Old Mole Variety Hour
The Old Mole burrows down to the roots of the great issues of our time – the struggles of ordinary people for democratic and sustainable ways of life. The Mole goes where corporate media fear to tread, supporting grassroots challenges to top-down authority and giving voice to movements that shake the foundations of an unjust society. The Moles' perspective is democratic, broadly socialist, and feminist. (We count Karl Marx as a friend).
Here is why we call this show "The Old Mole"
Our theme "Mole in the Ground" is by Bascom Lamar Lunsford (1924), somtimes blended with a newer versions, like the one by dj/rupture, sung by Sindhu Zagoren. It's on the album Special Gunpowder.
Our graphic lettering is by Charlie Ertola.
You can leave comments for the Moles at oldmolevarietyhour@gmail.com or by clicking on the comment section for any of our audio pieces.
Host Denise Morris talks with Catherine Sameh about the resistance of women in Iran. Laurie Mercier reviews the history of health care reform, and Bill Resnick interviews Robin Hahnel, professor of economics at Portland State University, about the economics of the environmental crisis. 
Norm Diamond and Clayton Morgareidge co-host. They focus on the 1919 Seattle General Strike anniversary--and feature an interview with Rob Rosenthal, who with the Fuse produced the rock opera "Seattle 1919" Audio
Feminist Science Fiction
The Old Mole's Frann Michel reviews The Marq’ssan Cycle -- five feminist science fiction novels by L. Timmel Duchamp, set in the late 21st century. Their portraits of an American police state and the political use of torture are all too timely today.
You can read this piece on Frann's blog here.
- Title: 04 Feminist Sci-Fi
- Album: June 23, 2008
- Length: 6:17 minutes (2.88 MB)
- Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 64Kbps (CBR)
Remembering Utah Phillips
Host Tom Becker reviews the life of labor activist and folk singer Utah Phillips and plays some of his songs.
- Title: 09 Utah Phillips
- Album: June 23, 2008
- Length: 3:45 minutes (1.72 MB)
- Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 64Kbps (CBR)
Parenting in Europe and the US
Professor Marcia Meyers is with the West Coast Poverty Center and has studied the vast differences between raising children in the US with almost no public support and being a parent in Europe where that support is strong. She shares her conclusions in this conversation with the Old Mole's Bill Resnick.
- Title: 02 Supporting Parents
- Album: June 23, 2008
- Length: 19:32 minutes (8.94 MB)
- Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 64Kbps (CBR)
Old Mole Variety Hour for June 23, 2008
Along with the music of the late Utah Phillips, this show, hosted by Tom Becker, feature a Bill Resnick interview about the support for parents of young children in European countries in contrast with what parents in the US must face. Frann Michel reviews a series of feminist science fiction novels. Tom reads a piece about why cooler weather does not justify skepticism about global warming. And Bryan Johnson tells us about a bicycle tour of Portland's radical history sites.
Hear the whole show by clicking on the arrow at the top of this page. Hear individual pieces by clicking on their links below:
1. The life and music of Utah Phillips.
2. Raising Children here and in Europe
3. Cool Weather and Global Warming
5. Cycling Through Labor History
- Title: OMV 6_23_08
- Album: June 23, 2008
- Length: 44:54 minutes (20.56 MB)
- Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 64Kbps (CBR)
Iretsu
Clayton Morgareidge talks with members of Iretsu, a young Portland "avant-pop" band getting national attention. We hear some of their music and talk with Ryan Cross, Glen Schiedt, and Joel Holly about how their music points in the direction of better ways to treat each other. You can hear more of their music, and even download some of it, at Hidden Shoal where Iretsu is under contract. You can also find them on MySpace, and at their own website.
Iretsu is collaborating in Fever Theater's production of New Believers, playing in Portland through July 5.
And they are performing in Hand2Mouth Theater's RISK/REWARD PERFORMANCE LAB on Friday, July 27. For details, go here.
