Mural

Check out this beautiful, giant mural in São Paolo.

"Since January 2007, São Paulo has enforced a law called Cidade Limpa ('clear city')" writes our Porto Alegre, Brazil based friend and Juxtapoz contributor, Ana Ferraz. "The objective of this law is to eliminate visual pollution by prohibiting all kinds of outdoor advertising such as billboards, building panels, taxi advertising, and so on. Of course, graffiti and pixação are on that 'clear' list too."

It's common knowledge that many globally recognized artists such as OSGEMEOS, Nina, Nunca, Vitché and Herbert Baglione call São Paulo, Brazil home so it would seem ironic, disrespectful even, for their city to not only prevent but to remove their public artwork from city walls.

However, that's exactly what the mayor's office did this past July. Thankfully, due to public and artist outcry, last weekend a massive mural by OSGEMEOS, Nina, Nunca, Vitché and Herbert Baglione was created in place of an old mural that had been painted over in grey paint with city funding.

Hear the entire story and see exclusive photos of the old and new mural as reported by Ana Ferraz

More photos of the mural and its construction here.

Fox Sux

Fox News ticker: 'Let's hope the magic negro does a good job'

During it's broadcast from New York City, the network encouraged viewers to send in text messages which, if approved by moderators, would scroll across the Fox ticker at the bottom of the screen.

Moderators, however, let this one slip: "HAPPY NEW YEAR AND LET’S HOPE THE MAGIC NEGRO DOES A GOOD JOB. LOVE JEN AND JOHN C."

"Slip," meaning the comment either just 'got past' a negligent moderator, or said moderator thought it was appropriate for broadcast.

Chip Saltsman, a candidate to lead the Republican National Committee, distributed a CD to RNC members containing the parody song "Barack the Magic Negro," that has been a source of loud, public GOP infighting over the holiday season.

Auction

Broke American states to privatize parks & roads?

Minnesota is deep in the hole financially, but the state still owns a premier golf resort, a sprawling amateur sports complex, a big airport, a major zoo and land holdings the size of the Central American country of Belize.

Valuables like these are in for a closer look as 44 states cope with deficits.

Like families pawning the silver to get through a tight spot, states such as Minnesota, New York, Massachusetts and Illinois are thinking of selling or leasing toll roads, parks, lotteries and other assets to raise desperately needed cash.

They're gonna fuck up our parks and let our roads go to shit.

Save the Homophobes

Pope says humanity needs protection from homosexual behavior.

Pope Benedict said on Monday that saving humanity from homosexual or transsexual behaviour was just as important as saving the rainforest from destruction.

"The tropical forests do deserve our protection. But man, as a creature, does not deserve any less."

This is a joke, right? I'm going to go out and offer my gay friends head right now.

Declan

This dude's got some cool photos and is one smart cookie.

Drug War

Were the Mumbai terrorists fueled by cocaine and LSD?

"We found injections containing traces of cocaine and LSD left behind by the terrorists, and later found drugs in their blood," the Telegraph was told by one official, whose nationality and relation to the investigation were not specified. "This explains why they managed to battle the commandos for over 50 hours with no food or sleep."

Reactions

From public nudity to a boost in firearm sales, here are 20 of the wildest reactions to the election of Barack Obama.

Church and State

If you voted for Obama, this California priest wants you to confess.

The Rev. Joseph Illo, pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Modesto, Calif., said voting for a pro-choice candidate amounted to a punishable sin.

I must confess... I want to punch him in the head.

Dire Predictions

A new intelligence report suggests tough times ahead.

...the latest Global Trends report says that rising economies such as China, India, Russia and Brazil will offer the US more competition at the top of a multi-polar international system.

The EU is meanwhile predicted to become a "hobbled giant", unable to turn its economic power into diplomatic or military muscle.

A world with more power centres will be less stable than one with one or two superpowers, it says, offering more potential for conflict.

Global warming, along with rising populations and economic growth will put additional strains on natural resources, it warns, fuelling conflict around the globe as countries compete for them.

"Strategic rivalries are most likely to revolve around trade, investments and technological innovation and acquisition, but we cannot rule out a 19th Century-like scenario of arms races, territorial expansion and military rivalries," the report says.

"Types of conflict we have not seen for a while - such as over resources - could re-emerge."

Such conflicts and resource shortages could lead to the collapse of governments in Africa and South Asia, and the rise of organised crime in Eastern and Central Europe, it adds.

