many-an-analyst to be the most sophisticated anti-aircraft weapon in the world, so you have to wonder why they're sitting on unguarded Russian bases, seemingly up for grabs.

A blogger that Russian defense officials accuse of having inside info has leaked photographs of unguarded S-300 systems on several army bases that are supposedly accessible to anyone willing to go on a nature hike.

Given the fact that Russia has recently reneged on it's pledge to sell these missiles to the Islamic Republic of Iran (due to the most recent round of sanctions), you'd hope they'd be keep them better guarded.

Wyclef takes failed presidential ambitions out on Sean Penn

It was the laws of Haiti that disqualified singer Wyclef Jean from running for the nations highest office. But at a recent performance in New York City, Jean took to lashing out at the critics of his failed campaign through revamped lyrics of his 2004 tune "President." He sang,"I got a message for Sean Penn: Maybe he ain't see me in Haiti because he was too busy sniffing cocaine." 


Penn, a two-time Academy Award Winner, has been living in a tent in Haiti, and has co-founded the J/P Hatian Relief Organization, which runs a tent camp that supports 55,000 refugees.


Jean also lashed out at his former Fugees bandmate, Pras, who also criticized Jean's run for Haiti's highest office. Jean sang, "I got a message for Praswell. Even though you don't want to support me, I got love for you...even though you only kicked eight bars in the Fugees."

Microsoft creates PC vs. Mac Facebook page

Competition is good for the market, but this just seems petty...

WERS makes Paste Magazine's list of the 40 Best Little Radio Stations in the U.S.

Nothing has brought me more pride than my affiliation with 88.9FM WERS and its online subsidiary, WERS.org. I was in agreement with Larry Rasky when he joined me on-air when he said that WERS is the greatest radio station in the world. While Rasky's comments may be hard to back up, Paste Magazine gave WERS some props by placing them on their list of The 40 Best Little Radio Stations in the U.S. The list wasn't ranked, but I'm comfortable assuming WERS would have been #1 without a doubt.

Bob Woodward exposes an administration divided over Afghanistan War strategy

Every President in recent history has had to grapple with the question: "How do we handle Bob Woodward?" George W. Bush joked during an interview with the famed Washington Post editor that his father, George H.W., wouldn't let Woodward near the Oval Office during his presidency. However, the Obama Administration has taken the same approach as his two most immediate predecessors by granting Woodward significant access to officials ranging from Biden, Clinton, and the president himself.


"Obama's War," a book Woodward has spent 18 months on, is slated for release next week, and aside from the inside-look at a supposedly dysfunctional West Wing, the New York Times' review says the book provides new insight into the Afghanistan War.


The book reports that U.S. intel has concluded that Afghan President Hamid Karzai is manic-depressive, and that the C.I.A. "has a 3,000-man 'covert army' in Afghanistan called the Counterterrorism Pursuit Teams, or C.T.P.T., mostly Afghans who capture and kill Taliban fighters and seek support in tribal areas."


Like his last book, 2008's "The War Within," "Obama's War" is said to document the decision-making process going on in the White House, and how that process has played out on the Afghan battlefield. And just like last time, this book supposedly paints a picture ripe with dysfunction and infighting.  The Vice President allegedly called Richard C. Holbrooke, Obama's Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, "the most egotistical bastard I've ever met." And for Holbrooke's part, he is said to doubt the President's war strategy,  and is quoted as saying "it can't work."


The question now is how the Obama Administration plans to spin this book with an election on the horizon that has many democrats shaking in their boots. Woodward clearly brought his A-Game, but the ball is now in the court of the West Wing.

GOP blocks repeal of "Don't ask, don't tell"

Thus proving that the GOP doesn't subscribe to Lady Gaga's official Youtube page.

Anonymous takes the RIAA to town

The online hacker collective known only as Anonymous has taken the fight to the Recording Industry Association of America. Following a series of denial-of-service attacks that put the Motion Picture Association Of America's website out of commission, the anti anti-piracy activists used all the tricks up their cyber-sleeve to crash RIAA.com and RIAA.org, at least temporarily.

Previous opponents of Anonymous have been the Church of Scientology and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

UPDATE: As of publication, both RIAA.com and RIAA.org are back online.

SHOCKER: Google Chrome advertised on Facebook

In surprising news, Google has purchased advertising space on Facebook, the famed social networking site who touts Microsoft as a financial investor and strategic partner. Given Chrome's intense competition with Apple's Safari Browser, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft's Internet Explorer, it will be interesting to hear what Facebook's "strategic partner" has to say about deal.

If War Comes: Israel Vs. Hezballah and its Allies

The Washington Institute For Near East Policy has just published an interesting report by Defense Fellow Jeffery White concerning the next round of hostilities between the Jewish State and Hezballah. The Lebanese-based Iranian-proxy has been operating in Southern Lebanon with near-impunity since the end of 2006's Second Lebanon War and Israeli intel now suggests that Hezballah has more missiles and better training than they had during the last conflict. This article paints a disturbing picture detailing why the next war between Israel and their neighbors to the north may be the widest in scope since the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

Goodnight and Goodluck

Thanks to everyone who has listened to my broadcasts over the years. It's been real. In case you didn't get to tune in live, I enjoyed the opportunity to say goodbye to everyone who listened to any of my broadcasts. The above link is a moment saved in time.

-AB

I bid farewell to WERS

After two years of news anchoring, public affairs reporting, web editing, and DJ'ing, today will be my final broadcast on 88.9fm WERS. I will be on air from 2-7pm EST and streaming online at WERS.org. Tune in as I say goodbye to listeners after a two-year experience I will value for a lifetime.

