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Communique 007: In the Pocket of Big Parpo

Download/stream here, or find it on iTunes!

Elias and Athena with the week in bullshit: tone-deaf ads, war-mongering politicians, confusion in the White House, and more.

Talking points: Technical difficulties, “that’s too high,” there’s no such thing as a free information, 3 Infinite Jests’ worth of documents, the black pants-ers?, the Pepsi® blues, highly irregular products, Big Parpo, 6th-grader-birthday-size soda, the most orange of the Grey Champions, Right Hand Bansquantch, Steve the shitty dungeonmaster, Post-Nunes, why does anyone believe in anything?, V for Vagina Dentata, BORED–NEXT!, Somerville People’s Protection Units, extremely dense, don’t be a tankie, foreign policy negging, a different kind of shitty, what’s your favorite anti-North Korea military exercise name?

Relevant Links:
Fellowship of Reconciliation
Pepsi Pulls Controversial Kendall Jenner Ad (The Daily Beast)
How Devin Nunes is Threatening the Constitution (David Corn, Mother Jones)
Steve Bannon Believes The Apocalypse Is Coming And War Is Inevitable (Paul Blumenthal, JM Rieger, Huffington Post)
Syria’s war: a 5-minute history (Max Fisher, Johnny Harris, Vox)
Trump’s Options for North Korea Include Placing Nukes in South Korea (William M. Arkin, Cynthia McFadden, Kevin Monahan, Robert Windrem, NBC News)

Playlist:
Talking Heads – Don’t Worry About the Government
Parquet Courts – Careers in Combat
Television Personalities – How I Learned to Love the Bomb

Aaaand the ad, as promised:

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Communique 006: Marky Mark & the Dunkies Bunch

Communique 006: Marky Mark & the Dunkies Bunch

Elias goes deep with writer, storyteller, and musician Thom Dunn on Hollywood commercialization of tragedy and the militarization of local police forces in the years since the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Is there room for reflection in the culture industry, or is it all toxic schlock? How can the stories we tell make the world a better place? Can Mark Wahlberg just fuck off already?

Talking points: Brother West on militarized policing, a different kind of reading, Sean Boo-urns, stories are about people–they’re people!, reading our Miranda July Rights, reflection in the mainstream, obscuring the lesson, whom does optimism benefit?, Darth Vader police chic, cooks with AR-15s, state vs capital: a lover’s spat, a very American Hustle, talking tragedy profiteers and merchandising, Thom and Elias are friendly dummies, what kind of lefty are you?, toxic schlock, Heavyweights with SWAT LARPing, we believe the children are our dystopian future, fun in a bleak way.

Relevant links:
Thom Dunn on the WWW, Twitter, and Facebook
The Unsettler on Twitter and Facebook
Review – Patriots Day (Sean Burns, North Shore Movies)
Was the police response to the Boston bombing really appropriate? (Radley Balko, The Washington Post)
Does ‘Boston Strong’ Mean Anything Anymore? (Kyle Scott Clauss, Boston Magazine)
Marathon Bombings Play Finds A ‘Finish Line’ Beyond The Tragedy (Jeremy D. Goodwin, wbur.org)
Lawyers raising questions about Watertown home searches following Marathon bombings, shootout (Jaclyn Reiss, Boston.com)
Tactical-Life advertising piece using the Marathon Bombings to promote the LenCo BearCat Armored Vehicle

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Events & Actions: Monday 4/3-Sunday 4/9

Monday, April 3rd

Tuesday, April 4th

  • 3:00-4:30 p.m. – We March On: Continuing the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr at the Parkman Bandstand (50 Chestnut Street) in Boston. I”n 1965, Dr. Martin Luther King led a march that ended at the Boston Common Parkman Bandstand. We will carry his legacy for social justice forward by hearing from movement leaders and workers demanding a livable wage at 3:00PM at the bandstand. At 4:00 PM, we will march to the State House to call on elected officials to support our movement.”
  • 4:00 p.m. – Next CBA subcommittee meeting (to discuss CBA proposal w/ USNC working group) at Community Action Agency of Somerville (66 Union Square)
  • 6:00-7:15 p.m. – A public address by Dr. Moncef Marzouki (Former President of Tunisia, 2011-2014) at the John F. Kennedy, Jr. forum (79 JFK Street) in Cambridge. Moderated by Tarek Masoud, Sultan of Oman Professor of International Relations. Middle East Initiative Faculty Affiliate, Harvard Kennedy School
  • 7:00-9:00 p.m. – 350 (Boston Node) Meeting at First Church on Eliot Street in Jamaica Plain.

