Lake Mungo is one of only a few After Dark Horrorfest films I have not watched yet. I guess I'll have to check it out.

Reports are in that Gadhafi has fled to Zimbabwe. Now if someone would just take out Gadhafi and Robert Mugabe at the same time, the world would be a much better place!

http://changezimbabw...d=3617&Itemid=2

Go find a shitload of Texas Tea in Zimbabwe and Obama will be there in three shakes of a lamb's tail.

America and Afghanistan are close to signing a strategic pact which would allow thousands of United States troops to remain in the country until at least 2024, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.


The agreement would allow not only military trainers to stay to build up the Afghan army and police, but also American special forces soldiers and air power to remain.

The prospect of such a deal has already been met with anger among Afghanistan’s neighbours including, publicly, Iran and, privately, Pakistan.

It also risks being rejected by the Taliban and derailing any attempt to coax them to the negotiating table, according to one senior member of Hamid Karzai’s peace council.

A withdrawal of American troops has already begun following an agreement to hand over security for the country to Kabul by the end of 2014.

But Afghans wary of being abandoned are keen to lock America into a longer partnership after the deadline. Many analysts also believe the American military would like to retain a presence close to Pakistan, Iran and China.





Both Afghan and American officials said that they hoped to sign the pact before the Bonn Conference on Afghanistan in December. Barack Obama and Hamid Karzai agreed last week to escalate the negotiations and their national security advisers will meet in Washington in September.

Rangin Dadfar Spanta, Mr Karzai’s top security adviser, told The Daily Telegraph that “remarkable progress” had been made. US officials have said they would be disappointed if a deal could not be reached by December and that the majority of small print had been agreed.

Dr Spanta said a longer-term presence was crucial not only to build Afghan forces, but also to fight terrorism.

“If [the Americans] provide us weapons and equipment, they need facilities to bring that equipment,” he said. “If they train our police and soldiers, then those trainers will not be 10 or 20, they will be thousands.

“We know we will be confronted with international terrorists. 2014, is not the end of international terrorist networks and we have a common commitment to fight them. For this purpose also, the US needs facilities.”

Afghan forces would still need support from US fighter aircraft and helicopters, he predicted. In the past, Washington officials have estimated a total of 25,000 troops may be needed.

Dr Spanta added: “In the Afghan proposal we are talking about 10 years from 2014, but this is under discussion.” America would not be granted its own bases, and would be a guest on Afghan bases, he said. Pakistan and Iran were also deeply opposed to the deal.

Andrey Avetisyan, Russian ambassador to Kabul, said: “Afghanistan needs many other things apart from the permanent military presence of some countries. It needs economic help and it needs peace. Military bases are not a tool for peace.

“I don’t understand why such bases are needed. If the job is done, if terrorism is defeated and peace and stability is brought back, then why would you need bases?

“If the job is not done, then several thousand troops, even special forces, will not be able to do the job that 150,000 troops couldn’t do. It is not possible.”

A complete withdrawal of foreign troops has been a precondition for any Taliban negotiations with Mr Karzai’s government and the deal would wreck the currently distant prospect of a negotiated peace, Mr Avetisyan said.

Abdul Hakim Mujahid, deputy leader of the peace council set up by Mr Karzai to seek a settlement, said he suspected the Taliban had intensified their insurgency in response to the prospect of the pact. “They want to put pressure on the world community and Afghan government,” he said.







http://www.telegraph...until-2024.html

Rumors that he has already fled or may soon flee to Venezuela. God only knows what the country will be like when he's gone, but this is pretty much perfect timing as some NATO countries had already pulled out of the conflict and others considering doing so in the near future. Would have been a fiasco.

Just downloaded their discography to give it a fresh listen. Was never a fan but Uncle Tom's Cabin is a killer tune.

Just thinking of how terrible a first single CD was.


For it to not hit number 1 is truly an indictment on how bad it was.

