THE QUICKIE: FACE TO FACE WITH TERROR

IN TWEET: HE LOST BOTH LEGS IN THE BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING. NOW JEFF BAUMAN TELLS OF HIS FACE TO FACE ENCOUNTER WITH DECEASED SUSPECT TAMERLAN TSARNAEV.

The image is already iconic: a gravely wounded Jeff Bauman is wheeled away from the scene of the Boston Marathon bombing by paramedics and everyman hero Carlos Arredondo.

Bauman lost both legs in the attack but only now do we know about his face to face encounter with terror: he stood right next to deceased suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev just before one of the two bombs was detonated. Jeff Bauman’s eyewitness testimony was a key factor in the success of the FBI investigation into the terrorist attack.

On Friday April 26, 2013 Bauman gave an interview to Boston area radio station WEEI FM. Here is the audio of his gripping interview on the DENNIS AND CALLAHAN MORNING SHOW.

NOTE: YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS THIS AUDIO CLIP FROM ANY DESKTOP OR LAPTOP BROWSER. SOME MOBILE BROWSERS, HOWEVER, DO NOT SUPPORT AUDIO PLUG-INS. IF THAT IS THE CASE, CLICK HERE FOR A LINK TO THE ORIGINAL INTERVIEW HOST SITE.

CLICK HERE to read the PDF of the criminal complaint against Tsarnaev, filed on 4/21/13.

CLICK HERE to read the PDF transcript of Tsarnaev's first hearing, held bedside in his hospital room on 4/22/13.

CLICK HERE to visit the news archive of RONTHINK coverage of the bombing and subsequent manhunt.

MUSIC: PHOENIX NORMAND

IN TWEET: INDIE ARTIST PHOENIX NORMAND IS “RUNNING” WITH AN INFECTIOUS DANCE TUNE THAT WILL MAKE YOU MOVE. WE DARE YOU TO RESIST THE HOOKS OF THIS UBER CATCHY SINGLE.

As a rule, we don’t cover mainstream, major label music on RONTHINK but when we stumble across a great indie voice, we’re all over it. 

Today we’re sharing a couple of tracks from an artist we really like: San Francisco-based singer/songwriter Phoenix Normand. If you’ve been looking for new music that'll get you off your ass and help you shake the winter blues, Normand has you covered.

NOTE: IF YOU ARE USING A BROWSER OR MOBILE DEVICE THAT DOES NOT SUPPORT THE HTML5 MUSIC PLAYERS FROM SOUND CLOUD EMBEDDED BELOW, PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR A LINK TO PHOENIX NORMAND'S FULL SOUND CLOUD LIBRARY.

I’m listening to the LFB RADIO MIX of RUNNING as I write this post and I can’t get enough. It’s infectious, full of great hooks and offers a sweet balance of smart lyrics and an irresistible dance beat. Of the two re-mixes, it’s the one that grabbed me right away. I took it running with me on the beach this morning and can’t think of a better soundtrack for your workout...outdoors or on the dance floor.

THE JAEGAR RYDALL take on RUNNING is a little colder and more aloof but it still works quite well, especially the haunting piano line that closes the remix. It’s nice to see the same source material re-mixed in ways that leave you with two completely different vibes after listening.

Both remixes of RUNNING are lifted by echoes of time-honored club kid bravado and pleasant layering of vocals that, at times, woke up my inner Erasure. These are welcome qualities in a genre that often churns out more of the same. Normand manages to make RUNNING rise above the clutter and infuses it with remarkable replayability. Both remixes of RUNNING are worthy additions to your digital music library.

BLUELIGHT, a second hot single from Normand, is the song I want to accompany me every time I enter a crowded room. It’s a down and dirty paean to the classics of bluesy soul, complete with strong organ accompaniment and powerful electric guitar. 

It’s the kind of song that demands you go out to see and be seen with your crew. Hell, even if you don’t have a crew BLUELIGHT will make you want to throw one together. There’s also a serious message rolling with the party here, though my favorite line offers a kick-ass antidote to a troubled world: “I’m gonna sit back on my grove and let my big, fat booty move.” We say, amen!

Here's the video for RUNNING and, below that, a link to the LFB RADIO MIX of the single from iTunes. Support indie music and make Phoenix Normand a part of your playlist.

