How did I not know that February 7 is "International Clash Day"?

Rolling Stone let me know about the International Clash Day holiday today. It was new to me, but I'll be sure to mark my calendar so that I remember to take off from work to celebrate next year.

What are we gonna do now?

Taking off his turban, they said, is this man a Jew?
'Cause they're working for the clampdown
They put up a poster saying we earn more than you!
When we're working for the clampdown
We will teach our twisted speech
To the young believers
We will train our blue-eyed men
To be young believers

The judge said five to ten-but I say double that again
I'm not working for the clampdown
No man born with a living soul
Can be working for the clampdown
Kick over the wall 'cause government's to fall
How can you refuse it?
Let fury have the hour, anger can be power
D'you know that you can use it?

The voices in your head are calling
Stop wasting your time, there's nothing coming
Only a fool would think someone could save you
The men at the factory are old and cunning
You don't owe nothing, so boy get runnin'
It's the best years of your life they want to steal

You grow up and you calm down
You're working for the clampdown
You start wearing the blue and brown
You're working for the clampdown
So you got someone to boss around
It makes you feel big now
You drift until you brutalize
Make your first kill now

In these days of evil Presidentes
Working for the clampdown
But lately one or two has fully paid their due
For working for the clampdown
Ha! Gitalong! Gitalong! (working for the clampdown)
Ha! Gitalong! Gitalong! (working for the clampdown)

Yeah I'm working in Harrisburg
Working hard in Petersburg (working for the clampdown, working for the clampdown)
Ha! Gitalong! Gitalong!
Beggin' to be melted down

And I'll give away no secrets

And a bonus version of  'Clampdown' from Bruce Springsteen and Tom Morello in 2014:

Paul Ryan's favorite band is Rage Against the Machine?

I heard that strange bit of trivia on NPR on the way home from work tonight and I confirmed it with a couple of links online. And, what do you know, this group of radical leftists from the city of Los Angeles even played at the Republican National Convention in 2008 ... or outside the convention ... or actually they were prevented from taking the stage by the police, so Tom Morello played his classic guitar riffs with his mouth and the crowd sang along.  I'm sure that, as a fan, Paul Ryan will enjoy singing along with Zach de la Rocha and Rage Against the Machine while watching this video:


And, in case he's forgotten, here are the lyrics of the final lines of  "Killing in the Name" so Paul can sing along with the crowd and his favorite band at the end of this video:

Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me! 

Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me! 

Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!

Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!   Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!  Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!   Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!   Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!   Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!   Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!   Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!   Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!   Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!   Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!   Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!   Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!   

I've said it before in relation to Chris Christie and Bruce Springsteen, but in this case it's even more stunningly perplexing: Don't Republicans realize that songs have words?

Tom Morello on Bob Dylan, Amnesty International, Clear Channel, and more

And a great Wobbly hat.

"...the forces of reaction... you have to always be on guard for. They're always trying to steer history in the direction of the ruling elites and our freedom of expression is one of our best ways to fight back ..."
--Tom Morello at the end of this video from Spin

"If Woody Guthrie were alive today, he'd have a lot to write about..."

"... high times on Wall Street and hard times on main street." These words are spoken by Bruce Springsteen in the intro to this version of "The Ghost of Tom Joad". He's joined by Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and The Nightwatchman with his guitar that reads "Arm the Homeless" (the 21st century version of Woody's legendary "This Machine Kills Fascists" guitars).

I was just watching this performance on Palladia, and I was thrilled to be able to find it on YouTube so I could share it here:

Now Tom said "Mom, wherever there's a cop beatin' a guy
Wherever a hungry newborn baby cries
Where there's a fight 'gainst the blood and hatred in the air
Look for me Mom I'll be there
Wherever there's somebody fightin' for a place to stand
Or decent job or a helpin' hand
Wherever somebody's strugglin' to be free
Look in their eyes Mom you'll see me."

Tom Joad and his creator John Steinbeck would understand the Occupy Wall Street movement.