Most bands hit number 1 on the rock chart with their first single.. Hell Chili Peppers first single hit number 1 in 2 weeks and it isn't even that good.

Sixx AM hit number 1.... but GNR couldn't?

Nothing wrong with the title track being the first single. Whole fucking planet knew about Chinese Democracy and unleashing the title track to usher in the "new" era was a good idea. However, the intro was way too long to the point of any casual fans changing the channel before the guitars and the Axl scream kicked in, and the horrible mix did it no favors even for people wanting to hear it. Ron's guitar is just too high in the mix and drowns out the rest of the song. It drowns out the bass and that cool shit Pitman was doing in the song before Ron got his hands on it.

It never had a chance to do any damage on the radio.

First time I saw those specific pics. Don't know where the other pics originated. Was always funny how she loved putting other people down for their looks yet wouldn't post her own pics herself. Not even saying she's ugly but definitely in no position to insult others.

To play conspiracy theorist for a second, are you guys/gals even sure we got the real Chinese Democracy, and by that I mean a 100% finished product as opposed to a rough draft?

Not even taking into account the rough draft booklet, or the skip during Scraped, the mixing is all over the place on the album. Robin's solo on SoD for example jumps radically in the mix as does Bumblefoot's solo on Catcher', while Scraped and I.R.S. I find are mixed so low that I have to reach for the volume knob no matter how cranked I had the preceding tracks.

You're just now figuring out the album was mixed by Helen Keller?

Welcome to November 23, 2008.

In the slim to none chance the album was a rough draft, I don't give the tiniest of shits about a final draft. The quality of the songs got worse as the demos progressed. Let Axl or anybody touch those songs one more time and the album would have been unlistenable, even among the hardcore forum junkie demographic. The album was/is noise pollution which is why the songs were laughed off the airwaves. Better charted higher as a demo with a cease and desist letter attached to it than it did as a legitimate radio single. Why? Because it's a good song at its core and barring that horrid intro is quite catchy. The final version sounds like utter shit and I still get a chuckle thinking of those forum junkies saying the single was gonna set the world on fire.

Thriller and Vertigo would have tanked if given a Chinese Democracy mix.




Those warchild pics the ones from 2006?

The Monkees- That Was Then, This Is Now

A few articles on this unfolding crisis....

Russia: NATO close to military steps in Syria for beachhead to attack Iran



After Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned Assad he faced a "sad fate" if he failed to introduce reforms, Moscow's envoy to NATO Dmitry Rogozin accused the Western alliance of planning a military campaign against Syria to help overthrow the Assad regime "with the long-reaching goal of preparing a beachhead for an attack on Iran."

In an interview published by Izvestia Friday, Aug. 5, the knowledgeable and high-placed Rogozin added: "This statement means that the planning [of the military campaign] is well underway. It could be a logical conclusion of those military and propaganda operations, which have been carried out by certain Western countries against North Africa."

Thursday, as the Syrian military crackdown in Hama reached a new level of ferocity with public executions in the town square, the Russian president warned Assad: "We are watching how the situation is developing. It's changing and our approach is changing as well."

debkafile's Moscow sources note that the Rogozin added Yemen to his remarks on NATO: He said he agreed with the opinion that Syria and later Yemen could be NATO's last steps on the way to launching an attack on Iran.


"The noose around Iran is tightening," he said. "Military planning against Iran is underway. And we are certainly concerned about an escalation of a large-scale war in this huge region."

The Russian envoy made a point of citing NATO – never once mentioning the United States in his remarks. However, they were definitely meant to clarify to Washington that Moscow is fully updated on the next American military steps in the Middle East and Persian Gulf.

debkafile's military sources add: The Libyan campaign taught NATO that without US military strength, alliance members were incapable of defeating even a small army on the scale of Muammar Qaddafi's six brigades, much less muster the ground, air and sea forces for striking Syria and Iran. The only power with the requisite military strength is the United States, which was therefore the unspoken address of Rogozin's warning.

