The Road of Bones

My friend Chris Largen, a well-known mover and shaker among those attuned to Denton Culture, captured the blaze on film. He is putting together a documentary about the burning of Fry Street, and why these structures, nearly 100 years old, came down in this way.



This was the final stroke that ended a year-long feud between an anxious developer, hungry to install corporate outposts near the University, and the kids of Fry; a lost-but-found crowd that has defined the City of Denton as the Number Two spot for All-American Weirdness in the too-damn-big state of Texas.

Goodbye, Fry Street. I have spent many an hour with you. I'll forever miss The Tomato's pizza, and the haunting sounds of mushroom-trippers serenading passers-by with the crying notes of Jello Biafra's California Uberalis.

I just hope that, when the new businesses move in, the rampant vandalism that they surely face will be tasteful, or at least thought provoking. While I'm not holding my breath for quality defacement, I'm sure Denton's guerrilla art community will lay siege to the new structures for years to come.

Fry Street is dead. Long Live Fry Street.

Labels: Denton

Posted by The Gonzo Muckraker at Thursday, June 28, 2007 | Permalink | Comments

This reporter deserves a raise. Let's see if you can figure out which one I'm talking about ...

Labels: REAL news

Posted by The Gonzo Muckraker at Wednesday, June 27, 2007 | Permalink | Comments

The activist group Pilots for 9/11 Truth has just released a study incorporating newly-obtained data from the black box flight recorder, pulled from the wreckage of the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.

The group claims the flight recorder's data completely and directly contradicts the notion that the aircraft hit the building.

From Yahoo News ...

a. The NTSB Flight Path Animation approach path and altitude does not support official events.
b. All Altitude data shows the aircraft at least 300 feet too high to have struck the light poles.
c. The rate of descent data is in direct conflict with the aircraft being able to impact the light poles and be captured in the Dept of Defense "5 Frames" video of an object traveling nearly parallel with the Pentagon lawn.
d. The record of data stops at least one second prior to official impact time.
e. If data trends are continued, the aircraft altitude would have been at least 100 feet too high to have hit the Pentagon.

As Robert Balsamo, co-founder of Pilots for 9/11 Truth, observes, "The information in the NSTB documents does not support, and in some instances factually contradicts, the official government position that American Airlines Flight 77 struck the Pentagon on the morning of September 11, 2001." The study was signed by fifteen professional pilots with extensive military and commercial carrier experience.

The group has produced an hour-long video, entitled "Pandora's Black Box, Chapter 2", explaining what they found in American Airlines' Flight 77 black box ...

Labels: 9/11

Posted by The Gonzo Muckraker at Wednesday, June 27, 2007 | Permalink | Comments

At a recent legal conference in Ottawa, several noted jurists were speaking on the topic of torture. One Canadian judge made the comment, "Thankfully, security agencies in all our countries do not subscribe to the mantra, 'What would Jack Bauer do?'"

At this, America's fringe-right Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia began to twitch.

Here's an excerpt from the story in Canada's Globe and Mail ...

"Jack Bauer saved Los Angeles. ... He saved hundreds of thousands of lives," Judge Scalia said. Then, recalling Season 2, where the agent's rough interrogation tactics saved California from a terrorist nuke, the Supreme Court judge etched a line in the sand.

"Are you going to convict Jack Bauer?" Judge Scalia challenged his fellow judges. "Say that criminal law is against him? 'You have the right to a jury trial?' Is any jury going to convict Jack Bauer? I don't think so.

"So the question is really whether we believe in these absolutes. And ought we believe in these absolutes."

The problem...

Labels: separation of powers

Posted by The Gonzo Muckraker at Wednesday, June 20, 2007 | Permalink | Comments

Filmmaker Michael Moore has finally gone public with his 9/11 dissent. Though his questions may seem feeble to the more conspiracy-minded, just remember: every doubter has to start somewhere ...

Labels: 9/11

Posted by The Gonzo Muckraker at Tuesday, June 19, 2007 | Permalink | Comments

Until I come up with a better place to put this -- and I do plan on purchasing a domain for myself soon, or at least a copy of Adobe Acrobat Professional -- here's some important information related to the services I provide.

Rate Sheet:

1. Writing
A. 500 words or less - $75
B. 1,000- 1,999 words - $250
C. 2,000-2,999 words - $400
D. 3,000-4,999 words - $600
E. 5,000 and above - estimate given upon request

All offers considered.

2. Photography (samples)
A. 1 shot (pick from four) - $45
B. 2 shots (pick from eight) - $75
C. 3 shots (pick from 12) - $105
D. 4 shots (pick from 16) - $130
E. 5 shots (pick from 20) - $155
F. 6 or more (pick from 24) - $170
G. 7+ (pick from undetermined number) - estimate given on request

All offers considered.

If you are interested in purchasing my professional services in freelance journalism or photography, please contact me at swebster_bc (aT) yahoo (d0t) com. Leave the details of your project and a contact phone number. I will get back in touch with you.

