HONOR, AID, RESIST

It's a tragedy when people die, when anyone dies. It's a tragedy when people who lived genuinely anarchist lives and believed in resisting authority die, and sadder when and their death prompts allies to collaborate with police.

The police-- especially the NOPD-- are enemies of the people. This is not only true when you're wearing a "Stop Snitchin'" t-shirt, in ironic homage to black communities' silence in the face of oppression and interrogation; it's true when crime happens to you and "yours." It remains true when someone with your own complexion and economic background is killed. It remains true when kids steal the tip jar from the coffee shop you work at. It remains true when a New Orleanian without adequate mental health care flips out and is shouting at invisible stuff outside the house you rent.

The NOPD will never be part of a solution. Not short-term, not long-term.

Collaboration with the police sells out everything Brydrum LIVED for and fought so hard for. Let's celebrate her rich, bold, uncompromising LIFE, her optimism, and her rejection of authority, including violently repressive authority such as the NOPD. Let's work to eradicate the misogyny and social inequities that leads to tragedies such as her death. Let's not be hypocrites.

YOU KNOW WHAT'S WONDERFUL?

The talented Asher putting his strong, soft hands on you, and massaging you.

That's wonderful!

Seriously, the dude has a gift. He went to school for this, but more importantly, he's just great at it. Those who he's touched rave about him, and this is YOUR CHANCE to find out why!

...because Asher is AT the Iron Rail, today, Friday, with his actual professional massage chair, giving people massages! Come pay whatver you can-- no amount would be too much-- and let Asher make this ugly stressful day significantly better for you.

YOU LIKE MIKE

This is not a picture of Mike; this is a picture of Charles Mingus, a hero of mine and the subject of a short film being shown tomorrow (Tuesday) night at eight.

If you know collective member Mike, you are likely as fond of him as I am. Mike has been an anchor-- a cornerstone-- of the Rail's existence for quite a while now.

WHAT THE FUCK ARE WE GOING TO DO WITHOUT HIM? For serious, we are experiencing a critical volunteer shortage!!

But in any case, it's Mike's birthday today-- he's turning 35 or so-- and if you're down for a small, low-key informal dinner gathering to honor one of the collective's Most Valuable Playerz tonight around 8 p.m., holler at me or Gina or "westbank reppin'"

We love ya Mike...

ART WARS: SWOON GOES OVER BANKSY

In most contexts, one graffiti artist even partially covering or overlapping another's work means it's on, big time. Not sure that will be the case here.

But has this specific thing ever happened before, anywhere? In any other city in the world, have these two international super-monsters of politically aware street art hit the same corner, the exact same spot, within weeks of each other, to the point where you have Swoon's trademark paper cutouts wheatpasted DIRECTLY on Banksy's stenciled spraypaint? What are the odds of that? I love you, New Orleans, I love you so much, every day.

Background on Swoon: Swoon discusses street art vs. museums, Swoon talks about her influences

HERO OF THE HOUR

So this seven-year-old went into a zoo and killed a bunch of animals and also fed a bunch of 'em, living and dead, to crocodiles. Here you may read the article and be appropriately appalled at the Dollar Amount of damage wrought.

There is nothing beautiful, good or acceptable about captivity; being bashed to death with a rock or fed to a big ass crocodile may or may not be "preferable"-- we can each decide that about our own lives-- but it has a fuck of a lot more in common with whatever may still be said to constitute the natural order than you'll ever find in any zoo.

I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't acknowledge there's plenty of innocent animal blood on my hands-- I wear a leather belt, I eat lambs. Nevertheless, zoos horrify me in a way few other settings do. We'll forgo the polemics; suffice it to say zoos are hateful and this larval psycho-killer is my HERO OF THE HOUR.

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THE FREE BIN ARE STRONG