More problems for Adobe

Less than a week after learning about flaws in PDF software, Adobe users are now being told by the company that hackers are already taking advantage of a critical flaw in the current version of Flash to attack Windows PCs to 'cause a crash and potentially allow an attacker to take control.'


Adobe is saying the attacks are limited and only targeting Windows users, but according to digitaltrends.com, the software flaw is far reaching. In a report on Adobe's latest woes digitaltrends.com says, "All editions of Flash 9 and 10, including those for Windows, Mac, Linux, Solaris, and Google’s Android mobile operating system, and earlier versions, are affected. It’s also present in Adobe Reader and Acrobat, as well, since both programs include code to run Flash embedded in PDF documents." 

Trouble in Kashmir

Following a day of violence that led to 19 deaths, demonstrators broke curfew to take to the streets today, once again facing off against riot police who seemed braced for violent protest. Al Jazeera reports that protesters were throwing stones at riot police who responded with tear gas. The anti-Indian protests were held following reports of a Quran burning. According to State Police, yesterday was the most deadly day of violence since the mass demonstrations began three months ago.

Artificial "Skin" can sense pressure

In an article posted on techvert.com, Ryan Deal writes: "New artificial 'skin' fashioned out of flexible semiconductor materials can sense touch, making it possible to create robots with a grip delicate enough to hold an egg, yet strong enough to grasp the frying pan, U.S. researchers said on Sunday."


For scientists who have been searching for a way to program robots to adjust the level of pressure they use to handle objects, this could be what they're looking for.

Never Forget

It's the 9th anniversary of the September 11th attacks on New York City, Shanksville, PA, and our nation's Capital. In the years that have passed since 9/11, the phrase "Never Forget" has come to embody the America's way of coping with the crimes perpetrated on innocent civilians across the nation. By keeping the memory of our fallen countrymen and women in our hearts and minds, we remember the diverse demographic that was victimized. As a result, this brings to mind the strengths of the United States of America: Our diversity, tolerance of all faiths and beliefs, and our resilience as a nation who have time and time again risen to the challenges we face to overcome forces of tyranny and persecution.


 In honor of this somber day, this posting will link to the 9/11 Digital Archive, a site that "uses electronic media to collect, preserve, and present the history of the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania and the public responses to them." Their stated goal is "to create a permanent record of the events of September 11, 2001. In the process, we hope to foster some positive legacies of those terrible events by allowing people to tell their stories, making those stories available to a wide audience, providing historical context for understanding those events and their consequences, and helping historians and archivists improve their practices based on the lessons we learn from this project."

Never Forget.

Google now provides Instant Search Results

Google is rolling out the red carpet for Google Instant, a new feature that utilizes instant search results that are generated with each key that you type. Whenever the fastest growing company in the history of capitalism rolls out a new feature, it is bound to make headlines in the tech community but is Google Instant actually faster? The folks at Lifehacker.com have published a review of the new feature that concludes that they saved 17 seconds while performing 10 separate searches. But don't take their word for it. Give the new feature a spin for yourself.

First living solider awarded the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War

Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta's bravery in the face of a well-placed ambush in Afghanistan has earned him the first Medal of Honor awarded to a living soldier since the Vietnam War. But many vets and their advocates are asking why the sacrifies made by our soldiers over the past nine years have received so much less recognition than their WWII-era counterparts. According to the Washington Post: "Six medals have been awarded posthumously to those who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, a small fraction of those given during previous conflicts. In comparison, 246 Medals of Honor have been granted to those who fought in Vietnam, 133 for the Korean War and 464 for World War II."

Translating brainwaves into words?

Apparently the University of Utah can pull it off.

Castro to Ahmadinejad: Stop slandering the Jews

The ailing former-leader of Cuba granted a rare interview to Jeffery Goldberg of The Atlantic in which he says peace will only come to the State of Israel when they disarm their nuclear stockpile. He also said that the Iranian government would better serve the cause of peace by acknowledging the "unique" history of anti-Semitism and trying to understand why Israelis fear for their existence. Castro then went on to discuss his first encounters with anti-Semitism as a young Cuban child...

I will be hosting on-air on 88.9fm WERS and streaming online at WERS.org until 7pm EST

I will be hosting AAA radio content, giving away tickets to the Dirty Projectors, and giving you the good word on the WERS concert calendar, in addition to fun facts about the music you'll be hearing.

UN nuke agency says monitoring of Iran is hampered

In honor of Labor Day, attached is a link detailing the hard work being conducted by the International Atomic Energy Agency to keep Iran's nuclear program transparent. Let's hope their hard work is not in vain...

Hidden Track cites "Joe Russo Can't Be Stopped" by Andrew Bruss

DaveO from Glide Magazine's Hidden Track recently posted a live stream of the Benevento/Russo Duo's performance of the Grateful Dead's, "Blues For Allah." In making note of the fact that Russo has recently been playing drums with Phil Lesh and Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, DaveO pointed out that Russo was none too pleased with some of the attention the Duo recieved after touring alongside Trey Anastasio and Mike Gordon of Phish.

I will be hosting on-air from 2-7pm EST on 88.9fm and streaming online at WERS.org

Tune in for music for the independent mind, in addition to news breaks on the half hour, filling you in on local, national, and global stories, as well as traffic and weather updates.

Think Hamas' attack's on West Bank settlers will be effective in thwarting peace talks?

David Makovsky of USA Today thinks you should think again...

The greatest American Rock band of our time?

I think so...