Q Mr. President, I'm going to surprise you -- there's a question from a user, Bruce Becker, and he asks: Do you feel that you were misled on Iraq?

THE PRESIDENT: I feel like -- I felt like there were weapons of mass destruction. You know, "mislead" is a strong word, it almost connotes some kind of intentional -- I don't think so, I think there was a -- not only our intelligence community, but intelligence communities all across the world shared the same assessment. And so I was disappointed to see how flawed our intelligence was.

Q And so you feel that you didn't have all the information you should have or the right spin on that information?

THE PRESIDENT: No, no, I was told by people that they had weapons of mass destruction -- as were members of Congress, who voted for the resolution to get rid of Saddam Hussein. And of course, the political heat gets on and they start to run and try to hide from their votes. But intelligence communities all across the world felt the same thing. This was kind of a common assessment.

So "mislead" means, do I think somebody lied to me? No, I don't. I think it was just, you know, they analyzed the situation and came up with the wrong conclusion

And the wrong conclusion led to the deaths of many innocent people.

so here's the story so far... we emerged from the first FoD sessions with a half hour tribute to blues, doom metal and some greek myth. Not a bad attempt for a couple of talentless fucks. We bathed in our shameless drone glory and took a year off to explore deeper into the unknown abyss that is noise experimentation.

... rediscovered old favourites from the marijuana kingdom of rasta, happy rebelious sounds of ska punk, moved into colourful acid rock, jazz, and whichever sound that had some connection to the summer of love.

the second batch of FoD sesh's were a whole different kettle of fish. three new songs. something that shocks me. One ska'd doors/acid mothers temple/ thelonious monk song. dont know how that combination was possible, it just is! one drone, but towards Growing instead of Sunn... and one i dare say has a tad bit of Ravi shankar... (Mr Muff please let me call it "Vainu" for old time's sake!)

love, peace, g.l.o.r.i.a!!!

FoD sessions are well in the way, all those nights doing teh halia has paid off, I think the final results should be expected in a week's time.  Spent last night doing four takes. The influences come as quite a shock to us, Who would have thought Acid Mothers Temple and Rancid could be friends????

Prepare to be spaced, ska'd and chirped out of ur stockings.

Back to the sessions, insha'llah!
Trip to Israel *coughplaestinecoughcough* was awesome. Old Jerusalem for three days, good companion, good sights, i felt the jesus in me rocking for a bit.But it was a shame, that all these ignorant jews are having a blast whle several kilometers down the road some palestinian's house is bein blown to bits.... no pun intended

I am happy with my tentative draft for our FoD's "album" which is very much at it's talking stage. Hopefully the words would turn into mad drones and psych riffs!!! I smell abit of Dylan here, a bit of Psyche Jazz there, maybe we could sneak in some ska and Tom Waits... and a tribute to Sgt Pepper (the dog not the album).

Singapore's still the same, Straits Records today. Got hold of another copy of David Sparkle, and Jesus!!!! Dub Side of The Moon... haha.Mr Zao for some teh halia too.. mmmmm.

P.S. I almost forgot the footnote summing up the Top5 to Falling from a Cliff songs.... Simple Act of Falling.by The Function of a Door...No harm being bhb some times y'know...

Much Love, Dan

Jesus Motherfucking Christ

 full stop

I have been in the middle east for approximately two months now. And the Arab habit that I am exposd to is a world apart from the one that has been portrayed by the West to the rest of the world. I have made friends with some Palestinians. Most of them are refuggees in other countries. I have met two guys from Qatar of Palestinian origins. They have never been to Palestine because they are not allowed into the country.
Despite this, they still hold strong to their roots. One of them tells me, a popular saying among all Arabs is "If I am not a Palestinian, I wish I was one."
Which shows how united the Arabs are.
I am a Chinese born in Singapore, but my idea of "roots" go as far as my great grand parents in Perak. Not even close to China.