Wednesday, April 5th

  • 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. – Immigrants Advocacy day at the Statehouse. The day will start with a speaking program from 10:00-11:00 a.m., followed by the lobbying visits to legislators. “We (DSA’s contingent) will meet at 10:00 at the bottom of the steps opposite the State House in Boston Common (corner of Beacon St. and Park St.), marked on the map below. We will be there from 10:00-11:00 a.m. for the speaking program, and then move into the State House to visit legislators.)
  • 6:00-8:00 p.m. – Help welcome new Bikes Not Bombs Executive Director, Elijah Evans, at 5 Alveston Street in Jamaica Plain
  • 7:00-8:30 p.m. – Commission on Energy use and Sustainability at 167 Holland St in Somerville.
  • 7:00-9:00 p.m. – Boston Food Not Bombs has its weekly planning meeting during this time at Encuentro 5 (9 Hamilton Pl Suite 2a) in Boston. This is, of course, the long-running, non-sectarian, but definitely radical free food organizations that’s been serving in MA for decades now.
  • 7:00-9:00 p.m. Black & Pink has weekly volunteer drop-in hours on Wednesdays, as well. They’re at First Baptist Church (633 Centre St) in Jamaica Plain. “Bring a laptop, if you can. If not, you can help write birthday cards!”

Thursday, April 6th

  • 5:30-8:30 p.m. – Union United Monthly Meeting at 246 Washington Street in Somerville. “Union United is a coalition of stakeholders in Somerville…working together to create a community benefits agreement – a contract we can sign with the master developer and the City that will create a diverse, sustainable, and equitable Union Square.”
  • 6:00-7:00 p.m. – Zoning meeting at Somerville City Hall where folks will be protesting the waiver of affordability inclusion at Assembly Square.
  • 6:30-8:00 p.m. – Unheard Voices of Immigration in Jamaica Plain at 361 Centre Street Join JPNDC and Hyde Square Task Force for an evening of storytelling, testimonials and knowledge building that center the experiences of immigrant people. Free and open to all (snacks provided). For more information please contact Samantha
  • 6:30-8:30 p.m. – Cambridge Democratic City Committee meeting at Attles Auditorium (85 Bishop Allen Drive)
  • 7:00-9:00 p.m. YUM: A Taste of Immigrant City presented by the Welcome Project at the Somerville Armory. “Mayor Curtatone will be the keynote speaker and speak to the 30-year history of Somerville’s status as a Sanctuary City.”

Friday, April 7th

  • 10:00 a.m.-Saturday, April 8th at 10:00 a.m. – The 24-Hour Boston Hassle Telethon at SCATV to benefit the Boston Hassle and BRAIN Arts Org. BRAIN is a local org dedicated to bringing news about art and culture events to folks in the Greater Boston Area. They have a monthly paper (The Compass), they book shows (as The Hassle), they co-produce Black Market, etc etc. Show your support–tune in and donate!
  • 6:00-9:30 p.m. – Feminist Fiber Art Craft Fair at the Democracy Center (45 Mount Auburn Street) in Cambridge. Come check out some spooky art, make some art, and drink some tea with us! This small exhibit focuses on witchcraft. There will be spooky art on display, witchy pins, patches, and stickers for sale, and tables set up for you to make art with us!

Saturday, April 8th

  • 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. – Food Not Bombs cooks for its Saturday Central Square Meal in Cambridge. E-mail us for details.
  • 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. – City Live/Vida Urbana volunteer canvassing. http://www.clvu.org/volunteer?page=26
  • 12:00-3:00 p.m. – Black & Pink holds drop-in volunteer hours at this time each week at Swissbakers (168 Western Ave) in Allston.
  • 12:30-4:00 p.m. – Food Not Bombs’ Central Square Meal is served at this time each week.
  • 5:00-8:00 p.m. – A Night of Music and Solidarity: Show Up for the ACLU at Aeronaut Brewing (14 Tyler Street) in Somerville. Show Up invites you to an evening of music, beer, and unity to help raise money to support the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The event will feature: live music provided by: Erica Leigh, Nwasoul, and Miss Fairchild, hourly raffles of items donated by local businesses, a mailbox and postcard table to write to your local officials about what’s important to you, an art sale featuring the donated work of local artists, a Solidarity Photo and Video Project sharing with the world what you Show Up for, and booths featuring local organizations where you can get more information about how to get involved in making change in your own community.
  • 6:00-11:00 p.m. – Food Not Bombs’ Haymarket Produce Rescue happens during these hours each Saturday. Volunteers meet up near Faneuil Hall at Haymarket (corner of Blackstone and North, across the street from a Hard Rock Cafe) to rescue and sort produce destined for the compost heap or landfill and deliver it, by car, to shelters in the Boston/Cambridge area to stock them with food. Volunteers with cars are especially needed.
  • 9:00 p.m.-Sunday, April 9th at 1:00 a.m. – Persisting – Songs Written By Women at the Midway Cafe (3496 Washington Street) in Jamaica Plain. People are gathering to play their favorite songs written by women, and there are still slots left to fill: https://goo.gl/SzwIxF. 21+, $10. All proceeds to benefit Jamaica Plain Music Festival. There will be a raffle & food (more details to follow).

