Frank Church's news corner, the sequel.

[FrankChurch]

There's a series called the Forbidden Bookshelf, which releases suppressed books. Books are not banned outright, but they are suppressed if the media or corporations do not like the subject or who it may upset. I talked about the Chomsky/Hermann book pulped in the 70s, later released, but not as well known as other books. Small radical publishers cannot get their books reviewed. Try finding a Counterpunch or Verso or City Lights book in the same realm as Thomas Friedman or Richard Haas. If people do not know a book exists they will not look for it. In a capitalist system the avenues of knowledge are tightly controlled.

http://www.openroadmedia.com/forbidden-bookshelf

Don't forget Bugliosi could not get an American publisher. Not even Bill Maher would have him on.

[FrankChurch]

The attack in Israel is awful but it will goad Israel into bombing Gaza again, killing women, children, innocent men. Israel was attacking Palestinians before the attack. Violence is bad but state violence is always worse.

[Mark Tiedemann]

There's a series called the Forbidden Bookshelf, which releases suppressed books. Books are not banned outright, but they are suppressed if the media or corporations do not like the subject or who it may upset. I talked about the Chomsky/Hermann book pulped in the 70s, later released, but not as well known as other books. Small radical publishers cannot get their books reviewed. Try finding a Counterpunch or Verso or City Lights book in the same realm as Thomas Friedman or Richard Haas. If people do not know a book exists they will not look for it. In a capitalist system the avenues of knowledge are tightly controlled.

There's a certain amount of truth in this, but I wouldn't put it down to some overarching conspiracy. There is no committee anywhere vetting "important" books for the edification of the media. The fact is, there are too damn many books published for the available review slots.

It's fiction, I know, but in my case I have yet to receive a review in THE organ of the science fiction field---LOCUS. I've been nominated for the PKD, the James Tiptree, longlisted for a nebula, etc. I've got 12 books to my credit. LOCUS has never run a review of one of my books. In fact, I've only been review by one major paper ever.

Why?

Too many books, too little room. No space.

(Though I will admit it sucks big time and stings not a little.)

[Steve Barber]

The attack in Israel is awful because it will goad Israel into bombing Gaza again, killing women, children, innocent men. Israel was attacking Palestinians before the attack. Violence is bad but state violence is always worse.

Corrected language in red above.

Your ability to forgive appalling actions by anyone -- anyone -- because of someone else's actions is, well, appalling.

And, it needs to be noted, HAMAS IS THE FUCKING STATE!!!

[Steve Barber]

Mark, I think you will find LOCUS is an entity with its own set of rules, guidelines and activities. Our esteemed patron has railed on many occasions regarding same.

[Rick Keeney]

Mark is right Frank. If hurt feelings were a justification for homicide, you'd have been dead a long time ago.

YIKES!!

[Mark Tiedemann]

Mark, I think you will find LOCUS is an entity with its own set of rules, guidelines and activities. Our esteemed patron has railed on many occasions regarding same.

I know, and the story is more complicated, but still, my point remains. Was I suppressed? No, I was ignored. There's a difference.

[Moderator]

Mark is right Frank. If hurt feelings were a justification for homicide, you'd have been dead a long time ago.

YIKES!!

Yeah, a bit over the top, Lori. Ratchet it down a bit.

[FrankChurch]

Please, I beg you, put yourself into the shoes of Palestinians. If you were in their shoes you would be in another place. Nothing justifies violence but it can be explained. Occupation leads to violence reaction. Think Iraq, think ISIS.

Mod, I don't think Lori wants me dead. Ah, hmm.

[FrankChurch]

Bill Cosby may be a sick deviant. Wow, cannot trust any one.

[Mark Tiedemann]

Bill Cosby may be a sick deviant. Wow, cannot trust any one.

Trust him for what? This is what happens when we turn celebrities into paragons.

[Steve Evil]

Indeed - up here there's some lousy CBC host who's apparently been preying on young interns for years. Not rape exactly, but some rather creepy and predatory practices. Famous people often thing they can get away with anything. And sometimes almost do. . .

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When Israel's response begins I can comment on that. But in the narrow little space between event and retaliation, I have to ask: what does Hamas hope to achieve will these piddly little attacks? The destruction of Israel? The end of the occupation? Anything at all? They must know it will achieve nothing militarily, and they must know it will bring about massive retributions, and they must know the targets are non-combatants. So why bother?

The answer I fear, is something completely cynical. . .

[Mark Tiedemann]

The last thing Hamas wants to any kind of rationalization of relations. They stay in power by having an enemy. Normalize affairs and they'd actually have to govern. Keeping the pot stirred is to their (short-term) advantage. Longterm I think they're looking for any opportunity to overturn the status quo that keeps Israel intact and consolidated. They're vacuum-feeders.

[FrankChurch]

Hamas did not do the attack.

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Is Harlan seen here as a paragon?

[FrankChurch]

Netanyahu wrongly blames Abbas. Even Shin Bet said Bibi was wrong. Bibi recently said he would never accept a Palestinian state. And, there is the closing of the Temple Mount to Muslims. They certainly egged it on.