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Blackwater: Part 1

Last week I touched on Blackwater. I have done some research and now have to broaden my focus. Blackwater is the largest and so far, most visible of the 181 mercenary companies that make up over 100,000 non-national troops in Iraq.

According to data provided to the House panel, the average per-day pay to personnel Blackwater hired was $600. Blackwater charged $1,075 a day for senior managers, $945 a day for middle managers and $815 a day for operators. In contrast an unmarried U.S. military sergeant given Iraq pay and relief from U.S. taxes makes about $83 to $85 a day, given time in service. A married sergeant with children makes about double that, $170 a day.

Also, Blackwater and the other contractors have the best equipment, best armored vehicles, best weaponry and best body armor. Due to the confusion in Iraq, they haven't been held accountable for they're actions or misconduct.

I have no conclusions this week, just questions for you to ponder. What would you do if you were a soldier that had to decide weather or not to reenlist? How would you feel about private mercenaries being paid %1000 more than our troops? The president asks for more and more money - money that goes to these companies and not our troops. I've heard stories of parents buying body armor for their kids who enlisted to fight for our country. I wonder how those parents would feel if they knew about all of this?

Keep your eyes on the prize.

You are relevant.

M

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BLACK DAYS

I had planned on writing on Iran and the Middle East this week but just don't feel up to it.

Last friday morning I woke up to a phone call from my mom with the news that my grandmother Sophia had died. The conversation was short and she passed off the important information: She went in her sleep, my Aunt Zoe was there with her and the funeral day had not been determined. After I hung up the phone I sat still in my apartment. The cold blue light that fall mornings cast seemed appropriate and in a strange way almost comforting.

The Mediam had a show in Spokane, Washington scheduled for later that night and for a brief moment I contemplated canceling it. I didn't. As walked out the door I grabbed a bottle of Vodka and the current issue of Wired which had just arrived in the post. Our drive went by fast, and in a quick five-and-a-half hours we we're there and I had a buzz. It was six o' clock. The rain fell soft and relentless. The sky was black.

Before the show we hung-out in the van, as we often do. At times the conversation became a background for my thoughts, only to be snapped back into the moment by a big laugh or question thrown my way. For the show we all wore black, as we often do, but on this night I felt as if the black was wearing me. It was a strange mood. At times I felt like I was watching myself from above, clumsy and slow, meandering around on the stage. Other times I seemed crazed and on the attack, fully absorbed by the moment. By the end of our set I found a release. I love music for that.

Kind of a strange blog post this week, but life is kind of strange. You never know when someone close to you will go. Tell your loved one's that you love them often, you never know when it will be your last chance. Sophia Nicklos was 92 almost 93, she had a great run. I saw her a few days before she died. As I was leaving I gave her a kiss on the cheek and told her that I would see her this weekend. Her response was, "Take the money and run." Puzzled, I looked at her and said, "What Yiayia?" She looked at me and again said, "Take the money and run!" I wonder if she knew those would be her last words to me. What I do know, is that those are pretty cool last words from a wonderful human being.

Gus

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Slide Video Photoblog

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Slide Single

We just made the radio cut of Slide available to download on our purevolume page!

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Slide - set for digital release April 24th!

Slide, our first single off of "Actress", is getting early airplay nation wide.

On April 24th, next tuesday, it will be released on itunes, yahoo music, napster, etc.

Be the first to download and and be sure to leave a comment!

Take it easy

THE MEDIAM

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