Sunday, April 9th

  • 12:00-1:30 p.m – Boston Homeless Solidarity Committee weekly meeting at Encuentro 5 (9A Hamilton Pl in Boston). All are welcome, including people who are currently experiencing or have experienced homelessness. For an idea of what will be discussed, including the proposed agenda, or to be added to their mailing list, please contact massbhsc@gmail.com.
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Events & Actions: Monday 3/27-Sunday 4/2

Monday, March 27th

Tuesday, March 28th

  • 7:00-8:30 p.m. – Let’s Talk About It: Social Action in Boston hosted by Boston University at Room 545, 100 Bay State Road in Boston. “Come join us for a conversation with local organizers from ACLU Massachusetts (American Civil Liberties Union), Mass Trans Political Coalition (MTPC), Empowering People for Inclusive Communities (EPIC), Boston Knapsack Anti-Racism Group, and Resource Generation.” Food from Haley House Bakery Cafe will be served.
  • 7:00-9:00 p.m. – 350 (Boston Node) Meeting at First Church on Eliot Street in Jamaica Plain.
  • 9:00 a.m.-2:45 p.m. –  Arts Matter Advocacy Day at the Paramount Center, Boston. 9:00: Registration, breakfast, socializing / 10:00: Welcome / 10:30-12:30 “How to be an effective arts advocate, how to tell your story for social change,” policy briefings, performance: Conservatory Lab Charter School String Orchestra, sample role-play with legislator, prep for meeting with your legislators / 12:30: Arts Matter March from the Paramount Center to the MA State House (with street bands!) / 1:30: Meet with your legislators in the MA State House / 2:45: Debrief with Representative Chris Walsh (D-Framingham)

Wednesday, March 29th

  • 6:00-9:00 p.m. – Boston’s Herstory: Queer Feminist Movement at Fenway Health (1340 Boylston Street) in Boston. In commemoration of Women’s History Month, Fenway Health’s Women’s Health Team, The L.O.C.S. Collective, Flashback Sunday: Elders of Color, Older Lesbians Organizing for Change, and Rally present a screening of “A Moment in Her Story: Stories from the Boston Women’s Movement.” Light refreshments provided. The location is wheelchair accessible and has gender neutral bathrooms. Contact: Tanekwah Hinds.
  • 6:00-10:00 p.m. – Beers for BARCC at Night Shift Brewing (87 Santilli Highway) in Everett. Come learn more about Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, join a fundraising team for the Annual BARCC Walk for Change, or just have a few beers to support the cause! All funds from your ticket purchase go directly to BARCC. Tickets available here: https://night-shift-brewing.myshopify.com/collections/events/products/beers-for-barcc.
  • 7:00-8:30 p.m. – Women for Stephanie Hirsch event at Brass Union in Somerville supporting Emerge alumna Stephanie Hirsch in her run for Somerville Alderman at Large. Lynda Tocci of the Dewey Square Group will be speaking.
  • 7:00-8:30 p.m. – The City Talks: Coexistence at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston for a free discussion inspired by themes in the exhibition “Political Intent,” with moderator Laura Weinstein, the MFA’s Ananda Coomaraswamy Curator of South Asian and Islamic Art and panelists Michael Dwan Singh, co-organizer, SubDrift Boston; Maryam Eskandari, principal, MIIM Designs; and Robb Johnson, associate vice president, Fenway Health.
  • 7:00-9:00 p.m. – Grassroots Challenges to the Savior Mentality at Lucy Parsons Center (358A Centre Street) in Jamaica Plain. A conversation with Black & Pink founder Rev. Jason M. Lydon and journalist and organizer Jordan Flaherty, author of the new AK Press book “No More Heroes: Grassroots Challenges to the Savior Mentality”.
  • 7:00-9:00 p.m. – Boston Food Not Bombs has its weekly planning meeting during this time at Encuentro 5 (9 Hamilton Pl Suite 2a) in Boston. This is, of course, the long-running, non-sectarian, but definitely radical free food organizations that’s been serving in MA for decades now.
  • 7:00-9:00 p.m. – Black & Pink has weekly volunteer drop-in hours on Wednesdays, as well. They’re at First Baptist Church (633 Centre St) in Jamaica Plain. “Bring a laptop, if you can. If not, you can help write birthday cards!”
  • 8:00-11:00 p.m. – Feminist Art Wednesday March at Koto in Salem featuring vendors Anna Ramm, Oliver with Ollie’s Lockets, RawleYoni Creations, Grace Ulrich’s Needlepoint; musicians Julie Cira, Joey Phoenix, Mantis Tobogan M.D.; and poets Shannon Murphy, Melissa Gilbert, Brenda Lee. They will be collecting donations for HAWC (Healing Abuse Working for Change).

