BBC uncovers lost Iraq billions

It’s all fun and amusement until they’re walking us around on leashes.

If you thought pocket dialing emergency services just as you and your significant other were starting to get frisky made for an awkward situation, read what happened to this Marine.

Hey guys, if this is you, it’s funny and all, but some of us would like to avoid a draft over here…

Frank Fam and contributor, the ever-talented and constantly cooking-up-something Patrick Martinez, sent us an email with this image from his latest project - ARMY SET

When we asked Partrick to elaborate, he sent us the following response:

‘I install the army sets in various department stores across Los Angeles in the toy section of the store. The piece blends in with the other military figures at first glance. With a closer look, the viewer will get a suprise with the package and contents. They are all hand painted army men from all races. The package reads “Army Set includes: poor and middle class people. Bonus! Includes one special limited edition rich gold soldier!!!” On the back of the packaging it reads “Made in the USA, then shipped to Iraq.”

‘I think I want to remind the shoppers / viewer that they, or their sons or daughters, could be targeted as a potenial canidate to fight a senseless war. Maybe because they don’t have much money or might be lost and look at the military as a way out. so I’m dealing with the class system and trying to shine light and remind the viewer with their children in hand that they should protect them and remind them that they have many options.

‘I have created 50 of these and plan to keep on installing them till they are all gone. So if you find one at your local department store, you can have it because they don’t sell them there anyhow. They are all signed and numbered on the back with graphite.’

More info: patrickmartinez.com

Nothing better for the soul than a good NY hardcore show. This past Saturday was the annual Black N Blue Bowl at Studio B in Brooklyn, which has been going strong since the 80’s, formerly as the Superbowl of Hardcore (the NFL has many lawyers).

After attending this weekend’s activities, it is clear that this festival is aptly named. FRANK151 was in the building with our friends from the DMS crew, who represented strong… after all, they did put on the event. This year featured one of the biggest line-ups yet, with headliners Agnostic Front, Madball, Terror, Breakdown, Fahrenheit 451, and a surprise performance by CIV (Guerilla Biscuits anyone?) amongst many more.

The show was not for the faint hearted. It was action packed with as much hardcore intensity as you can imagine, it felt like the roof was going to tear off the joint. We were fortunate to witness Rigg Ross’s last show as the drummer for Madball & the changing of the guard to DMS stalwart & drummer extraordinaire, Mackie (former Cro-Mags, Bad Brains).

$10 to anyone tough or crazy enough to spend five minutes in that pit. Respect to all the ladies who took the challenge head on. Be on the lookout for FRANK 33: The DMS Chapter, hitting streets near you this summer.

Not to be mistaken for the latest strain of soul-alteringly potent chron, Ironweed is a monthly DVD service similar to Netflix. Each month subscribers receive a different “thought provoking, progressive” documentary. Unlike Netflix, the films are yours to keep. Past titles have included Favela Rising, The War Tapes, Can Mr. Smith Get To Washington Anymore? and many others. A subscription costs $15 per month, and Ironweedfilms.com provides discussion and activisim outlets for each film.

Below is the trailor for this month’s film, War Made Easy, narrated by Sean Penn.

A lot of things would be cool if they weren’t so terrifying, but this one takes the fully mechanized, all terrain, ammo carting cake. With the balance of Baryshnikov and the determination of Ralph Nader, it’s the scariest thing on all fours since we heard rumor of an Ann Colture sex tape.