Music
Paul Young, Wang Chung,John Waite, Rick Springfield
NJPAC in Newark, New Jersey was pretty crowded last evening to watch and witness some formidable artist of yesteryear. Opening the show with Paul Young who wasn't originally on the card for the evening, played four songs concluding with his hit "Everytime You Go Away".
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).about a year ago in Critique
Tunisian Man Sentenced to Six Months in Jail for Refusing to Listen to President's Speech
In a development that has sparked serious concerns among human rights activists and international observers, a Tunisian citizen has been sentenced to six months in prison for refusing to listen to a televised speech by President Kais Saied. The unusual and controversial sentence, handed down by a local court, has once again brought Tunisia's declining state of freedom of expression under the spotlight. According to the citizen’s lawyer, Adel Saghir, the case began when the man, already incarcerated on a separate charge, declined to watch or listen to a presidential address broadcasted on national television. This occurred within a local prison facility, during a news bulletin that featured live coverage of President Saied's activities. The Case and the Charges The incident came to light when one of the man’s fellow inmates reported his refusal to prison authorities. An investigation followed, and the prisoner was later charged under Article 67 of the Tunisian Penal Code, which traditionally deals with offenses against the head of state. However, perhaps sensing the political sensitivity of invoking this article, the court eventually dropped the original charge and sentenced him under public decency laws instead. According to the court's reasoning, refusing to listen to the president’s speech amounted to “indecent behavior in public” and “setting a poor example for society.” The verdict, Saghir claims, was politically motivated, despite attempts to frame it as a non-political issue. The modification of charges was allegedly done to avoid labeling the case as one of political repression or a direct attack on freedom of thought. > “The authorities did not want this to be seen as a political punishment, so they shifted the charge to a vague violation of public decency,” said the lawyer. “But everyone knows the real issue was the refusal to comply with what they consider a show of loyalty to the president.” What Happened in Prison? The man was reportedly in a provincial detention facility, where he was serving time for a prior, unrelated case that had recently concluded. During the airing of the president’s speech, when asked to watch the broadcast, he refused, saying he had no interest in the president’s activities or speeches. It is also reported that he may have made disrespectful comments about the president during that time, which further fueled the legal response. Human rights NGO Tunisia League for Human Rights confirmed that the man had completed his sentence in the earlier case and was on the verge of release. His family had been preparing for his return home. However, this new charge blocked his release, resulting in yet another prison term. According to the NGO, “The man did not commit any criminal offense in a conventional sense. He merely expressed disinterest in a political figure’s speech. The decision to imprison him again is not only unjust—it is alarming.” Broader Context: Tunisia's Shrinking Civic Space Since his controversial power grab in 2021, President Kais Saied has been widely criticized for eroding democratic norms in Tunisia. He dissolved parliament, took control of the judiciary, sidelined political opponents, and passed a new constitution via referendum—moves seen by critics as steering Tunisia toward authoritarianism. Many Tunisian and international observers believe that this latest incident is emblematic of a broader pattern of silencing dissent. Journalists, civil society leaders, and now even ordinary citizens are increasingly finding themselves under threat for expressing views that do not align with the official narrative. > “This is not just about one man refusing to watch a TV broadcast,” said a regional expert on North African politics. “This is about a regime that sees any form of indifference or criticism as a threat to its legitimacy.” A Deal with Italy and Political Anger There is an additional layer to this story. The individual reportedly expressed anger toward President Saied over a recent agreement signed with Italy, which involves cooperation on the deportation of undocumented migrants. The man had previously been deported from Italy after residing there illegally. However, under the new agreement, returning to Tunisia may carry criminal consequences, further complicating the lives of many former Tunisian migrants. This agreement, hailed by some European governments as a breakthrough in controlling migration, has faced criticism inside Tunisia for being exploitative and dangerous for returning citizens. The convicted man’s comments against the president, as per his lawyer, were partly fueled by this personal frustration and political disagreement. International Reaction and Human Rights Concerns Human rights organizations in Tunisia and beyond are calling for the immediate release of the man and a re-evaluation of laws that criminalize nonconformity or dissent. They warn that such actions risk setting a dangerous precedent, where even silence or disinterest can become a punishable offense in an authoritarian system. > “Punishing someone for not watching the president’s speech is a gross violation of personal liberty,” said a representative from Amnesty International. “This is not just repression—it’s absurdity, weaponized.” So far, there has been no official response from the Tunisian presidency or the Ministry of Justice regarding the incident. --- Conclusion This case highlights the increasing crackdown on freedom of expression and political neutrality in Tunisia. What may seem like a minor act of protest—refusing to listen to a televised speech—has led to a six-month prison sentence, underlining the extent to which civic space in Tunisia has deteriorated. As international pressure builds, many are watching to see whether Tunisia will uphold basic human rights—or continue its descent into political repression cloaked under legal formalities.
