Check it out. ResistanceMP3. A fairly extensive archive of audio recordings made by various individuals -- several of the names familiar to me (Noam Chomsky shows up a lot), others not -- speaking on all sorts of subjects including the nature of state, economics, globalization, war, imperialism, history, and various other related subjects.

The audio quality isn't great, but the content of several that I've sampled so far has been fascinating. I listened to Rob Hoveman's lecture on Why Do Recessions Happen. Recorded in 2003, it's an analysis of the current economic situation, viewed through the context of history with a strong Marxist bent. But don't let that label scare anybody away. ;)

Not to spoil anything, but despite many the many apparently depressing signs, he actually ends it on quite an optimistic note. The final words of the speech: "They need us, but we don't need them."

Immediately after, when I hit google news, as if through serendipitous coincidence, this article prominently popped out of the woodwork. "On your mark, get set... employees eyeing door." Damn straight.

Doom and gloom be damned. The future may be a bright one after all. The recession is dead. Long live the recession.