 

BREAKING: DOMA ON TRIAL

IN TWEET: ORAL ARGUMENTS BEFORE THE SCOTUS TODAY CAST DOUBT ON THE FUTURE OF DOMA. ANALYSIS, OPINION, REFLECTION ON HARVEY MILK AND AUDIO OF THE PROCEEDINGS.

I can think of no better image to anchor this post than that of civil rights icon Harvey Milk. No matter how the Supreme Court rules on the two marriage equality cases that were argued this week, I have no doubt that we wouldn’t be where we are today were it not for the fearless activism of Milk. Anyone who supports marriage equality and full civil rights for LGBT Americans owes Harvey Milk a huge debt of gratitude and my writing today is humbly dedicated to this great man.

I was living in San Francisco the first time I saw the documentary THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK. It was a stunning, transformational experience that changed my life. If you have not seen it, do yourself a favor and make some time to watch right here! There is a full video player from Hulu at the close of this article and additional options if you are on a browser or mobile device that does not support the plug in. 

The spirit of Harvey Milk burns brighter than ever and I can't help but imagine that somewhere he is looking down on all of this amazing progress and smiling. Now, onto United States v. Windsor.

While yesterday grabbed the lions share of the headlines, all the silly red equal logos in the world won’t change the fact that the case that was argued today is the more important of the two. While Holligsworth v. Perry was brought to the Court on shaky legal standing and focused on a ballot initiative in one state, United States v. Windsor has national implications.

At issue is Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (aka DOMA). DOMA was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on September 21, 1996 after passing in both the House and Senate by wide margins. In brief, DOMA restricts the extension of Federal marriage benefits and the inter-state recognition of marriage to opposite sex couples only. The law has since been disavowed by many of the same elected officials who supported it, including Bill Clinton.

Here’s an amazing clip from C-SPAN shot in 1996. It’s an impassioned, 5 minute speech by Rep. Steve Gunderson (R-WI), the only Republican in Congress to vote against DOMA. Pay special attention to the section where he asks if it is fair to deny him and his partner the same benefits afforded others in Congress who are on their second or third marriage. It’s a pointed reference to then House Speaker Newt Gingrich who was married to wife number two at the time while in the midst of an affair with the woman he would eventually make wife number three: Callista.

HOW DOES DOMA NEGATIVELY IMPACT LGBT AMERICANS?

I’ll use myself as an a example. I live in Massachusetts, the first state to give full marriage rights to same sex-couples. Here’s the rub: what’s good for this gay Massachusetts goose doesn’t matter a bit to the Federal gander thanks to DOMA. If I marry my partner in Massachusetts we are barred from receiving any of the Federal benefits enjoyed by opposite-sex couples. Think about that for a moment. It’s a punitive law that covers a massive array of financial, estate and tax-related programs.

HOW DID WE GET TO UNITED STATES V. WINDSOR?

Marriage equality supporters can thank Edith Windsor, an amazing 83-year-old woman and lesbian. She sued the United States and won in the lower courts. Those rulings affirmed her assertion that Section 3 of DOMA was punitive, damaging to her (and her late partner) and not constitutional. Even though DOMA was the law of the land, by 2011 the Obama Administration refused to enforce and, in doing so, signaled agreement with the court rulings. Enter the GOP!

With the DOJ taking a pass, Republican leaders in the House stepped in and vowed to defend DOMA. The case would also gave them a twofer that no Right Winger could resist: a chance to bitch slap the Obama Administration and keep those pesky homos from advancing their diabolical agenda. The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case which we now know as United States v. Windsor.

• CLICK HERE for a full, plain English history of the case from the New York Civil Liberties Union.

• CLICK HERE to read more about the amazing Edith Windsor from the New York Times.

• CLICK HERE for another look at Edith Windsor and her case, this one from The New Yorker.

• CLICK HERE to read about marriage equality in the best little state in The Union: Massachusetts.

With the exception of another round of belligerent dickishness from Justice Antonin Scalia, the oral arguments today were markedly different than those heard in yesterday’s case. In both the tone of the Justices and the questions they asked, there was palpable skepticism about DOMA. 