Thursday, March 30th

  • 4:00-6:00 p.m. – Undocumented Knowledge: A Transnational Immigration Conversation at Emerson Hall (19 Quincy Street) in Cambridge. Join moderator Lorgia Garcia-Peña, professor at Harvard University, and a panel of scholars, activists, artists, attorneys, and educators including Keish Kim, Prerna Lal, Lisa Lowe, Medhin Paolos, and Maurice Stierl for a transnational, interdisciplinary, and intersectional conversation about immigration. Co-sponsored by the Charles Warren Center for Studies in American History, Weatherhead Center for International Affiars, Harvard University Ethnicity, Migration, and Rights, Deparment of History and Literature, and Department of Romance Languages and Literatures.
  • 5:30 p.m. – Benefit for the Mass Bail Fund at Gallery X (169 Williams Street) in New Bedford
  • 6:00-7:00 p.m. – Art and the Making of “Citizen”: An Evening with Claudia Rankine at the Northeastern University Office of Undergraduate Research (450 Dodge Hall, 360 Huntington Ave) in Boston. MacArthur “Genius” and one of our finest living poets, Claudia Rankine will join Northeastern to discuss her poetry, as well as her provocative new “Racial Imaginary Institute.” The event is free and open to the public. Seating is first-come, first-served, please plan to arrive early.
  • 6:00-8:00 p.m. – Women for Tito event for Tito Jackson at Harborside Lounge (185 State Street) in Boston
  • 6:30-9:00 p.m. – Ovarian Psychos film screening at Design Studio for Social Intervention (1946 Washington Street, 2nd floor) in Roxbury. Ovarian Psycos is a radical bicycle brigade for women of color started in East LA with the a social justice, community-centric and celebratory mission. IT IS AMAZING. The screening will begin at 7 PM! Light snacks will be provided, but feel free to bring dinner! You can enter the building at the door on Thorndike Street.

Friday, March 31st

Saturday, April 1st

  • 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. – BESJ 2017 at Fenway High School in Boston. Teacher Activist Group-Boston invites you to join us for the 7th annual Boston-area Education for Social Justice Conference! Our theme for 2017 is Unafraid and Rising: Student Voice, Youth Power. More info at besj.weebly.com.
  • 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. – Food Not Bombs cooks for its Saturday Central Square Meal in Cambridge. E-mail us for details.
  • 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. – City Live/Vida Urbana volunteer canvassing.
  • 12:00-3:00 p.m. – Black & Pink holds drop-in volunteer hours at this time each week at Swissbakers (168 Western Ave) in Allston.
  • 12:00-3:00 p.m. – Strike, Resist, Win – Organizing Training at UNITE HERE Local 26 (33 Harrison Ave, Fl 4) in Boston with Workers from Harvard University and Northeastern University are former strikers and protesters. Email for more info!
  • 12:30-4:00 p.m. – Food Not Bombs’ Central Square Meal is served at this time each week.
  • 5:00 p.m.-Midnight – Deadline for entries for #Resist, a show featuring art in all mediums that addresses the current political climate in the so-called United States, curated by Susan Berstler and Greg Cook. #Resist will be exhibited from 4/27-5/27 at the Nave Gallery Annex in Somerville.
  • 6:00-11:00 p.m. – Food Not Bombs’ Haymarket Produce Rescue happens during these hours each Saturday. Volunteers meet up near Faneuil Hall at Haymarket (corner of Blackstone and North, across the street from a Hard Rock Cafe) to rescue and sort produce destined for the compost heap or landfill and deliver it, by car, to shelters in the Boston/Cambridge area to stock them with food. Volunteers with cars are especially needed.
  • 7:30-10:30 p.m. – Women’s Short Films, hosted by Wicked Queer: The Boston LGBT Film Festival at the Bright Family Screening Room, The Paramount Center (Emerson College) in Boston