Russian diplomats have repeatedly cautioned Tehran that it incurs the danger of American attack on its nuclear facilities. Now Syria has been included. Rogozin remarked that having "learned the Libyan lesson, Russia will continue to oppose a forcible resolution of the situation in Syria."


http://www.debka.com/article/21183/


-------------------





Syria: Dmitry Medvedev warns Bashar al-Assad to prepare for 'sad fate'



The warning from Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian president, came as the United States accused the Syrian regime of killing more than 2,000 people.

In his toughest comments on Syria to date, Mr Medvedev said that time was running out for Mr Assad to halt a crackdown against his people, hinting that the Kremlin, a traditional ally, may support tough action against Damascus in the United Nations if bloodshed continues.

“People are dying there (in Syria) in large numbers, and that is causing us huge concern,” said Mr Medvedev.

“Assad needs to urgently launch reforms, make peace with the opposition, restore civil order and create a modern state. If he cannot do that, a sad fate awaits him, and we will also be forced to ultimately take some decisions on Syria.”

Security forces opened fire on protesters yesterday, the first Friday of Ramadan, killing at least 14, as tens of thousands poured into the streets, defying a military siege of Hama, where tanks shelled residential districts around dawn. The six-day-old assault on Hama has killed at least 100 people, according to activists.



Protests spread from the capital, Damascus, to the southern province of Daraa and to Deir al-Zour in the east. Demonstrations were reported in Homs in the centre and in Qamishli, near the Turkish border.

“Hama, we are with you until death,” a crowd marching through Damascus’s central neighbourhood of Midan shouted, clapping their hands as they chanted, “We don’t want you Bashar” and “Bashar Leave,” according to videos posted online.

The violence followed a robust statement from Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, on Thursday. She reiterated that Mr Assad had lost all legitimacy. “To date the government is responsible for the deaths of more than 2,000 people of all ages,” she said.

But although Mr Medvedev’s position seemed to be moving closer to that of Washington, he appeared willing to give the Syrian president more time to defuse the crisis. Unlike Mrs Clinton, he also appeared willing to believe that Mr Assad was not personally responsible for many of the deaths there, claiming that the Syrian leader had not given “harsh orders to destroy the opposition” of the kind issued by Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in Libya.

Yet signs that Moscow’s opposition to action against Syria in the United Nations is waning will alarm Damascus. Russia has been one of Syria’s closest allies since the Soviet era and Mr Assad is counting on Russia and China to keep blocking UN action.



http://www.telegraph...r-sad-fate.html



-------------------------------






US and Russia issue warning for Syria's Bashar al-Assad


The United States and Russia had harsh words for embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday, a day after the UN Security Council condemned his deadly crackdown on anti-regime demonstrators.




Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, whose country has so far stonewalled firmer UN action, hinted at a possible change of heart, while the White House bluntly said Syria would be "better off" without Assad.

With its sharp rhetoric, Washington also stepped up the pressure, imposing sanctions on a businessman close to the Syrian president.

Meanwhile, witnesses and activists said security forces killed at least 37 people on Wednesday, 30 of them as tanks shelled the flashpoint protest hub of Hama.

A Hama resident, who managed to escape the city, said in Nicosia that "the bodies of 30 people who were killed during shelling by the army have been buried in several public parks."

The witness, who declined to be identified for security reasons, said scores of people were being treated in hospitals for injuries and that fires had broken out in several buildings.



"Tanks are deployed throughout the city, particularly in Assi Square and outside the citadel," he said about landmarks in the city centre.

The witness said the army had used "bombs that break up into fragments when they explode," possibly meaning cluster bombs, on Wednesday and that Hama echoed with the intermittent sound of machine-gun fire on Thursday.

"Conditions are very difficult in the city. Communications, electricity and water are cut and there are food shortages," he said.

As the crackdown continue, Assad decreed a new law authorising the creation of political parties alongside the ruling Baath party, which has been in power since 1963 with the constitutional status of "the leader of state and society."