By Ikram Ullahabout a year ago in Critique
🎼 Music: The Language That Speaks When Words Fail . AI-Generated.
Have you ever listened to a song and felt like it was telling your story—without a single word? Music is a universal language, but not in the way we usually think of language. It doesn’t rely on grammar or vocabulary. Instead, it uses rhythm, melody, harmony, and silence to speak directly to our emotions.
By The Yume Collectiveabout a year ago in Critique
The Problem With Award Shows Nobody Talks About
There was a time when award shows were magical. Glitzy gowns, heartfelt speeches, standing ovations, and the belief that talent and hard work would always be recognized. But something has shifted. For years now, murmurs of discontent have grown into full-blown criticism, and while the conversations around diversity, snubs, and politics have been heard in mainstream circles, there's a deeper issue that remains largely untouched. The problem with award shows isn't just about who wins or loses—it's about the illusion they’ve carefully built, the emotional manipulation they encourage, and the way they subtly reinforce hierarchy in the creative world.
By Muhammad Asimabout a year ago in Critique
A Plague Of Lighthouse Keepers
Introduction This is for Annie Kapur's "Sing Us the Song of the Century" Challenge, which you can find here: I have always loved the music of Van Der Graaf Generator and knew the actual device from which they took their name from school physics lessons.
By Mike Singleton đź’ś Mikeydred about a year ago in Critique
Desolation Row. Top Story - June 2025.
Introduction This is for Annie Kapur's "Sing Us the Song of the Century" Challenge, which you can find here: I don't normally make more than one entry to a Challenge, but I will have two in this one. Even Bob Dylan has so many "story songs" that take you somewhere else, and Jimi Hendrix's cover of "All Along The Watchtower" would be my choice if I were limited to a 7" single and we have Hedrix's guitar and full on vocals (apparently, he was embarrassed about his own lyrics but he lets loose on Dylan's words) but that is not for this story.
By Mike Singleton đź’ś Mikeydred about a year ago in Critique
Review of Shangri-La Frontier
While this show has been rather enjoyable, there are some things that I would have done differently as the writer. The dialogue alone can be irritating, especially when they use terms from back in the 2010s like “broseph”, but it can also be hilarious, at times. I don’t remember the last time I laughed so much while watching an anime. There have been so many new, fantastic anime coming out that I have watched or want to watch and I think now is the time to start showcasing my writing skills with my thoughts on all of the anime I’ve seen since, like, 2015; which is quite a few, but not nearly enough compared to other reviewers like Anime America, the YouTube channel.
By Juliet Adamsabout a year ago in Critique
A Fun Filled Ska-Punk Night
If there are two genres of music that I enjoy probably way more than I should, they have got to be ska and punk. Mash the two together for ska-punk and I am in my happy place. On Friday May 9 I went to my happy place by seeing Canadian ska-punk legends the Planet Smashers at The Opera House in Toronto. Joined by American ska-punk bands Big D and the Kids Table and Mustard Plug, as well as the UK's Faintest Idea, the whole night was an absolute blast.
By Nerhys Hallabout a year ago in Critique
Sinners, Venus, and Cowboy Carter: Legacy, Resilience, and the Fight Ahead
I saw Sinners last Wednesday. Then I saw the documentary “I’m Your Venus” on Thursday, and went to the Cowboy Carter concert at SoFi on Friday. All the while (well, on Friday and Saturday), young filmmakers transformed my apartment for a short film.
By Camille Ora-Nicoleabout a year ago in Critique
Cardinals choosing the next pope have been offered a dossier on candidates – with a subtext. Content Warning. AI-Generated.
Cardinals Choosing the Next Pope Have Been Offered a Dossier on Candidates – With a Subtext May 7, 2025 As speculation mounts about who will succeed Pope Francis, an intriguing development has emerged behind the scenes: cardinals preparing for a future conclave are quietly being offered dossiers detailing the strengths, weaknesses, and past actions of potential papal candidates. But these documents aren’t just dry summaries – they come with a subtle subtext that could shape the future direction of the Catholic Church.
By Rasel Ahmedabout a year ago in Critique