- Title: 09 Conversation with Iretsu
- Album: June 16, 2008
- Length: 8:58 minutes (4.11 MB)
- Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 64Kbps (CBR)
Old Mole Variety Hour for June 16, 2008
Hosted by Clayton Morgareidge, this show features the music of local avant-pop band Iretsu and an interview with its members (Ryan Cross, Glen Schiedt and Joel Holly). Bill Resnick interviews radical economist Arthur MacEwan about McCain, Obama, and the economy. Larry Bowlden reflecst on on religious fundamentalism and Jon Krakauer's book Under The Banner of Heaven. All this plus the Movie Moles' take on a movie classic now out on DVD. Killer of Sheep examines the black Los Angeles ghetto of Watts in the mid-1970s through the eyes of Stan, a sensitive dreamer who is growing detached and numb from the psychic toll of working at a slaughterhouse.
To hear the whole show, click on the arrow at the top of this page. You can listen to individual pieces by following the links below:
2. Arthur MacEwan and Bill Resnick discuss the candidates and the economy.
4. Movie Moles Denise Morris and Frann Michel discuss Killer of Sheep.
5. Larry Bowlden reviews Under the Banner of Heaven.
6. Clayton Morgareidge talks with Iretsu.
- Title: OMV 6_16_08
- Album: June 16, 2008
- Length: 55:04 minutes (25.21 MB)
- Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 64Kbps (CBR)
Introducing Iretsu
First of three conversations with members of Iretsu--Ryan Cross, Glen Schiedt, and Joel Holly. We hear part of "Name Our Numbers, Number" from their new EP.
- Title: 02 Introducing Iretsu
- Album: June 16, 2008
- Length: 4:30 minutes (2.06 MB)
- Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 64Kbps (CBR)
Obama and McCain on the Economy
Where do John McCain and Barack Obama stand on issues affecting jobs, health care, and income inequality? Economist Arthur MacEwan talks with the Old Mole's Bill Resnick about what's wrong with the economy, what needs to be done, and how likely the main presidential contenders are to do the right things. MacEwan contributes to Dollars & Sense as "Dr. Dollar" and is the author of NEOLIBERALISM OR DEMOCRACY?
- Title: 03 Obama, McCain & the Economy
- Album: June 16, 2008
- Length: 14:36 minutes (6.68 MB)
- Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 64Kbps (CBR)
"Clear View"
Iretsu's song "Clear View," and some brief talk about it.
- Title: 04 Iretsu 1
- Album: June 16, 2008
- Length: 3:22 minutes (1.55 MB)
- Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 64Kbps (CBR)
Bowlden on Krakhauer
Book Mole Larry Bowlden reviews Jon Krakauer's book Under the Banner of Heaven and reflects on his own experience growing up in a Mormon family--and on how religious fundamentalism of any variety closes down our minds.
- Title: 08 Bowlden on Krakhauer
- Album: June 16, 2008
- Length: 7:29 minutes (3.43 MB)
- Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 64Kbps (CBR)
Comments
Avatar's Jake Sully is ---- Tarzan - - -
A great review I've seen on Avatar (and how the soldier will save the people):
http://www.progressive.org/mp/danto010510.html
There is a link from there that exposes Cameron's plot as a mirror of Pocahontas, amazing parallel! http://failblog.org/2010/01/10/avatar-plot-fail/
Since watching Avatar, I have viewed older videos on DVD and would rate that ahead of Avatar.
mel
commentary transcripts
It's convenient to have the Old Mole audio files available.
Even more useful for some of us would be transcripts of the commentaries (Clayton Morgareidge). Written material allows a person a chance to review, consider, digest and refer to mentioned references & thinkers. The "Well Read Red" commentary from 4 Aug 08 is a good example of a piece I'd like to read at my own pace.
These folks are so profound
These folks are so profound and fascinating, especially the Resnick guy. Wow!
good post
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Hi, when will the August 13th podcast be posted?