Political pluralism has been at the forefront of demands by pro-reform dissidents who since March 15 have been taking to the streets across Syria almost daily to call for greater freedoms.

"Citizens of the Syrian Arab Republic have the right to establish political parties and join them in accordance with this law," state news agency SANA said.

But activists and analysts dismissed the law as a ploy and said constitutional change alone can pave the way to democracy.

"The regime is not serious about transforming the country from a dominant party into democracy and pluralism. Instead, it is trying to carry out some cosmetic work to improve its image," said prominent human rights lawyer Anwar al-Bunni.

In Brussels, Baroness Ashton, the EU foreign policy chief, said the multiparty reform offer is "in principle a step in the right direction, but only if they are genuinely put into effect."

The new law is the latest attempt by Assad's regime to appease protesters after the president, in April, issued orders lifting five decades of draconian emergency rule and abolishing the feared state security courts.

Assad's latest concession came after the UN Security Council condemned the crackdown and said those responsible should be held accountable – in its first pronouncement on Syria since the protests began.

Unable to agree on a formal resolution, the council settled on a non-binding statement condemning "the widespread violations of human rights and the use of force against civilians by the Syrian authorities."

Western powers had hoped for stronger action but were rebuffed by veto-wielding members Russia and China, who feared doing so would pave the way for another military intervention like the one in Libya.

But Mr Medvedev spoke forcefully about the situation on Thursday and called on Assad to "carry out urgent reforms" warning that otherwise "a sad fate awaits him and in the end we will have to take some decisions."

"We are watching the way the situation develops. As it changes, some of our perspectives also change," Medvedev said.

Meanwhile, White House spokesman Jay Carney said "Assad is on his way out.

"It is very safe to say that Syria will be a much better place without President Assad."


http://www.telegraph...r-al-Assad.html





'NATO planning military attack on Iran'



Russia's envoy to NATO Dmitry Rogozin says the NATO is planning a military strike against the Islamic Republic to overthrow the Iranian government.



Rogozin said in an interview with Russia's Izvestia daily newspaper published on Friday that the NATO was pursuing a long-reaching goal of preparing an attack on Iran, adding that the alliance intends to change governments whose views do not coincide with those of the West.

"The noose around Iran is tightening. Military planning against Iran is underway. And we are certainly concerned about an escalation of a large-scale war in this huge region," Rogozin added.

The Russian envoy further pointed out that Syria and later Yemen could be NATO's last steps on the way to launch an attack on Iran.

This comes as there are speculations that Israel is preparing for an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities to divert attention from Palestinian efforts to join the United Nations.

Last month, former CIA agent Robert Baer said he is almost certain that such an attack has been scheduled for September ahead of a UN vote on recognizing a Palestinian state.



http://www.presstv.i...ail/192596.html

Hole- Doll Parts

I need to watch Conviction. Sounds good, gets great reviews, and Rockwell is one of the most underrated actors in history.

Hey Gomer, I'm finally going to see Funny Games tonight. I'll give a review later.

You're in for a treat. If you like it, check out the American version although its basically the same.


A couple days ago I watched a movie that was supposed to be similar called The Bleeding House. It sucked. Avoid at all costs.


I watched a new movie called Trust about this girl that meets a guy online and she hooks up with him. Incredible film although it needed a better ending. I gave it a 7/10 although a better ending would have pushed it up to an 8 or 9.

Excellent performance by Clive Owen as the girl's dad.

Insidious and Trust my two favorite films this year.

The lead singer from Muse looks so fucking out of place on that list. While I'm not a fan of every singer on that list, I understand their impact and influence on music. I'm sorry, but Matt Belamy sharing list space with Plant, Jagger, Lennon, Mercury, Morrison etc.?? The NME probably just shoved him in there so they had someone modern in the list.

Muse are MASSIVE. The equivalent of this generations U2. I wouldn't place him on the list either but I can see why he made it.

