Jonty Skrufff's Blog

Click for UK official anti-drug website 'Talk to Frank'

George Bush’s one time spiritual issues adviser John J. Dilulio, Jr., called for cannabis to be decriminalized this week and provided a detailed analysis of why America’s war on drugs is failing.

Back in the 90s, Dilulio wrote a zero tolerance themed book called ‘How to Win America’s War Against Crime and Drugs’ with notorious prohibitionists Bill Bennett and John Walters, though this week confessed he’d been wrong.

“Last year there were more than 800,000 marijuana-related arrests. The impact of these arrests on crime rates was likely close to zero. There is almost no scientific evidence showing that pot is more harmful to its users’ health, more of a “gateway drug,” or more crime-causing in its effects than alcohol or other legal narcotic or mind-altering substances,” Dilulio pointed out in an essay published in the journal Democracy.

“Prime-time commercial television is now a virtual medicine cabinet (“just ask your doctor if this drug is right for you”). Big pharmaceutical companies function as all-purpose drug pushers. And yet we expend scarce federal, state, and local law enforcement resources waging “war” against pot users. That is insane,” he added.

Dilulio’s comments emerged weeks after Slate Magazine published an in-depth feature examining how America launched an official federal poisoning program in which killed over 10,000 people in the 1920s in a brutal experiment to terrorise drinkers away from alcohol.

New York City’s medical examiner of the era Charles Norris accused the federal government of being ‘morally responsible’ for the deaths labeling the program ‘our national experiment in extermination’. The deaths only stopped when alcohol Prohibition was abandoned in 1933. (Slate Magazine)
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click on the picture to book your cruise

Superstar trance icon Paul Oakenfold has announced he’ll be hosting a four day rave on a cruise ship this October, offering partygoers the chance to enjoy multiple sets of ‘the epic sounds that he’s become known for’.

Tickets for Perfecto at Sea start from $599 per person, including meals, free tea and coffee and use of the ship’s ‘giant waterslide’.

“Oakenfold and friends will help keep the party going 24/7 and deliver a cutting edge, music-meets-leisure experience that simply cannot be missed,” the event’s website blurb promises. “There will be theme nights, gambling, pool-side cocktails, and a seadeck turned dancefloor.”

Ticket buyers curious about who they’ll be cooped up with for four days, can rest assured they’re unlikely to be billeted with former Time Out Chicago Nightlife editor John Dugan who blasted both Oakey and his fans in a retrospective article last week.

“In 2006, I caught him at a Winter Music Conference party that turned out to be a Jersey Shore episode from hell: 1,000 muscley dudes from Jersey, a smattering of females and me beside a pool,” he said.

Oakey, who was getting over a flu he picked up in Mexico, was barely functional; he fumbled his set at one point, leaving dead air,” he recalled. http://tinyurl.com/yfrrzdu

Click here for more info: the earlier you book, the better cabin you can get)

Jonty Skrufff (http://skrufff.com): Follow Jonty on Twitter

click on the picture for Pioneer's videos

CDJ market leaders Pioneer revealed details of their new top-of-the-range mixer the DJM-2000 this week, just weeks after launching their CDJ-2000 digital decks.

The ultra-flash new mixer comes with high-tech touch screen technology and ‘removes the need for an external effects unit’, said Pioneer and will be retailing in shops for €2,000.

Pioneer’s ‘Europe Press Department’ emailed Skrufff about the new product (anonymously; ‘they don’t want to put their name to it as they get bombarded’ their publicist explained) and said the new machine is aimed towards club owners rather than bedroom DJs.

“The DJM-2000 is targeting the club installation market and top professional
DJs, we would expect the ratio between clubs and individuals buying them at home to be heavily weighted towards the club installation market,” they explained, “The CDJ-2000 / DJM-2000 is designed and built for the very top pro DJs for continuous reliable use in club environments.”
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Click on the picture to access ADE's site

Amsterdam’s annual dance conference (ADE) has revealed that new wave dance pioneers Tom Tom Club and old skool A&R legend Miles Leonard will be keynote speakers at this year’s event which takes place between October 20 and 23.

Skrufff chief Jonty Skrufff will also be at the conference in its entirety, having joined the ADE team in January as a panel moderator and on-stage interviewer.

“I attended ADE last year for the first time to appear on Dave Clarke’s panel and thoroughly enjoyed both being on Dave’s panel and attending the conference itself,” he said.

“I met stacks of old contacts and more than a few virtual friends I’d never met in person before and the conference itself was small enough to be both friendly and productive. I came away feeling excited and enthusiastic to return. I’m delighted to be working with ADE and very much looking forward to October already,” he said.
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New York club legend Lady Bunny

New York nightlife diva/ alternative superstar Lady Bunny will be contributing stories to Skrufff.com, adding her distinctive perception of America’s club and queer culture.

Click on the picture for Bunny's recommended link

click HERE

Alisson & Jonty Skrufff (click for lots more Alisson)

We’re delighted to announce that ubercool queen of Brazilian nightlife,  avant garde superstar Alisson Gothz is joining the Skrufff team, and will be contributing regular reports on her adventures in Sao Paulo nightlife.  Check below for a selection of pictures of Alisson in action:

Nowadays LA based electro pioneer David Harrow is joining the Skrufff blog and will be posting regular features on (night) life in Los Angeles.

David Harrow

In his own words: ….

David Harrow: Artist  Producer Remixer

moved to LA about 10 years back,  took some time off after 20 years of non stop touring with Dub Syndicate/ Lee Perry/On U  Sound/ Technova.
had a couple of kids  ,built a studio/ digital production/recordlabel

scored  some hollywood movies/tv shows/adverts
LASVEGAS /  the LOANER/  SEXLIVES IN LA  / FORD FOCUS
produced some award winning albums
JAMES HARDWAY
SDUB http://www.salmonelladub.com/discography
got involved  in controllerism

started making live  video/audio  remixes

http://www.youtube.com/user/workhousedigital

remixs  this year  include
billieray martin/caberet voltaire/ box kids / martini bros

A night out with the Visionaries/LVX Collective at the Airliner, East LA

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Click for a video on 'joydick' (not porn but could be awkward to explain at work!)

Click here more on the ultimate device for one handed pleasure seeking videogamers.

NWA: explicit content only (click on the picture)

Seminal Gangsta rappers NWA, reduced to just their bad language on seminal rap album Straight Outta Compton (click HERE)

90 year old superstar DJ in action (click on the picture)

Super footage from Club NOXX