And the use of nuclear weapons will grow increasingly likely, the report says, as "rogue states" and militant groups gain greater access to them.

Read the article here.

Moving Images

A couple photos that changed the world.





There's a nice collection of thought-provoking photographs at the link above. Just watch out for some of the nastiest, most ignorant, xenophobic and racist douche bags on the web in their comment sections.

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Ambushed

A journalist's Obama election celebration ends in jail.

Even the police were swept up in the mood, smiling and posing for photos. An occasional handful of students would venture into the streets to high-five enthusiastic, honking motorists, only to be waved back by the police, but otherwise, it was as peaceful and well-behaved as a high school pep rally.

Then I looked up the street, to where the police had blocked off St. Paul Street with almost a dozen cruisers. A phalanx of about a dozen cops had lined up.

They began marching, and I saw one of the cops holding a pile of plastic flexicuffs. No one had a bullhorn or a PA. They just moved into the crowd and started yelling at people. There was no clear officer in charge, just a group of belligerent, angry police.

My brother came running up the sidewalk. "Some guy just got tasered!" he said. I saw some cops walking back toward us, so I crossed the street to stay out of their way. The first arrestees were being led to the paddy wagon. I pulled out my cell phone and started snapping pictures.

A beefy officer saw me taking photos and approached. I held my hands at my side and said, "I'm a journalist. I'm just taking pictures."

He slapped my cell phone out of my hand and grabbed my shirt. "Well, write a nice, long story about this," he said, spinning me around as another officer cuffed me. I was in the paddy wagon before I could even comprehend what was happening. After processing at Northern District I was thrown into a concrete cell, strip-searched, fingerprinted, and subject to the singular degradation of a long night spent in Central Booking.

Read the entire story here.

Staged Fright

Did cops stage a violent confrontation during Democratic convention?

Behind the Scenes

Backstage w/ Obama during the elections in this photostream.

Gun Grab

Obama's election sparks a rise in gun sales.

At 9 a.m. today, the counter was already crowded at Cheaper Than Dirt, a discount gun and ammunition store in Fort Worth, Texas.

"Everyone is here for the same reason: Buy it now or you're not going to have a chance in the future," said Charlie Street, a gun owner.

"Election Day, people wake up and say, 'Obama, oh my!'" said Dewayne Irwin, owner of Cheaper Than Dirt. "It's the knee-jerk reaction but it's good for business."

Snake Bite

Another rocker objects to the McCain camp using his music:

The founding member of Whitesnake is objecting to John McCain's use of the hair-metal band's classic "Here I Go Again" during a campaign rally in Colorado on Tuesady.

"I must respectfully object to having my music misappropriated for a political campaign that I do not personally support," David Coverdale said in an e-mail statement to RAW STORY, after hearing the song at a McCain rally broadcast on CNN. "I am delighted to add that this election is my first voting experience as a brand new citizen of the United States of America... I voted for, & fully support, the Democratic representative, Senator Barak Obama, & believe in my heart & soul that he will best represent these United States in the most profound & fulfilling way."

Read more here

GOTV!

No lines where I vote, how about you?

Vote Quote

"I don't vote for the guy I trust. I vote for the guy who trusts me the most."

Gary Burghoff

Mad About Maddow

The secret to the success of a wonky lesbian pundit with no TV experience? A Ph.D. from Oxford, a dry sense of humor, and the ability to be nice to Pat Buchanan.

I often watch and listen to her shows.

No Treats for You!

Woman denies Halloween candy to kids of Obama supporters.

TV station WJBK says a sign outside Nagel's house warned: "No handouts for Obama supporters, liars, tricksters or kids of supporters."

Nagel calls Barack Obama "scary."

When asked about children who were turned away empty-handed and crying, she said: "Oh well. Everybody has a choice."

What a stupid bitch! I have a feeling she'll become quite familiar with flaming bags of dog shit, flying eggs, and TPed trees in the coming years as the neighborhood children seek revenge. That's why they call it trick or treat after all.

Oprah Rocks the Vote

Voting machine tries to eat Oprah's vote?

Endorsement

Full size image in erenemre's photostream.

Real America

Olbermann's special comment on the right's divisive politics:



On a lighter note, The Daily Show wants to help you figure out if you're one of Palin's real Americans:

The Vice Guide to North Korea

This is part one of an interesting and funny documentary about an American's experience in North Korea.