The worst thing is if major work does have to be done - the shots in the mouth. .

Even though I have a needle phobia, I love the shots in the mouth.




Marathon Man is one of my favorite films.

I watched two documentaries last night on North Korea. One was a National Geographic doc and the other was called Kimjongilia. Both were on Netflix if anyone is interested. I've read a lot on North Korea and watched other shows about it, but these were mind blowing. It's astonishing that people live in those conditions. I used to think an invasion was possible although highly risky. After watching these, I'm not so sure anymore. Sure you could bomb the shit out of the place for months Desert Storm style, but then what? You've just killed a leader that they consider God and even little kids dance and sing songs about killing Americans. The resistance to US troops on the ground would be like nothing we've ever seen before. I'm starting to understand why every US president, even those with a thirst for war avoid NK like the plague. There are simply too many unknowns to consider crossing the DMZ. Is there ANYTHING we can do for them? Even aid is almost out of the question as Kim is known to turn it down. What does he want? It's tragic that such a society is even allowed to exist. I think a major effort needs to be made by the US, Russia, China, SK, and Japan to see if this guy will play ball. Something needs to be done about those 'labor' camps that's for sure.

If Paul was 20-30 years younger, he'd be a serious threat to the establishment. I'm not an expert on this shit, but wouldn't it be nearly impossible to go back to the gold standard since there is so much money in circulation? Is there even enough gold on the planet to back every US dollar currently in existence? Would going back to the gold standard require a new currency? SLC is right on the money. The Fed is so misunderstood that its one of THE hot topics on all conspiracy sites. Like SLC, there are things about Paul I don't like but then other issues I do agree with him on. I don't think he will ever be president. He's too old. Someone can say Reagan ascended to the presidency at 70, but these are different times.He's also on the fringe with some of his ideas but I do agree with him regarding the need to do something on this particular issue. He also makes great points on changing course on the Bush-Obama strategy of never ending wars. An Obama-Paul debate would be very interesting to say the least. Would I vote for Paul in 2012? Depends.

But it will be interesting to see how much free reign Roth is given to promote and hype, I suspect it will be little based on what he wasn't allowed to do for the 07/08 reunion tour which is too bad.

Yeah that was the most unfortunate thing regarding the reunion. Roth was kept on an incredibly short leash and had people not been waiting on a VH reunion for 20+ years, it would have fizzled out due to lack of promo. I still don't understand why they had to silence him. He is a natural at that sort of thing and could have brought so much excitement to the whole thing. While the reunion was a success, it was barely a popcorn fart in pop culture. Roth would have changed that.

If new Roth album flops/band disintegrates again then there is still time for another Hagar Reunion

I'd rather spend an eternity in hell than hear Hagar with Van Halen again.

Lindsey Buckingham’s sixth solo album, Seeds We Sow, comes out September 6 via a partnership with Eagle Rock Entertainment. First single from the album, "In Our Time", will be released soon. The described "mad genius" produced and mixed the album as well as writing and performing the songs.

Brett Tuggle, Taku Hiranu and Neal Haywood will again be joining for the tour and album.

Tracklisting

1) Seeds We Sow
2) In Our Own Time
3) Illumination
4) That’s The Way Love Goes
5) Stars Are Crazy
6) When She Comes Down
7) Rock Away Blind
8) One Take
9) Gone Too Far
10) End Of Time
11) She Smiled Sweetly

The tour
SEPTEMBER
9-10: Reno, NV (Nugget Casino)
12: Boise, Id (Egyptian Theatre)
13: Salt Lake City, UT (The Depot)
14: Denver, CO (Gates Hall)
16: Minneapolis, MN (Pantages Theatre)
17: Milwaukee, WI (The Pabst Theater)
18: Chicago, IL (Vic Theater)
20: Pittsburgh, PA (Carnegie Music Hall)
22: Philadelphia, PA (Keswick Theatre)
23: Westhampton Beach, NY (WH Beach Performing Arts Center)
24: Ridgefield, CT (Ridgefield Playhouse)
25: Boston, MA (Wilbur Theatre)
27: New York, NY (Town Hall)
29: Morristown, NJ (Mayo Performing Arts Center)
30: Baltimore, MD (Goucher College)