The sense of Unity among the Arabs doesn't only stop at their race. They even extend their 'brother ship' to all people in the world. An ex palestinian soldier, who was taken prisoner for 5 years by Israelis and only relesed a few years ago, tells me that his dream of the perfect passport is to allow him to enter the hearts of every human in the world.

I really wish I could say the same to you. "I really treat you as my brother"
I really wish I would mean it as well.
Imagine all the people, living in the world. yoohoo ...
Lennon wasn't a dreamer really...

dan

This afternoon, a radio saved my life. A head saved hers

In the next world war, the last for mankind.
A jackknife and a hibiscus still find
True love in the ashes of the ( ) .
And who says that ( ) can't be ( )

In the first apocalypse, man rise from the grave
A cloud and a bolt still save
One more kiss for the dawn of an old day
For the crust falling from the tear duct

Dead Sea and Mount Nebo today.... Is it really difficult to let go of yourself? When you are watching the sun set from a high point. When you are standing at the edge of a cliff without harness....

Whatever happened to letting go?

Top 5 songs to jump off a cliff to (if the fall allows us twenty minutes)-
Sigur Rós- Glósóli
Godspeed You Black Emperor- East Hastings
Johnny Cash- Ring of Fire
David Bowie- Sunday
The Mars Volta- Televators (you have to end with this number)

5 (for now) 'letting go' songs
Vevet Underground- Heroin
The Cure- Pictures of You
The Shins- New Slang
Nick Drake- Pink Moon
The Beatles- She's Leaving Home

"This is the hour of lead
Remembered if outlived,
As freezing persons recollect the snow--
First chill, then stupor, then the letting go" - Emily Dickinson

Sometimes I have the ability to make myself think everything is blending. Colours, sounds, ideas, stories, so much so i get addicted to the drone. Am I the only one who enjoys seeing sounds and hearling colours? It's scary, that Muff and I take noise way too seriously. But we have found the best meds, its just that the prescription gets a lil too hazy at times... Addicted? Yeah I'm an addict. But you're a dick.

What makes you wake up every morning? Who do u put up on the pedestal? Is it important if you knew you were the inspiration in someone's life? or if u knew that that just by breathing u have changed someone into something better, would that make your day? I don't really know? My inspiration usually come from things non human. But I can't swear that someone in particular ha inspired me in a wholesome way. Cos I am moved by things indirectly. I am moved when a 17 yr old expressed his hatred for something in a calm non violent way too. I am moved by leaves gently dancing in the wind too... 

Those that are human- Mr Muff for his creativity and intelligence, Seanie for her presence, Mr Zao for his patience and perseverance, mom for her awful way of showing lurve, pop for his shutting-up-cos-i'm-gonna-attain-nirvana-in-ten-years....  
...then we have the usual suspects like, Drake, Dylan, Waits, Reed, Lennon, Harrison, Bannon, Yorke, Morrison, Osbourne, Siddhartha, Orwell, Easton Ellis the Floyd collective the O))) collective, the Explosions collectvie and the hopelandic collective.

But really, what really kicks my guts so hard that make me smile... soil and sun and stars, sitars and similar stuff with strings, snares, sounds....

So I am sorry baby... u have moved me. I've never been so crazy in love before. But wat makes me dream of being happy came directly from the Earth.  

do i really look skinny???
do i really neet to fatten up? eat more?
do i need to get them acne off my face?
do i need to get new clothes?
do i?

The cold has settled in.Nice and smug. Some say the snow's comin soon. Have stocked up on Instant Noodles, Chocolates, and water.

Top 5 "it-kicked-me-so-hard-that-it-made-me-smile" songs:
Bob Dylan- Desolation Row
Lou Reed- Perfect Day
John Lennon- Working Class Hero
David Bowie- Rock and Roll Suicide
Nick Drake- Hazey Jane

Yippy, I'll be catching Broken Social Scene in Melbourne!!!!

quick one today... Since its the new year, I'm goin all sappy and soft today...

Top Five "I cant fuckin live without you" Songs:
Elton John- Your Song
The Beatles- Something
Nick Cave- Into My Arms
The Cure- There is no If
Elvis Presley- Heartbreak Hotel