It's broken up into several parts, click here for them, you imperialist pig.

Turdblossom Steals the Election

Karl Rove tells you how they steal elections:



Learn more here

McCain Mythology

5 myths about John McCain from Rolling Stone:

Big Macs for Homophobes

McDonald's gives in to anti-gay agenda.

After months of pressure from an anti-gay-marriage group, McDonald's Corp. has given up a director's seat and will stop sponsorship of a national gay business organization.

Burger King always did taste better anyway.

Stop the Vote

Certain people don't want you to vote this November.

As the moment of truth arrives, McCain-Palin attacks based on race, alleged "terrorist" ties and more are sure to increasingly dominate the GOP campaign. But far more insidious will be an all-out assault on voter registration in the name of "voter fraud," and on finding new ways to undermine the national vote, most importantly on electronic voting machines of the kind programmed by Michael Connell.

The Haters

McCain/Palin rallies really bring out the assholes, huh?



More info from Crooks and Liars here.

Get Out the Vote

Who is hotter? Liberals or conservatives?

Dead Man Voting

Are dead people voting in Texas?

Martial Law

Congress told to vote for bailout or face martial law?

Deadly Web

Russian dissident bloggers fear for their lives.

Outspoken

MP3: Bill Maher talks about the election & his new movie "Religulous" on The Stephanie Miller Show.

Pigs in Mud

Thug police revel in their own brutality.

The Denver police union is selling T-shirts that poke fun at protesters at last month's Democratic National Convention, but the main target isn't laughing.

The back of the shirts reads, "We get up early to beat the crowds" and "2008 DNC," and has a caricature of a police officer holding a baton.

Nothing but a paid gang.

Bulletproof

I wish Frank were still with us.

Hope for Art

Photos from the Manifest Hope Gallery in Denver.

Beat the Press

St. Paul officials are feeling the heat after what may have been an orchestrated round-up of journalists covering the Republican's convention.

Journalists and St. Paul citizens assembled outside St. Paul City Hall today to deliver more than 60,000 letters to Mayor Chris Coleman and prosecuting attorneys demanding that they immediately drop charges against all journalists arrested this week as they covered the Republican National Convention

By Friday morning, dozens of journalists, photographers, bloggers and videomakers had been booked by the Ramsey County Sheriff's office in what appears to have been an orchestrated round-up of media makers covering protests during the convention.

"From the pre-convention raids to the ongoing harassment and arrests of journalists, these have been dark days for press freedom in the United States," said Nancy Doyle Brown of the Twin Cities Media Alliance, who delivered the letters on behalf of the nonpartisan media reform group Free Press.

"Tragically, there are stories that the world needed to hear this week that will never be told," Brown said. "They won't be told because reporters working on them were sitting in the back of squad cars, were stripped of their cameras, or were face down on the pavement with their hands cuffed behind their backs."

Read more here.

Abducted at the RNC

Were protesters of the RNC abducted by police?

A half-dozen representatives of the so-called Republican National Convention Welcoming Committee met with the media in a St. Paul, MN press conference on Thursday to condemn the widescale police raids and arrests that have targeted protesters in that city this week.

The strongest accusations were made by RNC Welcoming Committee co-founder William Gillis, who has been among those planning the protests for the last two years.

"Police kicked down doors with guns drawn on families with their children at dinnertime," Gillis charged. "Reporters and the media at large have been repeatedly targeted for repression. Activists have been abducted off the street in unmarked vans and political prisoners held without access to medical attention."

Give the Puffers a Pass

Mayor's panel wants cops to leave pot smokers alone at the Democratic National Convention.

Denver police should refrain from penalizing adults for possession of small amounts of cannabis, up to an ounce, during the Democratic National Convention, the mayor's advisory panel said Wednesday.

Land of the Pee

A short but sweet video revealing the truth about cannabis, marijuana & its prohibition.



From the film: 1 in every 40 prisoners is a marijuana offender. The US is world's biggest jailer.

Jon Stewart '08

Jon Stewart "most influential voice in American politics"?

When Jon Stewart inaugurated his fake news anchor on The Daily Show eight years ago, his goal was to send up the hyperbolic and manufactured controversy of US Cable News and, if possible, be even more outrageous. Now, in a wonderful through-the-looking-glass moment, he has supplanted the subjects of his mockery in the country's current affairs consciousness, and finds himself crowned the bemused voice of reason in an insane world.