What You See Are People Pushed to the Edge

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, writing at the LA Times:

Yes, protests often are used as an excuse for some to take advantage, just as when fans celebrating a hometown sports team championship burn cars and destroy storefronts. I don’t want to see stores looted or even buildings burn. But African Americans have been living in a burning building for many years, choking on the smoke as the flames burn closer and closer. Racism in America is like dust in the air. It seems invisible — even if you’re choking on it — until you let the sun in. Then you see it’s everywhere. As long as we keep shining that light, we have a chance of cleaning it wherever it lands. But we have to stay vigilant, because it’s always still in the air.

The Militarization of the Police

Jason Tate Jun 1, 2020

Nick Baumann on the militarization of the American police:

“You create this world where you’re not just militarizing the police — you equip the police like soldiers, you train the police like soldiers. Why are you surprised when they act like soldiers?” Rizer, a former police officer and soldier, said. “The mission of the police is to protect and serve. But the premise of the soldier is to engage the enemy in close combat and destroy them. When you blur those lines together with statements like that … It’s an absolute breakdown of civil society.”
American police officers generally believe that carrying military equipment and wearing military gear makes them feel like they can do more, and that it makes them scarier, Rizer’s research has found. Officers even acknowledge that acting and dressing like soldiers could change how the public feels about them. But “they don’t care,” he said.

Research on How to Stop Police Violence

Jason Tate Jun 1, 2020

From Samuel Sinyangwe, a thread about solutions to stop police violence:

More restrictive state and local policies governing police use of force are associated with significantly lower rates of police shootings/killings by police. This is backed by 30+ years of research.
Demilitarization. Police depts that get more military weapons from the federal govt kill more people. You can stop that from happening through local and state policy. Montana (Red state) has gone the furthest on this.
Police Union Contracts. Every 4-6 years your police dept’s accountability system is re-negotiated. Purging misconduct records, reinstating fired officers, dept funding- it’s in the contract. Cities with worse contracts have higher police violence rates.

Liner Notes (May 29th, 2020)

Jason Tate May 29, 2020

This week’s newsletter has my early first impressions of Phoebe Bridgers’s new album, Punisher. You’ll also find more thoughts on all of the best of lists that hit the website this week and my plans for their future, and my usual commentary on music and entertainment I enjoyed this week. And, of course, there’s a playlist of ten songs I liked as well. This week’s supporter Q&A post can be found here.

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Blast from the Past: My End of Year Lists from 2005-2015

Jason Tate May 28, 2020

Yesterday, I posted about finding and recreating all of the AbsolutePunk.net best of lists from 2005-2015. In an incredible turn of events, a reader actually had saved all of my personal best of lists and sent them to me. I didn’t have anything earlier than 2011 and I thought these were lost to time.1 I am extremely happy to be able to add them back into the Chorus.fm database for posterity.

These are a nostalgia trip. I’ll have to write more about my decision making process, from what I can remember of these eras, at some point, but for now I’m just happy to have them back on our “End of the Year” page.

The era before I was doing any kind of regular back-ups, let alone keeping everything I write in text files on my computer.↩

Liner Notes (May 22nd, 2020)

Jason Tate May 22, 2020

It’s a 1975 album release day, so let’s talk about that. In this week’s newsletter, you’ll find my thoughts on their new album and some random thoughts on other music and entertainment I consumed this week. There’s also a playlist of ten songs I loved this week, and this week’s supporter Q&A post can be found here.

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Liner Notes (May 15th, 2020)

Jason Tate May 15, 2020

I’m writing this week’s newsletter on not much sleep, but that doesn’t mean I’m short on opinions. In this week’s issue you’ll find thoughts on music and entertainment I enjoyed this week and a playlist of ten songs I loved. This week’s supporter Q&A post can be found here.

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Liner Notes (May 8th, 2020)

Jason Tate May 8, 2020

This week’s newsletter revisits Fall Out Boy’s discography after realizing it’s been fifteen years since the release of From Under the Cork Tree. I also share some things I enjoyed around the internet this week, as well as my thoughts on music and various entertainment I consumed. And, as always, there’s a playlist of ten songs I loved and your usual sarcasm and snark mixed within. This week’s supporter Q&A post can be found here.

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Liner Notes (May 1st, 2020)

Jason Tate May 1, 2020

In this week’s newsletter I offer my first thoughts on Hayley Williams’s debut solo album, share some articles around the internet and two-person board games I liked, and then go through my usual music and entertainment rundown of the past week. There’s also a playlist of ten songs I loved this week and some unfunny jokes. This week’s supporter Q&A post can be found here.

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Liner Notes (April 24th, 2020)

Jason Tate Apr 24, 2020

I’m here writing another newsletter, so I guess it’s Friday again. This week I look at the music I enjoyed throughout the week, including a nostalgic remembrance of Home Grown and a re-listen to Yellowcard’s discography. I also go through my usual media diet rundown, and there’s a playlist of ten songs worth your time. Also, I’ve started answering some questions via the newsletter, so if you have any of those you’d like me to tackle, let me know. This week’s supporter Q&A post can be found here.

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Liner Notes (April 17th, 2020)

Jason Tate Apr 17, 2020

Friday already, huh? This week’s newsletter has thoughts on new music, my favorite things I saw online this week, and a rundown of my quarantine media diet. There’s also a playlist of ten songs I liked this week, and this week’s supporter Q&A post can be found here. I hope everyone is staying safe out there.

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Liner Notes (April 10th, 2020)

Jason Tate Apr 10, 2020

This week’s newsletter looks at the aftermath of last week’s bracket and plays another viral game that will probably get someone mad at me. Then I share some articles I found interesting last week, as well as thoughts on music and various entertainment. And, of course, there’s a playlist of ten songs I liked last week. This week’s supporter Q&A post can be found here.

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Liner Notes (April 3rd, 2020)

Jason Tate Apr 3, 2020

This week I fill out my Early 2000s Emo/Pop-Punk Bands bracket and go through all the matchups and my picks. I discuss the upsets, the never had a chances, and why I went with a slightly different champion than you might expect based upon the bands involved. I also share some articles I enjoyed this week, go through music and entertainment I consumed, and share a playlist of ten songs I liked. This week’s supporter Q&A post can be found here.

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Liner Notes (March 27th, 2020)

Jason Tate Mar 27, 2020

At this point, the only way I know a week has passed is because I’m writing this newsletter. In this week’s edition, I share some articles, podcasts, and other things that have gotten me through the week, as well as do a rundown on music and entertainment I’ve consumed. Not sure what we’d do without streaming services right now. Dua Lipa’s pop-goodness and the absurd Harley Quinn cartoon are powering me through. Oh, and there’s a playlist of ten songs I enjoyed this week, and this week’s supporter Q&A post can be found here.

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Liner Notes (March 20th, 2020)

Jason Tate Mar 20, 2020

Well, this is going to be a week I think I remember for a long time. This week’s newsletter looks at the weirdness of the past week, includes a variety of articles I found interesting and helpful, and then has some thoughts on music and entertainment I consumed while doing the whole “stay inside” thing. There’s also a playlist of ten songs I enjoyed this week, and this week’s supporter Q&A post can be found here.

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