Sunday, April 2nd

  • 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. – The Boston Hassle and Ignore Rock’n’Roll Heroes present Black Market, their joint effort, one-day flea market featuring handmade artwork, prints, patches, records, tees, pins, ceramics, jewelry, zines, body care, tea, macrame; vintage clothing, accessories, books, as well as tarot readings, haircuts, live drawings, and more at the Cambridge Elks Lodge. All Ages, $1 for entry.
  • 12:00-1:30 p.m – Boston Homeless Solidarity Committee weekly meeting at Encuentro 5 (9A Hamilton Pl in Boston). All are welcome, including people who are currently experiencing or have experienced homelessness. For an idea of what will be discussed, including the proposed agenda, or to be added to their mailing list, please contact massbhsc@gmail.com.
  • 3:00-5:00 p.m. – Our Revolution kickoff at East Somerville Community School (50 Cross Street)
  • 8:00-10:00 p.m. – More Than This at the Democracy Center (45 Mount Auburn Street) in Cambridge. “Come join a community of survivors dedicated to taking healing into their own hands. More Than This is an evening of solidarity, healing and creative expression. We are inviting you to be a part of a safe environment which, we hope, will spark an open conversation addressing the problem of domestic and sexual violence in our community, as well as support its survivors. This event is open to featuring live music, poetry, prose, photography, art and other creative expressions of healing from trauma.”
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Communique 005: Feel Your Eatings (Hot Commodities)

Art by Nikki McClure

Communique 005 is up for streaming and downloading!

This week, Elias sits down with Kristina, an activist and friend of the show, to talk about food, culture, and politics. We touch on the commodification of sustenance, the non-profit industrial complex, and more!

Talking points: Eat yr feelings/feel yr eatings, holy macaroni, hot commodities, vedgelord shitposting, kraft nopalitos and cheese, tradition®, contradict-heads, deadwhiteguyism, if I can’t eat potato chips it’s not my revolution, subversive mending, the revolution will not be broadcast, Phil Collins–if you’re reading this–we’ve got baked goods for you, #philcollins, shitting the pantsuit, 100 years gulag for the Metro, STOP: hammer (& sickle) time–break it down, ar-archives, drain the Cambridge swamp.

Playlist:
tUnE-yArDs – Water Fountain

Relevant links and graphics:
No Gluten Required
Cook Food Every Day, Edited by Kristina
What Trump Did for the Communist Party USA in the Boston Metro
Email Kristina here
Email us here
Three points of leftist unity:

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Communique 004: Will the Egg See Its Shadow? w/ Caitlin of SEEK + FIND

Stream or download here.

CW: We discuss self-defense against stalking, sexual assault, and other physical attacks in this episode. We also discuss mental health concerns in both the context of an assailant’s motives and survivors’ struggles post-attack. We are not mental health professionals.

We talk to Caitlin of SEEK + FIND Boston about art’s place in the struggle, why cheap and free entertainment matters, and an upcoming zine on free women’s self-defense classes in the Boston area. We also celebrate the Vernal Equinox by talking about balancing various types of eggs and egg replacers, phallic food, and the beginning of a new year for a different calendar.

Talking Points: Read the fucking bread book, art as activism, who’s in yr post-apocalypse crew, shamrock climbing, dog brain/snake brain, de-escalation, 4 hours to cross the parking lot, 100 lbs of under-cooked potatoes, c’mon Joe, N.I.C.E: Not Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Happy Vernal Equinox, y’all!, hang out with a baguette, will the egg see its shadow?, bumming out the mail thieves, skunk sisters, as your attorney…

Playlist:
Slant 6 – What Kind of Monster Are You?
Erase Errata – Tongue Tied
The Petticoats – Normal
The Fall – C.R.E.E.P.

Relevant links:
Women’s Self-Defense
Sex Object by Jessica Valenti
Violence Girl by Alice Bag
Ladyfest Boston 2017
Pepper Spray Laws in MA
BARCC – Boston Area Rape Crisis Center

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Today on the Unsettler: Communique 004 goes LIVE at FIVE

This afternoon, we’ll have Caitlin of Seek & Find Boston in the studio to chat about her upcoming zine, which will compile local self-defense education resources for women in the Greater Boston Area, as well as her work organizing and promoting low-cost and free events in and around the city. Plus: it’s vernal equinox! Fight for equal rights on this equal night, and listen in at 5 p.m. ET.