Declaring the law unconstitutional would not impact any state where same-sex marriage is banned or unavailable. It would basically remove the Federal Government from the equation (more or less) and return marriage to the States, where it has traditionally resided. On the up side, it would invalidate the language in Section 3 that currently prevents Federal recognition and extension of benefits to same-sex couples in states where same-sex marriage is legal (or may be in the future).

LISTEN: ORAL ARGUMENTS (UNITED STATES V. WINDSOR)

NOTE: RONTHINK is optimized for CHROME. In the event you are using a mobile device or browser that does not support the HTML5 audio player above, CLICK HERE for the official audio and PDF download links of the oral arguments from the SCOTUS website.

• CLICK HERE for a full overview of today’s oral arguments in plain English from SCOTUS Blog.

• CLICK HERE for analysis from The Huffington Post.

• CLICK HERE for analysis from MSNBC.

• CLICK HERE for analysis from The Washington Post.

• CLICK HERE for analysis from The Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

• CLICK HERE for analysis from The San Francisco Chronicle.

Kenji Yoshino was back on THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW last night with an insightful look at yesterday’s case and some predictions about the oral arguments that were heard today. Here’s the video.

Both of these cases are expected to be decided by June. Of course, RONTHINK will continue to keep an eye on the SCOTUS and bring you updates as they happen. 

In the meantime, please sit back and enjoy THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK. You can watch right here via Hulu or, if you are on a browser or device that does not support the Hulu player, there are other options below. This is a documentary that truly soars. Don’t miss it!

BREAKING: SCOTUS AND PROP 8

IN TWEET: ORAL ARGUMENTS IN THE PROP 8 CASE BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT ARE OVER. WE’VE GOT “ONE-STOP” LINKS TO THE BEST EXPERT ANALYSIS PLUS AUDIO OF THE PROCEEDINGS. 

Today the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Hollingsworth v. Perry, better known as the Prop. 8 case. It’s semi-pointless to try and second-guess the SCOTUS. Of course, that doesn’t stop the media from trying. Here’s "best of" analysis from those who heard or have since listened to the arguments made by lawyers on both sides of the case :

• CLICK HERE for analysis from the Huffington Post.

• CLICK HERE for analysis from Mother Jones.

• CLICK HERE for analysis from The Los Angeles Times.

• CLICK HERE for analysis from The Boston Globe.

• CLICK HERE for analysis from The Maddow Blog.

Of the two same-sex marriage cases being heard by the SCOTUS this week (the other, United States v. Windsor, is on the docket tomorrow), today’s was always the more murky of the pair. Court observers have noted the thorny issues of the case for weeks now.

Problem one, the case is specific to a voter approved initiative in one state yet a decision by the court could have implications for other states. That doesn’t exactly make the Justices giddy and would also explain a ruling that ends up being less decisive than marriage equality supporters might like. Second, and probably more troubling, is that the state involved (California) isn’t arguing the case. This puts it on shaky ground from a standing perspective and, as many observers noted today, that fact was not lost on the justices.

• CLICK HERE for a look at the DOMA case from Slate.

• CLICK HERE for a look at the basics of both cases from New York Magazine.

• CLICK HERE for a look back at the Prop. 8 battle from The Washington Post.

• CLICK HERE for an excellent, plain English analysis of today’s oral arguments from SCOTUS Blog.

Though there is no live audio or video feed from the Supreme Court and no recording devices are allowed inside, the Court did release audio of today’s oral arguments as well as a written transcript. Even if you’re not a legal eagle, this is fascinating stuff and well worth a listen. The Court is expected to announce a decision on Hollingsworth v. Perry by June.

LISTEN: ORAL ARGUMENTS (HOLLINGSWORTH V. PERRY)

NOTE: RONTHINK is optimized for CHROME. In the event you are using a mobile device or browser that does not support the HTML5 audio player above, CLICK HERE for the official audio and PDF download links of the oral arguments from the SCOTUS website.

If you missed the opening segment of the Rachel Maddow Show yesterday, she had an excellent overview of the case. Particularly strong is her interview with Kenji Yoshino, one of the most savvy conlaw experts out there. Now that oral arguments in this case are complete and available, his commentary is especially interesting. Check out the video here.