Labels: Writing

Posted by The Gonzo Muckraker at Friday, June 08, 2007 | Permalink | Comments

I'm not so sure about that slogan ...

When CNN aired the GOP debate the other night, not only was there a massive discrepancy of time devoted to the bigwigs (BlueRudy, ChristianMitt, McWar), leaving very little for guys like Huckabee, Paul, or TommyTomThompson.

But that's not what I'm really bitching about today.

As as become the norm lately, CNN posted a talk-back page on its Website. But after a little more than an hour, someone with some sort of authority at the network had the page scrubbed; putting in its place comments about the recent Democratic debate.

So, why did CNN react to aversely to what people were saying?

This is what it looks like now.

This is what it looked like before.

Catch my drift? People are clamoring for Ron Paul. He's the type of conservative everyone can get behind, and I think a lot of people are. In a Vote.com poll asking who won the last debate, here's how Dr. Paul faired ...

So, now we have three television networks - ABC, CNN and MSNBC - attempting to basically rub this man's popularity out. One must only assume it is because he does not have a tremendous advertising budget, or that he does not do enough pandering to corporate interests. Or maybe the effort is from within the party itself. All of these are possibilities.

I'm just wondering what it is going to take to get this guy as much airtime as the other candidates.

Oh well. In the mean time - and there is still a lot of time left - you can watch his YouTube channel and admire from afar.

Labels: Ron Paul

Posted by The Gonzo Muckraker at Friday, June 08, 2007 | Permalink | Comments

Last night at the New Hampshire GOP debate, the state police arrested a legitimate journalist for asking tough questions.

Apparently, Journalist Matt Lepacek with WeAreChange.com lobbed quires too uncomfortable for Rudy Giuliani's staffers, so they directed the New Hampshire state police to arrest him. His crime is officially "criminal trespassing" (in a public forum), even though he is a properly credentialed and approved member of the press.


Here's exactly what happened ...



This arrest is a frontal assault on the First Amendment of the Constitution.

To think that a civilian member of a campaign - run by a man who holds no governing position - could order a state's police to arrest someone for asking questions ... It is simply beyond the pale. Should a court in the "Live Free or Die" state uphold their actions, the repercussions could be wide and terrifying.

In the aftermath of such an egregious offense against our inalienable rights, one must come to the conclusion that an even darker hour may come should the man at who's behest this was committed were to ever be placed in the presidency. Make no mistake: Rudolph Giuliani is not a Republican, is not a Conservative, has no interest in Constitutional governance, and his election would throw us headlong into a massive police state.

Oh, and for you Pro Life Republicans (hi, mom!) ... Good 'ole BlueRudy wants to fund abortion clinics with tax dollars. Please do not vote for him in the primaries.

If this troubles you as it does I, please contact the following individuals and express your feelings on the arrest of Journalist Matt Lepacek.

New Hampshire Attorney General's office
Main phone: (603) 271-3658

Office of New Hampshire Governor John Lynch
Main phone: (603)271-2121

New Hampshire State Police Commissioner's office
Commissioner: (603) 271-2791
Prosecution Unit: (603) 271-7665

Mr. Lepacek is currently out on bail. His freedom cost him $400. For you, freedom will cost one or two phone calls.

Don't let that cost accrue interest. Speak your mind, while you still can.

Labels: freedom

Posted by The Gonzo Muckraker at Wednesday, June 06, 2007 | Permalink | Comments

I really like this man.

Labels: Ron Paul

Posted by The Gonzo Muckraker at Wednesday, June 06, 2007 | Permalink | Comments

This needs to repeat its self at the concentration camp in Taylor, Texas, where all the inmates are innocent of crimes, and no female is safe from sexual assault.

Our friends in Houston really know how to throw a party, it seems. This happened yesterday at the ICE processing center in Houston:

A number of STUDENT ACTIVISTS committed themselves to this, and in doing such, have brought more attention to the existence of these concentration camps than any other efforts before their's.

Who is willing to commit such an act of civil disobedience on behalf of the American children being held in captivity on our land? Who is willing to be arrested for in peaceful dissent so others might know what our leaders have approved of? Who here values their freedom enough to risk it for another's?


June 9. Taylor, Texas. T. Don Hutto "corrections" facility for families. 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Labels: Immigration

Posted by The Gonzo Muckraker at Tuesday, June 05, 2007 | Permalink | Comments

Sometimes - especially when BlueRudy or anyone from the Department of Homeland (In)Security is speaking - I feel like this is essentially what our politics have boiled down to ...



Its the dumbification of discourse.

At least Family Guy makes me feel a little better about it.

Labels: 9/11

Posted by The Gonzo Muckraker at Monday, June 04, 2007 | Permalink | Comments

And you can come see it for yourself whenever you'd like. There's a group of us getting together on June 9 to visit the T. Don Hutto "correctional facility" outside of Taylor, Texas. The plan is to hold vigil, all day long, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., here.

But first, take in a sneak preview of what you'll be witnessing ...



Do it for the children.

Labels: Fascism

Posted by The Gonzo Muckraker at Monday, June 04, 2007 | Permalink | Comments