OCTOBER
1: Durham, NC (Carolina Theatre of Durham)
3: Jacksonville, FL (Florida Theatre)
4: Fort Pierce, FL (Sunrise Theatre)
5: Clearwater, FL (Capitol Theatre)
7: Atlanta, GA (Symphony Hall)
10: Houston, TX (Verizon Wireless Theatre)
12: Phoenix, AZ (Celebrity Theatre)
13: Los Angeles, CA (Royce Hall)
14: Las Vegas, NV (Aliente Resort)
15: Palm Springs, CA (McCullum Theater)
17: Anaheim, CA (Grove of Anaheim)
18: Turlock, CA (Turlock Community Theatre)
19: San Francisco, CA (The Regency Center)
22: Vancouver, BC (Center in Vancouver for Performing Arts)
23: Seattle, WA (Little Creek Casino Resort)
25: Napa, CA (Uptown Theater)



------------------------------------

I'll be at the Turlock show. Never seen him live. I'm hoping he performs some Fleetwood Mac songs and not just solo material.

Cake- The Distance

Wow. Very sad. We may start seeing more cases like this especially if someone gets cancer or needs a life saving operation and they have no coverage.

1985?

Last Roth VH album was 1984 so its kinda like picking up where they left off.


I also agree that Anthony not being involved is terrible as he was a crucial part of their sound.

I wonder how many people will even care after all this time?

Good question and the fact they haven't hyped it up since the reunion could hurt it tremendously. Unless it has a huge hit, it will not connect with a young audience which means it'll sell decent the first week due to hardcores buying it and then quickly vanish from the charts.

In this day and age whether or not your album is good or bad, you gotta have that one massive, catchy single to grab the world by the balls.

Austria's Mulatschag TV recently conducted an interview with ALTER BRIDGE guitarist Mark Tremonti. You can now watch the chat below.

When asked about his band friendship with VAN HALEN bassist Wolfgang Van Halen, Tremonti said, "We played with VAN HALEN years and years ago at Madison Square Garden and Palace in Detroit. The first time I saw Wolfgang, he was just a little… probably five-year-old kid or six-year-old kid. Eddie [Wolfgang's father and VAN HALEN guitarist] that day gave me one of his guitars, so I got to know Eddie. Then years went by and Wolfgang ended up being a fan of ALTER BRIDGE, so we got to know him through ALTER BRIDGE. And Wolfgang invited us to go see soundcheck when VAN HALEN did a tour a couple of years ago, and we were the only in there, so it was quite a treat. And then recently I was in Los Angeles and Wolfgang invited me to his Dad's house and I got to go to 5150 studios and watch Eddie and Alex [Van Halen] and Wolfgang play their new record from front to back. So I was one of the only people who have heard the new VAN HALEN. It was incredible."

VAN HALEN's long-awaited new studio album in tentatively due in the fall, which is when the band is also expected to hit the road in support of the effort.


http://www.roadrunne...wsitemID=159528


Sounds like this album is leaving pipe dream territory and crossing over into reality.

I'm on the fence with this as VH has sucked for years and EVH is less productive than Axl. Roth hasn't created anything decent in years either.

This will either kick ass or be a complete fiasco. No middle ground.

When they reunited I said if they did a new album they should call it 1985. Doubt they do it but would be cool.

Robert Plant- Big Log

I cant stand Ashba either. The minor amount of interest I still have in new GNR almost died when he joined the band. Funny how Axl claims Slash is a media whore and this clown takes that to a new level. Axl also accused Bucket of using the GNR name to promote himself which he never did but Ashba does it constantly.